How to Talk about Race

In opening a training which requires addressing questions of race, I often begin by saying, "Hello, I'm white."

Why tell people I'm white?

• This sets the example that we will be not be making assumptions about race and racial identity, and we will be engaging race explicitly, directly, and personally.
  
• This gives people permission to speak about race. However unfair this might be, if a representative of the dominant culture (in this case, the facilitator at a teacher inservice) can engage topics of race this legitimizes the discussion.
  
• It takes a personal risk and invites others to do the same.