S1E2: Deconstructing Toxic Whiteness – with Saira Rao

The Progressivists Podcast - Hosted by Jo Lorenz

Meet Saira Rao . . . Saira is a lawyer-by-training; a former congressional candidate; co-founder of Race2Dinner, the dinner party experience aimed at enabling white women to confront their own racism; co-founder of Haven, the collective of BIPOC women rooted towards abolition, liberation and healing through art and storytelling; and also co-author of the upcoming book 'White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better' (released Fall 2022). Saira grew up in Virginia, USA, the daughter of Indian immigrants. For forty years, she wasted her very precious time aspiring to be accepted by a dominant white society, which Saira describes as a futile task for anyone not born with white skin. Several years ago, Saira began the painful process of dismantling her own internalized oppression — and on this episode of The Progressivists Podcast, she and host, Jo Lorenz, discuss the habits of white women that affect BIPOC women, and importantly, how we can move forward. Want to support BIPOC women? Then please donate to Haven. Your donation helps create a space where BIPOC women and non-binary identifying folks can build community and heal.