White Hot (Episode 16)

This week on [un]phased, Shaunna and Lisa are breaking down the term “reverse racism.” It’s a term used to describe when white people feel they have been discriminated against based on their racial identity. But in actuality, the term is used strategically by white people as a tool to stop Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) from equitable access to opportunities taken for granted by white people. We take a deep dive into how dominant cultures use language and behaviours, knowingly and unknowingly, to remain dominant in their social and political context. Affirmative action seeks to push an inherently imbalanced system towards balance and equity. However, some folks who have been historically advantaged by the system believe it is already balanced because they are unable or unwilling to see the inequity. People in this position often feel like programs attempting to redress the imbalance are taking something away from them and giving more to another person or group of people. Responses to affirmative action or similar programs, and calls of “reverse racism” can often lead to what Sun Yung Shin has coined White flammability. This can be described as the ignition of a defensive response when whiteness is challenged -- it is an ember that’s constantly simmering. A small spark can cause the flames to burst up. This flammability can quickly cause a forest fire. However, if we can turn these fires into a controlled burn, they can be used to limit the power of denial when addressing white privilege. To take it further, the flames can be used to burn off feelings of defensiveness, eventually burning down a historical caste system that has constantly ranked and privileged some over others. More on white flammability and “Reverse Racism” White Fragility: https://medium.com/afrosapiophile/its-not-white-fragility-it-s-white-flammability-1b1b5f520e1c The Myth of Reverse Racism 
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/08/myth-of-reverse-racism/535689/
 Reverse Racism, or How the Pot Got to Call the Kettle Black https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1993/11/reverse-racism-or-how-the-pot-got-to-call-the-kettle-black/304638/