White Folks, Do you need everything to be about you quiz 

Considering it is the Friday before a long weekend and Erin is taking a nap and eating at buffets, I decided I am going to be a little cheeky. And, if cheeky is not your thing, feel free to stop reading. Also, if you find yourself wondering if an example shared here is about you, it’s not. Well, it’s not specifically about you, but these are all things I see or hear on a fairly regular basis in my racial equity workshops. We’ll see if this post gets past the chief Fakequity editor.

 The last time I had a conversation about race. . .

1. I don’t have conversations about race. I just see everyone as human.
2. I shared all the POC books I’ve read lately and invited people to my book club and an upcoming lecture. (If you don’t know what POC means, answer #1. POC=People of Color.)
3. I focused on listening to and centering POC voices.

When someone confronts me about my white privilege, I say. . .

1. It’s not my fault! I can’t help that I am white.
2. But I am a good person. I volunteer with at-risk youth and went to the BLM rally. (If you don’t know what BLM is, then answer #1. BLM=Black Lives Matter.)
3. This is really uncomfortable, but I’m going to lean in and listen.

When I saw the news about Charlottesville. . .

1. I retweeted 45’s comment about there being blame on both sides.
2. I thought thank God, I live someplace where that doesn’t happen.
3. I sent money to a Community of Color embedded organization doing work in Charlottesville and didn’t feel the need to tweet about it.

When I see a white person cry in a racial equity training, my reaction is. . .

1. Anger and then I would state in a loud voice, you are oppressing white people.
2. Cry too and sit with them and offer tissue.
3. Have compassion, but not allow the conversation to shift to centering whiteness.

When asked for a commitment at the end of a racial equity training, my answer is…

1. Pass or I’m only here so I don’t get fined.
2. Increased awareness, I’m going to read more articles and books.
3. [Insert specific daily action] that leans into discomfort, is explicit about race, and works to dismantling systemic racism in your organization.

The “suggestion” I write on my evaluation at the end of a racial equity training is . . .

1. You’d be more effective if you didn’t shame and guilt white people.
2. Next time please focus on more than just race. I grew up poor and you just ignored my experiences with oppression.
3. Thank you for helping us talk specifically about race. I wish we had more time.

I took this quiz because. . .

1. Someone sent it to me, and I am really offended and about to start trolling them and this blog. I’m pressing “Hide post” or “Hide all posts” on Fakequity’s Facebook page. (We take no offense to this, bye Felicia.)
2. I wanted proof I’m not racist. I plan to share my results on social media.
3. I read the Fakequity blog every week.

My honesty level with this quiz was. . .

1. I was honest, and my honest response is that this quiz is an example of “reverse racism.”
2. I wasn’t really honest, but I chose what I thought should be the “right” answer. And, now I will share my results on social media along with my Ancestry.com results showing I am part Native American.
3. I was honest and now I’m going to print out a copy of this quiz and place it on some of my coworkers’ desks.

RESULTS:

Mostly #1 Answers: Why are you here? I am guessing you didn’t really actually make it to the end of this blog post. You’re so uncomfortable with race that you can’t even read this blog post. You always need to be comfortable and centered. Pretty much everything always needs to be about you, your comfort, and your feelings.

Mostly #2 Answers: You might be a “self-appointed ally” who is more focused on looking good than addressing systemic racism. Your racial comfort is only on your terms. You really want to not be centered or comfortable all the time, but habits are hard to break. You still manage to make racial equity work all about you, your actions, and your comfort.

Mostly #3 Answers: I don’t believe you take it again. If you take it again and your answers are still mostly #3 then keep up the good work. You are comfortable being uncomfortable in racial equity work. You manage to slow down and consciously work to center the needs, comfort, and ideas of people of color. It is not all about you. But if I’m being honest, I’m not sure I really believe you.

By Heidi, with input from CiKeithia and J34. Chief Fakequity Editor says Heidi and CiKeithia should write more.

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