Occupying Privilege

Book excerpt: So, what is white privilege?!?And do I have it? The short answer is if you're white, yeah, you do. The good news is that there's a lot we can do, together, to undo the power dynamics and racism that keep us from embracing freedom for all. Imagine if we could all agree without the feelings of blame, shame, and guilt that racism does exist. Then we could be in the business of changing it. This book will help you get there. A book for the people by the people, told through stories, conversations, letters, poems, and essays, readers will learn about key issues pertaining to racism's continued impact on both people of color and white people. In Occupying Privilege, over 30 thought-leaders, activists, educators, and artists offer unique and fresh perspectives on racism, white privilege, and racial justice. Contributors include: Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, Inga Muscio, Tim Wise, Peggy McIntosh, Dr. Pedro Noguera, April R. Silver, Jeff Chang, Dr. Marcella Runell Hall and more When you Occupy Privilege you'll discover: The difference (and there are many!) between white privilege, white supremacy, racism, discrimination and more--knowledge is power! The stories and struggles of people of all color, their own relation to privilege, and how they are undoing it one poem, flow, rhyme, letter, beat, and day at a time. Here, the personal is political. How not to drown in the guilt of the history of whiteness in America. You are not alone in this work! Buy this book, support a movement! 100% of the proceeds from the first year of sales go to these six non-profit organizations fighting for racial justice and liberation. Rebel Diaz Arts Collective: A Hip-Hop community center in the South Bronx, NY that provides a safe space for cultural exchanges through performances, educational workshops, and multi-media training. www.rdacbx.org (Bronx, NYC) Groundwork: A white anti-racist collective dismantling white supremacy to achieve racial justice in our communities. www.groundworkmadison.wordpress.com (Madison, WI) The Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere(AWARE-LA): is an alliance of white anti-racist people working together to challenge racism and work for racial justice in transformative alliance with people of color. We take collective action to build white anti-racist and multiracial alliances to challenge the white supremacist system and all systems of oppression. www.awarela.org (Los Angeles, CA) The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond: An organization that focuses on understanding what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone. www.pisab.org (New Orleans, LA) El Puente: New York's most comprehensive Latino arts and cultural center inspiring and nurturing leadership for peace and justice. www.elpuente.us (Brooklyn, NYC) Catalyst: A center for political education and movement building. Committed to anti-racist work with mostly white sections of left/radical social movements with the goal of deepening anti-racist commitment in white communities and building multiracial left movements for liberation. www.collectiveliberation.org (San Francisco, CA)