Today we are talking about white fragility.
This term was used by Robin DiAngelo in her book ("White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism"). In it, she describes "white fragility" as the defensive reactions of some white people when confronted with racism and their own racist behavior.
White fragility blocks the dissolution of racism.
Complicity in the reproduction of racist behavior is then categorically rejected. Based on this, no responsibility is taken. The reason for this rejection is the mistaken belief that racism is a personal choice. To this day, the majority of society believes that only "bad" people can be racist.
These types of responses are unfortunately violent because they distract and do not recognize racism as an institutional and systemic problem.
The situation is also violent. Because now the focus is on the white person's indignation. The focus is shifted from the person who is actually affected to the socially "superior" (according to racial studies) white person. The conversation about racism is stopped immediately and the focus is on doing everything possible to make the white person feel comfortable again.
White fragility is not just an individual problem, but a systemic one. It contributes to a large extent to the fact that structures are not rethought, but stagnate. And it is based on old values and ways of thinking.
In order to sustainably deconstruct racism as a social construct of power, it is important to confront uncomfortable feelings as a white person. This should happen in a specially created setting.
When talking about racism, it is important not to focus on yourself and your own suffering, but to listen and create space for discourse. The fact is: change cannot take place in the comfort zone. That is why it is important to accept unpleasant feelings as part of the process. Only in this way can we create a world in which all people can develop equally.