White privilege workshop shouldn't have been cancelled
#steveking #whiteprivilege #politics
I am disappointed to read Loren Glass' editorial that under pressure from the Republican-led Legislature, the University of Iowa decided to cancel a series of spring workshops that would help better understand white privilege [Refusing to talk about white privilege helps maintain it].
The fact that the university felt a need to cancel the workshops because of concerns from the "broader community and stakeholders" is a pretty huge indicator that these workshops are greatly needed.
I attended the White Privilege Symposium at Drake a couple of years ago, and it has been the single most valuable wake-up experience in my life. I had no idea. I am grateful to Drake for offering it.
However, we don't need to wait for the University of Iowa to offer the workshop. We can buy Robin DiAngelo's book "White Fragility" and read it and pledge to wake up. This might just be the greatest gift we as Iowans could give to each other.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.desmoinesregister.com/amp/2812569002
