Facing the Reality of Racism: A Conversation with Tim Wise

Like It Is: 30 Minutes of Good Conversation

In this eye-opening episode, we explore the deep-seated and often unconscious biases that persist in the U.S. with Tim Wise, renowned author and anti-racism educator. Drawing from his book "White Like Me" and his recent speech, Wise sheds light on the pervasive racism that affects people of color and the collective denial that allows it to persist.

Wise begins by addressing the crucial premise that combating racism is everyone's responsibility. He highlights the fundamental problem: White America, both corporately and collectively, has never truly been prepared to address the reality of the experiences faced by people of color. He recalls the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where displaced black homeowners were barred from returning to their neighborhoods, and the stark difference in perceptions between white and black Americans about the racial implications of the disaster.

Through insightful polling analysis and powerful anecdotes, Wise critiques the liberal tendency to shift focus away from race and hide behind discussions of class. He notes how every generation might acknowledge injustice in hindsight, however, in the present the dominant group enjoys the luxury of ignorance about institutional racism and inequality. This denial and rationalization of our present-day racial inequalities, he argues, make it difficult to have honest conversations about race and perpetuate systemic injustice through ostensibly race-neutral policies.

Join us as Tim Wise, a Tulane University graduate and prominent anti-apartheid activist, discusses the institutionalized racism that continues to foster white privilege in the U.S. This episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to facing the truth of racism in the U.S., confronting our own biases and taking an active role in the fight against racism.