White Discomforts, Black Burdens

ABSTRACT The basis of white innocence is a strong denial of the notion of racism by deniers, as well as a whitesplaining of the very thing whose existence is denied. The racism-is-relative discourse erases institutional racism and is blind to white privilege. It refuses to engage with history. ‘Personal failings’ ignores the reality of systems that have intentionally favoured a certain demographic; it suggests that everyone has equal access to these systems. It is this sort of discourse that has sustained the stereotype of certain demographics as intellectually or physically lazy, and shuts down conversations around equity, which results in more inequity. This paper explores how white innocence and black discomforts contribute to making racism thrive. To be a true ally, white non-racists must intentionally work to be anti-racist too.