I Am Not Color-Blind – Are You?: A Privileged White Man’s Experiences with Race - by Ted Rulseh

Introduction

I envision this less a talk than as a discussion. I will offer anecdotes of my experience with people of color at different phases of life as a trigger for fellowship members to share their stories. Ideally we would be sitting in a circle facing each other, instead we will use the Sunday zoom discussion to share our own stories.

Discussion Questions

• What was your experience with race as you were growing up? What were attitudes like in your household? Your neighborhood? How did these shape you?
• Did the community where you lived ever experience turmoil over racial issues, whether involving Black, Asian, Latino or Native American people?
• Do you or did you ever have a close friend of color? What is/was that like? How does/did race influence or shape the relationship?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you were the only white person in a room or a gathering? What was that like? How did you feel?
• Have you ever observed overt racism in your workplace? What was your reaction? What if anything did you say or do about it?
• You go into a store to buy a cell phone. No one is in line ahead of you. At the service kiosk stations are two equally presentable and professional young women, one Black, the other White. You have to choose one or the other. What is your instantaneous reaction/feeling? Which one do you approach to serve you?
• Please describe the moment when you first truly understood the concept of White privilege.