On Being with Krista Tippett

John Biewen — The Long View, I: On Being White

Oct 29, 2020
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INSIGHT

Default Person

  • Growing up in a homogenous white town, John Biewen saw himself as the default person.
  • Other races were perceived as deviations from the norm, illustrating the normalization of whiteness.
ANECDOTE

Touching Hair

  • As a child, John Biewen touched a Black classmate's hair out of curiosity.
  • This seemingly innocent act, common among white children, highlights the early racialization he now recognizes as harmful.
INSIGHT

Journalism's Blind Spot

  • Journalists, including Biewen, often focus on people of color when reporting on race.
  • This approach overlooks the role of white supremacy as the core issue, treating it as a peripheral problem rather than a central one.
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