White Privilege Conference Too Privileged?

Would it really be a White Privilege Conference without any white privilege? Apparently not.

Attendees of the 17th Annual 2016 White Privilege Conference (WPC, for short) in Philadelphia were there to “challeng[e the] concepts of privilege and oppression and offer solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world.” But they apparently couldn’t escape the inescapable: the dastardly cultural constructs that give white people a distinct advantage in everything from keynote speech length to classroom door operation.

Fortunately, there were plenty of activists on hand at the White Privilege Conference to call out the activists of the white privilege conference. Using the hashtag #WPCSoWhite (a version of #OscarsSoWhite), they made sure social media understood the impact of such rampant oppression

Naming white supremacy, dominance, and privilege when it shows up even here at @got_privilege. Use #WPCsowhite #PHLWPC17 #callingin

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 16, 2016

Oh, and did it ever.

A white woman telling a black woman to close the door at a workshop session. Another example of #WPCsowhite #PHLWPC17 @got_privilege

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 16, 2016

How dare such a thing be allowed to happen?

Being told by another Asian womxn that she has been mistaken for me multiple times at the #PHLWPC17 #WPCsowhite

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 17, 2016

When your presenter takes a HUGE concept created by a POC and "re-imagines" it to fit "more" people… You mean white people #WPCsowhite

— Adrianna Davis ☁ (@AdriannaDavis10) April 16, 2016

Being told by another Asian womxn that she has been mistaken for me multiple times at the #PHLWPC17 #WPCsowhite

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 17, 2016

#WPCsowhite: raising both hands when @JamesWLoewen polls the audience about why the south seceded #smh #PHLWPC17

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/aleistalking/status/721566686365773825

https://twitter.com/aleistalking/status/721778772005892096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

 

The disaster of understanding culminated in the keynote speech, delivered by Jim Loewen, a demonstrably progressive sociologist, respected professor of African American Studies and perhaps the country’s leading expert on racism in the deep south during the Confederacy and beyond. Little did Prof. Loewen know, as he was delivering his speech, that his very act of speaking to the audience was cause for concern.

Wondering if audience is hearing @JamesWLoewen clearer than POC speaking @ #PHLWPC17 #WPCsowhite

— Chanel Wright (@ChanelWright44) April 16, 2016

When the old white man doing the keynote insists he has more time than what @eddieknowsmoore says: #WPCsoWhite #PHLWPC17 Doh!

— (((lizopp))) (@Two_Cranes) April 16, 2016

White leaders who "experts" using the n-word and r-skins in a room with majority #whitefolks says it's ok. It's NOT #wpcsowhite #PHLWPC17

— Heather Heater (@heaterMPH) April 16, 2016

Excited to hear @JamesWLoewen at #PHLWPC17, but uncomfortable w/his dismissive use of the gender non-inclusive word "guys"

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 16, 2016

We talk about taking action to dismantle white supremacy yet not much response on Loewen's use of the N-word #WPCSoWhite #PHLWPC17

— TastefulIntuition☪ (@TheeKWard) April 16, 2016

N-word NEVER acceptable from #whitefolks lips! Deeply offensive & traumatizing. @JamesWLoewen #WPCSoWhite #PHLWPC17 https://t.co/oLP9M9GwUs

— Jill Poklemba (@jillmarette99) April 16, 2016

Great keynote by @JamesWLoewen, but going over time allotted is another example of white supremacy #WPCsowhite #PHLWPC17

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 16, 2016

To Dr. Loewen’s credit, he responded:

@aerielashlee Dr.Moore told me, just before I started, to take one hour. I took exactly 53 minutes.

— James W. Loewen (@JamesWLoewen) April 17, 2016

But it was to no avail, as he had committed a second sin.

A white man's defensiveness instead of accepting responsibility #WPCsowhite #PHLWPC17 @JamesWLoewen @jillmarette99 @TheeKWard @got_privilege

— Aeriel A. Ashlee (@aerielashlee) April 17, 2016

And a third.

You had me and lost me at the use of the N-word @JamesWLoewen #WPCSoWhite #PHLWPC17 #GetAttentionSpeakAndBeHeard

— TastefulIntuition☪ (@TheeKWard) April 16, 2016

@JamesWLoewen I cannot get behind your "argument" and it is shameful that you choose not to take ownership of your mistakes #WPCsowhite

— TastefulIntuition☪ (@TheeKWard) April 17, 2016

The WPC specifically noted that it was “not a conference designed to attack, degrade or beat up on white folks,” and that it was “committed to a philosophy of ‘understanding, respecting and connecting.'” Perhaps they can make that the subject  of next year, along with their dance moves:

Good morning, Philadelphia! #1Hood wakes up #PHLWPC17. We have work to do today. pic.twitter.com/IfWKFcJLFp

— Janée Woods (@janeepwoods) April 15, 2016