When the Lie is Written Law.

Since launching our site we’ve received a lot of negative feedback.  Primarily focused on one thing: the use of the term “whiteness.”  People accuse us of being racist... and when I say people I mean Caucasian people, males mostly.  I get it, they are triggered.   And when you are triggered it is nearly impossible to hear anything other than the cry of your self imposed victimhood.  It is our emotionally charged attachment to the identity of whiteness that clouds our ability to be in critique of it.

“We consider a challenge to our racial worldview as a challenge to our very identities as good, moral people” 

- Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility 

That said, one of the clear advantages to taking a 12 Step inspired approach to this work is the understanding that comes in knowing you cannot rush people to the work.  Just as you cannot talk a drunk out of a bar into a meeting, neither than you rationalize this work to someone who is emotionally triggered by the title or our approach.  People come to this work only when they are ready.  

Nonetheless it cannot be said enough, our work is not about attacking “white people” nor does it have anything to do with guilt, shame or feeling bad for the way you were born.  (See our FAQ section for more) Our reference to Whiteness is a mental construct - not a tone of skin or race.  We take this approach because it actually best fits the historical narrative of how we got here.  “Here” being this hyper-sensitive attachment to this thing called “white.” 

Put plainly, this wasn’t always the case.  White as a descriptor of race or identity did not come into popular use until the late 17th Century in Colonial America.  Prior to that it had sparse usage as a reference to skin tone (but not ethnic difference) and scientific attempts to racialize humanity into distinct groups had been flatly rejected by the scientific community.[1]

Critics of racial equity work will often point out that slavery was not unique to Africans, for example the Irish were enslaved.  And on this point they are correct.  However, something happened in Colonial America that set us on the course we find ourselves today of racialized class tension.  That something is at the heart of how the lie called whiteness not only came into being, but how it became codified into law.

You see prior to 1680’s the terms “Christian,” “free,” “English” and “white” were used indiscriminately and interchangeably.  They all meant the same thing, or at least they were intended to mean the same thing.  These terms were intended to mean white, specifically European men.  These terms were used in local laws, regulations, and governance of the colonies, effectively granting access to land, regulating marriage, business ownership, etc. [2]

As the colonies grew and populations “diversified” it became clear that more specificity would be needed.  Why?  “Christian” was inadequate because slaves were being converted to the “white man’s religion.”  “Free” was problematic because colored people could in some cases purchase their freedom (a provision used without issue in the enslavement of other white people, but frowned upon when exercises by “colored” slaves), and in other cases could live and originate from regions that did not practice slavery.  “English” was no better, because colored people could also hail from England. 

Therefore “White” became the preferred term to write into laws and regulations because it was more effective in accomplishing the goal: secure rights and privileges for white European males and restrict or eliminate access for all others (non-whites).  As a result, the false mental construct called “whiteness” was codified into law.  As such, association and identity with the term had nothing to do with any racial or ethnic distinctions from others.  To say “I am white” was to say “I have access (and you don’t).”   The lie was so effective in bestowing power to those associated with it that minority groups such as Slavics, Italians and Irish had to fight their way in, to be accepted as “white people.”[3]

But just in case you think we are merely strolling nostalgically through ancient history here (“that was then, leave the past in the past!”), let’s turn our attention to the ways in which the Lie of Whiteness not only lingers in our law books, but is still actively playing a part in how law is written.  

The most prominent example that may come to mind for most folks is the redlining practice in housing.  Redlining is a racist practice through and through, but you may think, hey we fixed that right? Read here to see how this institutionalized lie still haunts the housing market.

Georgia On My Mind

On Thursday March 25, 2021 Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into Law the so called “Election Integrity Act” which makes sweeping changes to the ways in which elections are handled in Georgia.  This comes on the heels of massive voter turnout and record-breaking voter registration from groups like Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight Georgia which turned the state blue, sending not only Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House but also John Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock to the Senate as the state’s first Jewish and African American Senators.  

In the months that followed the general election of 2020, Georgia was among a number of states that were embattled with recounts, legal challenges and even attempted interference from President Trump.  Because the Lie of Whiteness is so effective at setting the norm or status quo, anything outside of this must be suspect.  We saw this aspect of the lie play itself out repeatedly as, even before the election took place, Trump claimed that if he did not win the ONLY explanation is massive voter fraud.  Within the confines of the lie of whiteness it is inconceivable to consider a different outcome, let alone one that displaces Whiteness from its seat of power. [4] 

Yet despite all claims otherwise through dozens of lawsuits, zero credible evidence has been uncovered to substantiate that massive fraud took place.[5] Therefore there is no substantial evidence to justify the need to modify or change the election process,. unless of course you just don’t like the outcome. So what is one to do?  If the mass of people have spoken and their collective voice has removed you from power, what if anything is your path of recourse?  Simple, suppress the voice of the people.  Make sure the only voice that gets heard is the one that favors you.  In this case, the voice of Whiteness.  

Enter Gov. Brian Kemp - no one is better at crafting such a plan.  After all he was the Secretary of State (in charge of elections) when running against Stacey Abrams for governor.  In his capacity as Sec. of State he closed polling places, purged voter rolls, and restricted access for the Gubernatorial election.  All of this heavily favored his election and disenfranchised working class voters and people of color.[6]

Georgia’s new “Voter Integrity Act” is more of the same.  It moves ballot drop boxes inside of polling locations so that they can only be accessed during the business hours of those polling places (which are also limited).  It bypasses signature verification (which has worked effectively and has not been found to lead to fraud,) and instead requires photo ID, which may prove difficult to obtain for working class, minorities and elderly voters.  It limits early voting access (used heavily by working class and people of color). Finally, in the ultimate slap to the face, the Voter Integrity Act it makes it illegal to pass out water or food to voters who are waiting in long lines (3-8hrs).  Making it harder to vote favors those with the most privilege and hurts those with the least.  The message is clear, we want the voice of the privileged to be heard, and we have little concern for the ease or access for other voices to participate.   It is the lie of whiteness pulling on the levers of legislation to once again protect and preserve their own access to power at the cost of everyone else.  

And in case this message is not white enough, Gov. Kemp chose to sign the bill flanked by 6 white men under the illumined painting of a slave plantation.[7] 

When white supremacy is written into law and the will of the people is thwarted in no uncertain terms, it is clear that we collectively have arrived at a place where we are powerless over our white systemic conditioning and our racist thoughts and actions that have perpetuated centuries of oppression over people of color. (Step 1 of the 12 Steps of Recovery from the Lie of Whiteness)

Our road to recovery begins when we freely and willingly admit what the problem is.