What’s Behind White Fragility?

What’s Behind White Fragility? is an audio-only course. Talking about race can be uncomfortable. But for White people, who often have the privilege to opt out of these conversations, the topic can trigger an extra level of discomfort and defensiveness, known as White fragility. This course is part of the Let’s Talk White Guys series, a collection of podcasts featuring conversations around racism, sexism, bad behavior, and privilege as a means to expand the “straight White male” perspective on responsibility and necessary change. In this course, you’ll hear from Jamie Winship, a former Washington D.C. police officer; Mike Robbins, an executive coach, author, and motivational speaker; and Tony Schwartz, founder and CEO of The Energy Project. Sharing their perspectives as White men, they discuss the factors that influence the phenomenon of White fragility and what goes on in the minds of those who deny the reality of White privilege. You’ll learn about contributing factors to White fragility, including self-protection, self-promotion, and defensiveness. You’ll also encounter a worldview known as the “scarcity model” and learn the role it plays in White fragility. Finally, you’ll learn the role fear plays in racial conflicts. After this course, you’ll be more adept at handling White fragility in conversations about race.