The concept of white fragility is new to me, which is intrinsically reinforces the concept itself. I have learnt about it from the Inclusive Practice Unit of this PGCERT and have found it transformational: getting uncomfortable during each session of the unit had become the norm and just took it on the chin every time (not without emotional response), but never questioned it.

I now completely understand what is happening and it raises even more discomfort, but it also brings clarity and disappointment. As a white privileged woman, I simply did not realise how much racism is in my imprinting, so to speak.

Robin Diangelo’s idea of humility as an antidote is what I try to live by every day, but it still does not make it any better. I am trying to understand, trying to do more, trying to earn my forgiveness and a part in making society less racist, but I realise I barely scratched the surface. It turns out that my desire to embrace people of colour in my life as friends and family is not enough, in fact it makes me colour blind. Instead I ought to be more active and deconstruct my position of privilege by working through my discomfort and action my beliefs.

In terms of my practice, I should work harder in creating a more inclusive and diverse environment, an environment where everyone is celebrated for who they are as opposed to accepted in the sameness of the white world. I ought to create a safe space where students are happy to share their identities and help each other understand challenges and work through them together.

My artefact may hopefully help with this: creating a space safe enough for people to listen to each other’s stories, stories that start from pure vibrations, sounds made by the human body and then extend to personal experiences ‘played’ by the body and the voice.