Racism is not the shark in the water, racism is the water

Why White Learning?

In order for white people to effectively engage in challenging white supremacist culture, it is important to commit to learning about the origins of slavery in the United States and its persistent legacy of systemic racism. It is also important to recognize and let go of white-centering. This is a journey – not a destination – and it is a lifelong commitment for each of us who make it. The evidence of history has shown that as gains are made in equity and inclusion of marginalized people, the purveyors of white supremacy develop new tactics for stopping those gains. Thus the need for ongoing learning.

The NAACP Berkshire County Branch Vision 2025 enumerates multiple avenues of the Branch’s commitment to increasing awareness and learning among its members and the broader community. This begins with framing our Aspirations for Ourselves in “Core Ideas & Definitions about Race & Racism” that we strive to help all our members fully understand.

Learning with Others

The Branch offers a Learning Circle program to support white learning.  The program begins in October and runs through May with 3 options: a short partial Circle: a longer partial Circle, or a full Circle.  Each Circle provides a structure, timeframe, connection with others, and a curated list of Black-created resources. These authors ask different questions and approach issues from perspectives that challenge white-centered beliefs, policies, and practices on all fronts.

“The story of Black America cannot be disentangled from the story of America and our attempts to do so have forced us to tell a tale full of absences, evasions, and lies, one that fails to satisfactorily explain the society we live in and leaves us unable to become the society we want to be.” The 1619 Project, Preface

“Do not expect to be taught or shown. Take it upon yourself to use the tools around you to learn and answer your questions.” Guide to Allyship (online)

Designed by white learners in consultation with Black Branch

leadership, our White Learning program is built in the context of these

Key Understandings

To build communities of belonging, white people need to commit to a life time of learning and informed activism to counteract entrenched, persistent systemic racism and white supremacy that harms everyone in the United States.

Central to that learning are the voices of Black and Brown people as found in print and online publications, online sites, and through broadcast media;

White people need to respect the degree to which Black people are exhausted by having to explain racism to white people and refrain from seeking out Black people for that purpose; white people need to do their own research before seeking out Black people for information.

This learning will improve our ability to;

• act with more humility and with less fear;

• treat others with dignity and respect;

• reduce our own complicity in white supremacy;

• bring us to recognize that outcomes, not intentions are what matters.

Our White Learning Circles

More than 60 individuals have participated in our Circles since 2020, some for multiple cycles, as there is much to learn.

How Does the Circle Work?

The Circle is about building our individual capacity to make change – in ourselves and in our communities. We do that by

practicing change by trying on new thinking, new ways of speaking and new ways of behaving in daily life

Our White Learning Circles provide a brave and supportive environment for white people to come to a deeper understanding of how our country’s history of enslavement has shaped the world in which we live today.

This is uncomfortable work to do.

Being in community with others doing the same work helps us each to

• become more open about talking about race;

• more knowledgeable and less afraid;

• willing to acknowledge how racialism intrudes into all aspects of our own lives;

• and more courageous in challenging the harm racism does to all of us.

Don’t Have the Time to Commit to a Circle?

Just make a commitment and a plan for yourself.