We have been holding free monthly dialogues in the SF Bay Area since we began in 2011. At the monthly dialogues we dive deeper into a variety of topics related to gender(ed) oppression, white/light skin privilege and the work for racial justice. We ask that you come ready to speak from your personal relationship to this intersection. Each dialogue has a theme, and we send out suggested pre-readings & prompts to create context for the discussion. You’ll find all of this here in our archives.
The goal of our dialogues, as with all of our work, is to explore and challenge internal and external barriers to showing up effectively in the movement for racial justice. In addition, the dialogues help us to manifest projects such as writing, actions, theater, and resource sharing. To support our own ability to remember and reflect on our discussions, as well as for a measure of transparency and accountability, notes from past dialogues are made public, though we do not include names.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE & WHO PARTICIPATES
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: To join our dialogues – sign up for our mailing list and RSVP when we send out our monthly newsletter with info for the next dialogue.
WHO PARTICIPATES: While much effective work that addresses privilege and oppression happens in caucuses (identity groups), the work of White Noise Collective is not caucus work.We aim to hold a space that respects and welcomes participants who have come from a broad spectrum of racial and gender identities who gather to explore common patterns at the intersections of experiencing white/light-skin privilege and gender(ed) oppression. This includes those who identify as genderqueer, transgender, cisgender, mixed race, light-skinned, white, POC, etc.
That being said, we do wish to be transparent that the majority of our participants over the years do identify as experiencing both the socialization of white and female. We actively work to ensure that all who participate speak from their own experience and do not assume anything about the gender identity or experiences of others. All are welcome to be a part of the conversation and everyone brings a unique and valuable perspective in relation to these identities and experiences.
Themes
Over the years, we have explored many themes, including: internalized worthlessness, radical self-love, and how to not throw each other under the bus; violence and safety; white women tears; immigrant justice; intergenerational and intersectional feminism; eco-feminism and whiteness; cultural appropriation; ancestry and class; white women in helping professions; gender and sexuality’ difficult conversations (and communication patterns); witches; the psychology of racism; white motherhood; food justice; gentrification. We are always trying to identify and explore new topics as well as digging deeper into ongoing conversations, and we welcome ideas.
We also have a tradition of always trying new things, especially in response to community feedback. This has included a “White Noisemaker” intensive dialogue series which offered more structure and support to participants who committed to attending and deepening together over 4 months, hosting quarterly dialogues for folks actively engaged in movement work and community organizing, and dedicated book groups.
You can see a complete list of past themes in our notes from past dialogues section.
themes we investigate
WNC Dialogue & WORKSHOP Practices/Agreements
As practices, these are meant to be practiced, not perfected. Dialogue is a space for practicing them, with the goal of building authentic trust, generating new ideas and preparing for liberatory action. They are inspired by Paulo Freire’s definition of “true dialogue” and 8 years of practice with the White Noise Collective.
- Speak from your own experience.
- Don’t assume about others’ lived experiences or identities. Seek understanding of each others’ experiences and ideas (and acknowledge that full understanding might be impossible).
- We learn best when we are uncomfortable.
- Privilege conditions us to expect comfort and to conflate comfort and safety (i.e. white fragility).
- We don’t learn when we are comfortable or when we are unsafe.
- We have to push ourselves into discomfort if we want to learn/unlearn.
- Strive for “Both/And” – let go of right and wrong, binary thinking.
- One person talks at a time.
- Expect and accept a lack of closure.
- Plan to leave with more questions than answers. Goal is to leave unsettled, with better tools and understandings, not to find the “right” way or all the answers.
- Move from certainty to curiosity.
- Understand the difference between intent and impact.
- Assume good intentions of others.
- Be accountable for your impact.
- Strive for balance between theory and lived experience.
- Make space for the personal, interpersonal, institutional, and systemic – simultaneously and intersectionally.
- Allow yourself to be both self-critical and self-loving.
- Be humble and horizontal – everyone in the room has something to learn and something to share. We are student-teachers and teacher-students.
- Facilitators are responsible for trying to get us where we’re going, but everyone brings knowledge.
- Facilitators are not experts. We create these spaces because we want to learn about these things.
- Stories Stay, Learning Leaves.
- Practice speaking and practice listening. Work especially on the one that is harder for you.
- Take care of yourself so you can stay present.
- Cultivate praxis; reflect – take action – reflect and act again.