Recognizing Whiteness: An Autoethnographic Examination of Whiteness in My Life

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine whiteness not merely as an individual attribute but as an ideological and structural system that organizes everyday life and grants privilege to those perceived as white. Using a blend of critical and evocative autoethnography, I wrote stories about my life experiences. I drew on critical whiteness studies and critical race theory to expose how whiteness operates as a normative force in institutions, social interactions, and academic knowledge production. The analysis I undertook helped me understand how I was welcomed in public spaces like libraries whereas racialized individuals in similar settings have been left questioning whether they were being excluded. My analysis also illuminated how my whiteness insulated me from developing a rich understanding of Black culture, particularly the cultural significance of Black hair. This work prompted me to question the extent to which my conception of “safety” while travelling was, in fact, a coded interpretation of white superiority. In hopes of appealing to a general audience beyond academia, I adopted a non-traditional dissertation format. I used footnotes to deviate from the expected in-text citation system and create an additional, co-occurring text, which I offer as one (albeit very minor) form of action aimed at disrupting white dominance within academia. My research adds to the collection of work, and particularly critical whiteness studies, completed in response to the calls from racialized authors, scholars, and activists for white people to engage in anti-racist action. By weaving personal narrative with systemic critique, my aim is to contribute to dismantling white supremacy and promote sustained, justice-oriented action among white readers committed to anti-racism. Given that white people have a critical responsibility to identify whiteness and eradicate the oppression that we collectively perpetuate, I hope my findings can help white readers as they progress on their personal racial justice journeys. For racialized readers, I hope my study offers additional insight into how white people recognize—and often, fail to recognize—whiteness, along with how we attempt to dismantle whiteness and fight for racial equity.