Our Models
The following articles provide explanation and context for our approach to social change and organizing.
In this paper we endeavor to share the work we do to “teach different ways of being white,” by offering the idea of a Radical White Identity. This identity offers white people a racial and cultural identity that directly addresses white supremacist history in this country. We center our work in racial identity development and from this foundation we build a clear analysis and practice for creating radical white culture. Our aim is twofold: 1) To create an alternative to the dominant white culture through building a community of white anti-racist people who represent a sub-culture of whiteness; and 2) to offer a form of white identity that is explicitly anti-racist and allows white people to acknowledge and embrace our histories and cultures. Through this evolving cultural/racial identity we will create our antiracist practice, our racial identity model, and our role in the process of creating radical social transformation.
The purpose of this chapter is to 1) share with readers, especially white anti-racists, the way a common approach to accountability inhibits our racial identity development and derails social justice efforts and 2) outline a vision for how we can participate in the formation of more productive, stronger multi-racial alliances.
AWARE-LA views the current historical context in the United States thru the lens of how it has been shaped by the white supremacist system. The foundation of our approach is the clear understanding that this country and all systems of oppression are built on the foundation of slavery and genocide. The establishment of capitalism as an economic and political system, we hold, is inherently based on the principles of exploitation and oppression. Holding this, we also see that since the founding of this nation there has existed strong multiracial resistance to the white supremacist system.
Theory of social Change
AWARE-LA's theory of social change, including goals and strategies.