Lorain County Urban League hosts discussion of 'White Fragility' with author, local leaders

ELYRIA — The Lorain County Urban League hosted a discussion with author and professor Robin DiAngelo on systemic racism in the United States Saturday afternoon. The virtual forum focused on DiAngelo's New York Times bestseller "White Fragility," and the impact it had on participants of "On the Same Page Lorain County," a series of small group discussions hosted by the Urban League starting last year. The groups read "White Fragility," discussing it amongst themselves before Saturday's forum. DiAngelo gave a brief overview of her book, published in 2018, noting race must be engaged with openness and nuance — something that tends to be a challenge for white people. She said white individuals often hold deep opinions on racism, but just because those opinions are emotional and strong does not mean they're well-informed. She urged white viewers of Saturday's program to question how their race has shaped their experiences, and how they have contributed — even unconsciously — to systemic racism or anti-blackness. Her reflection questions included how racially diverse individual's neighborhoods were as a child, what a "bad" neighborhood was versus a "good" one and if participants had to study or demonstrate an understanding of systemic racism to graduate college or obtain their current employment. "Most white people go cradle to grave in segregation with no sense, no message communicated to us that we've lost anything of value living a segregated life," she said. "For me that is the deepest message of white supremacy." Following her summary, panelists Mark Ballard II, Jason Russ, Linbi Lopez, Bethany Tober, Sylvia DuVall and DiAngelo — moderated by Community Foundation of Lorain County Marketing and Communications officer Brittany Lovett — discussed their experiences in the discussion group and their takeaways from "White Fragility." Mark Ballard II, Elyria mayor's liaison, said he was the only Black man in his group, and noted he knew a lot of the book's content because it is an experience he lives daily. On the other side, Church of the Open Door Lorain Campus Pastor Jason Russ was the only white man in his group, and initially felt like he was going to be the target of discussion as a representation of the problem — but instead found DiAngelo's work to be a catalyst for growth, he said. DiAngelo asked participants how a person of color would know they'd read her book. Bethany Tober, special project coordinator at Lorain Historical Society, said as an introvert, she struggles with getting the courage to speak but has started conversations with her family. Russ agreed, and has also taken those conversations to his pastoral work. Libni Lopez, a staff therapist at Oberlin College, said he's spoken with his team, and while Oberlin College is a liberal institution, it is not immune to racism and white supremacy in its structures. He said he tries to engage with students in their experiences and talk about what it is like to be Black in Oberlin and in Ohio. "As someone from Mexico I am very aware I'm one of very few people of color in a very white state," he said. When asked how she navigates her own whiteness, and what mentors she had, DiAngelo said "it's a lot like water dripping on a rock … it's a long process." She said she was hired as a diversity trainer in her 30s, and was college educated but never had her views challenged until working with her Black co-trainers, who became mentors. Sylvia DuVall, a retired educator and active in several community groups, said the conversations spurred by DiAngelo's book are very important, including when looking some Ohio Board of Education members pushing to ban focusing education through a racial lens. She noted there are not many Black individuals at the table when policies are set, and "if you're not at the table, then you're on the menu." "'The value of the community depends on the individual members' — it all comes down to individuals who are in that power position and if we don't have open and honest conversations, I only see this getting worse," she said. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.