Positionality Paper

I'm a white female, 54, grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. My parents worked for the SCLC and the King family, so I grew up playing under Dr. King's pool table. From as early as I can remember, my schools were mostly black. I grew up seeing first hand how unfair the United States is to black folks, personally and structurally.  I got a masters degree in city planning focusing on affordable housing and community development to bring assets to low income and black families.  I have lived a life personally and professionally not so much fighting racism as being pro-black, in a way I imagine I hope Dr. King would be proud, that is radical, persistent, creatively and with love.  I have two awesome kids who identify themselves as biracial, and I live in Johannesburg (there are no more privileged white people in the world than white South Africans, as lovely as some of them are, but generally we are a hot mess out here).  Like a few of you, I learned about CRT recently, yet feel like I have lived it my whole life.  My purpose in being on this post is to learn more about the tenets of the field, read the thought leaders, organize and evaluate my own thinking and experiences, and as I make a shift professionally, find my most effective work and leadership.  I also know black folks have little tolerance for white progressives who aren't taking on their own community, so I am here to figure out ways to do that more effectively.  Its extremely difficult to talk with white people about race, I watch Tim Wise and Jane Elliott videos and sometimes feel like that crazy white lady at the party/job/school function.  But your posts are very humbling, they give me ideas, and I am grateful to share this privileged space with you.  I have a tremendous amount to learn and am grateful to Professor Keene for pulling this - and us - together.  Thanks.