What being ‘white’ means

By Katlin Sweeney

White mythologies and ideologies are prevalent characteristics of society that the ‘Whiteness Forum’ has been educating the public about for the past decade.

The forum serves as an interactive opportunity where students teach what they have learned and researched in class to their peers. In the course Communicating Whiteness (COMM 454), students explore the way that white domination, supremacy and privilege affect people from all walks of life.

Students research a wide variety of the ways that whiteness affects society. Past projects have investigated social policy like No Child Left Behind, representation in media forms like television and film, parenting, social media, sororities/fraternities. Students have also researched religion, Islamophobia, college admission, sports and hiring practices in restaurants.

After evaluating various aspects of society through an anti-racist lens for a semester, the class leads up to students becoming the teachers. Those enrolled in the course are required to write an analysis paper, conceptual project overview and self/group assessments in order to develop their group’s plans for the forum.

Dr. Dreama Moon is the powerhouse behind The Whiteness Forum, simultaneously teaching COMM 454 and putting the event together for the past 10 years. As the woman behind the scenes, she has found that challenging students to take the forefront in the discussion is what makes the forum and class so successful.

“The Whiteness Forum gives students confidence in their abilities to teach on the subject. It teaches them to think on their feet and tailor their responses to that particular situation or family they are talking to [or about], since it’s never one answer fits all,” Dr. Moon said.

The projects are on display for the campus and community in “science fair” style. Students create poster boards and interactive games geared to get people talking.

“We want to involve the outside community, as well as include students and professors on campus. What we’re really hoping to have is a conversation with the audience,” Dr. Moon said. “This experience gives students the opportunity to be on a semi-equal playing field with their professors because they are teaching them things that they might not know about.”

The Project Viewing for The Whiteness Forum will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Dec. 5 in Commons 206. In celebration of the tenth year anniversary, there will also be a panel entitled Conversation With Scholars: “Color Blindness and the Post-Racism Era: The Continuing (In)Significance of Race” from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in Arts 240.