Why Explore What it Means to Be White?
For the bulk of the time that our nation has been attending to problems having to do with race and racism, the focus has been on "them".  Understanding Blacks better.  Being more inclusive of Latinos and Asians.  Being more sensitive to Native Americans.  Until only recently, what has been missing is understanding ourselves better.  It's an old adage, really:  Know Thyself.  In the context of addressing racial tensions and pursuing healing from racism, this translates into Know Thy Racial Self. 

The entire nation is struggling with racial tension, and Whites still comprise the largest number of people in this country.   That alone is sufficient reason to explore what it means to be White.  If the largest racial group in this country has gone through the painful but enlightening process of exploring the meanings and impacts of race at an emotional level, then the difficult emotional journey the entire nation is facing will be faced with greater strength.   Further, there are a lot of White individuals already going through the often painful and confusing process of exploring their racial identity.   

This web page is also here for those individuals, hoping that the content adds some structure to the journey and facilitates learning and growing.  And, finally, there are millions of Americans who are not White but live in the U.S. and must interact with Whites in order to work, learn, or even socialize.  Although the content is directed toward White Americans, this page is also for anyone in other racial groups or of mixed racial parentage who wishes to gain insight and understanding of Being White as  a means to move to a greater sense of personal racial healing,  So, if achieving racial healing is our goal, it's important that the largest racial group in the U.S.  is developing greater self-understanding.  

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind as you begin exploring what being White means to you is that there are so many different feelings and ideas about Whiteness among White Americans.  Perhaps a good place to start is to explore different ideas of whiteness and how they fit with your experience and shed new light into how you feel or think of yourself as a racial being... 

Click Here to Explore Different Shades of White

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