White Supremacy

When we think of white supremacy, the first thing that may come to mind are white hoods or white power Nazi salutes. These are clearly overt symbols of white supremacy in one of its most violent forms. However, when we refer to white supremacy in the context of racial justice, we are also referring to the overarching system of political, legal, economic, and cultural institutions that structure Western society - institutions which privilege and standardize whiteness (see Whiteness) above all else. 

We believe it is important to use the term "white supremacy culture" because the norms, values, and beliefs that our culture reproduces act to reinforce the belief that "white" and people attached to "whiteness" are better, smarter, more beautiful, and more valuable than "black," or people and communities indigenous to this land, brought here for the purpose of enslavement, or immigrating here from Asia, India, or south of our border. We think it is important to name what is really happening, which is that we live in a culture that reproduces -- sometimes overtly and sometimes very subtly -- the idea that white is supreme. Those of us who live in this culture, including those of us who fight against racism, swim in this culture (like the fish in the illustration above) and unintentionally and unwittingly reproduce these norms, values, and beliefs. 

Further Reading:

• Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun - "Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture" (2001)

• Over and Covert White Supremacy Culture Pyramid (US-focussed), below:

Source: Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (2005) “Building a Multi-Ethnic, Inclusive & Antiracist Organization-Tools for Liberation Packet for Anti-Racist Activists, Allies, & Critical Thinkers”