It is a heavy time in America. Viruses are taking the nation by storm - and not just the ones that cause disease. I was young when the Detroit riots in 1967 broke out. Some 50 years later, we still have the same issues: African-Americans are still being oppressed and assaulted by police. Racism is a prevalent issue that all of us need to discuss and resolve. We need to step up our game in addressing the racial prejudice deeply ingrained and institutionalized in our society.

 

For white people, a part of that means confronting what it means to be white, a question Mana Vermeulen-McLeod is dedicated to answering. Mana is a natural builder, social activist, and life coach. Born in Holland, Mana is a generational European-American who came to the U.S. about 15 years ago. She is committed to confronting her whiteness through education and understanding profound questions about the privileges that come with being a white woman.

 

In this episode, which was recorded many months ago, Mana and I discuss witnessing our whiteness, white privilege, and how we should tackle racism as white people. We describe how racism is institutionalized in our society and share our experiences with racism and diversity. We underscore the need to teach children about racial prejudice and explain how racism is not going to die on its own. We also discuss how books can help us learn more about racism and prejudice and highlight how we can support each other in unlearning racism.

 

“We need to think of that deep healing: how are we going to own what our forefathers did? That’s a huge piece nobody wants to do.” - Mana Vermeulen-McLeod

 

This week on Relationships! Let’s Talk About It: 

• The Racism 101 class that sparked Mana’s interest in issues about race relations
• Looking at racism from the perspective of what it means to be white
• Our experiences growing up with racism and diversity
• How we all live in a racist society and the institutionalization of racism
• How white people can tackle racial prejudice by looking into themselves
• Book recommendations on unlearning racism and prejudice
• How books can help us learn about racism and white privilege
• Mana’s experiences growing up in a segregated environment
• What colorism or shadism is and a controversial Dutch cultural heritage
• Why we need to talk to children about racism
• Why we need to step up our game when it comes to racism and diversity
• Looking at history and ancestry to address racial prejudice
• Supporting each other in unlearning internalized racism
•  

 

Related Content: 

• Women Working in Male-Dominated Workplaces
• Understanding Racism: Relationships are at the Heart of This Work

 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Witnessing Whiteness: The Need to Talk About Racism and How to Do It by Shelly Tochluk
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• White Awake
• Me and White Supremacy Workbook by Layla Saad

 

Connect with Mana Vermeulen-McLeod:

• Earthaven Ecovillage
• The Work that Reconnects
• Southeast Wise Women’s Herbal Conference
• Culture’s Edge
• Mana Vermeulen-McLeod on Facebook

 

Let’s Talk About It!

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Theme music “These Streets” provided by Adi the Monk