A first of its kind, accessible, in-depth resource for leading effective white racial affinity groups-an essential tool in anti-racism for building the skills and perspectives needed for white people to challenge racism. A first of its kind, accessible, in-depth resource for leading effective white racial affinity groups-an essential tool in anti-racism for building the skills and perspectives needed for white people to challenge racism. While there are a few short articles and guides addressing the challenges and complexities of leading white affinity groups, there has never been a detailed handbook exclusively for white racial affinity group facilitators. There are many challenges in facilitating these groups including the need to have a deep theoretical understanding of racism; a high degree of racial self-awareness; sensitivity to and the ability to work with the range of skills and degrees of awareness participants bring; and strong facilitation and conflict resolution skills. The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups is the first in-depth guide for educators, mediators, workplace consultants and trainers, workplace diversity groups, community organizers, conference organizers, members of faith communities, and members of racial and social justice groups. Dr. Robin DiAngelo and Amy Burtaine, who collectively bring over 20 years of experience leading anti-racist education and racial affinity groups present- a theoretical framework for understanding racism; a case for the value of racial affinity groups as a tool for challenging racism; guidelines for setting up affinity groups in a variety of contexts; the skills and perspectives needed for effective facilitation; scenarios to illustrate common challenges; a glossary of definitions; exercises, discussion prompts, and assessment tools. an extensive list of common patterns and group dynamics and how to address them Written accessibly for a wide range of readers and backgrounds, The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups will be an important reference for anyone committed to anti-racism work.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION Why White Affinity Groups? CHAPTER 1 The Basics CHAPTER 2 Different Contexts CHAPTER 3 Getting Started CHAPTER 4 Prompts, Discussion Starters, and Facilitator Techniques CHAPTER 5 Addressing Common Patterns and Challenges PATTERNS WE SEE BEFORE GETTING TO OUR WHEN STARTING THE AFFINITY GROUP 1. Resistance to Breaking into Separate Groups 2. “I’m Not White” PATTERNS RELATED TO WHITE IDENTITY 3. Expecting People of Color to Teach Us About Race 4. Expecting Answers 5. Fear of Being Perceived as Racist 6. Taking Everything Personally 7. Claiming Racial Innocence 8. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 9. The Confessional 10. Critiquing the Thinking of People of Color 11. Intellectualizing PATTERNS RELATED TO THE DENIAL OF RACISM 12. “It’s Different Where I Come From” 13. Removing Race from the Equation 14. Distancing 15. Claiming Reverse Racism: “They’re Just as Racist as We Are” PATTERNS RELATED TO GROUP DYNAMICS 16. Checking Out 17. Dominating the Discussion 18. Out-Woking 19. Silence 20. Scapegoating 21. Fear of Challenging Others in the Group 22. Power Dynamics Rooted in Rank 23. Where Is Everyone? 24. The Closing Bomb PATTERNS RELATED TO THE FACILITATORS 25. The Difficult Participant 26. Challenging the Facilitators 27. Trying to Facilitate from Within the Group 28. “Show Me the Agenda” 29. Feeling Entitled to the Facilitators’ Time 30. The Kiss-Up 31. The Pile-On PATTERNS WE WORK ON HERE SO WE DON’T ENGAGE IN THEM WHEN IN MIXED GROUPS 32. Credentialing 33. Hopelessness 34. Hopefulness 35. Complaining about How Exhausting the Work Is 36. Channel Changing 37. White Fragility 38. Getting Stuck in Guilt/Shame 39. Centering Our Own Trauma 40. “I’m Powerless” 41. White Women’s Tears 42. The Extreme CHAPTER 6 Closing the Group CHAPTER 7 Accountability Glossary Additional Resources for Your Anti-Racist Practice Acknowledgments Notes