PCSR pop-up

Examining Whiteness: White identity and racism

Saturday 23d September 2017   10am -1pm

Chadswell Healthy Living Centre

Lower ground floor, Chadswell, Harrison Street, London WC1H 8JE

5-10 mins from Kings Cross and Euston mainline stations, wheelchair accessible

FREE – donations on the day for venue hire and refreshments much appreciated.

Please book your place in advance to know numbers for refreshments: beatrice@bmillar.com

 

‘Whiteness, as a set of normative cultural practices, is visible most clearly to those it definitely excludes and those to whom it does violence. Those who are housed securely within its borders usually do not examine it.’ (Ruth Frankenberg,1993)

For too long Black African and Asian therapists and trainees have been experiencing racism and exclusion within the therapy profession. The PCSR open letter and petition protesting about this and asking for change was sent to all therapy organisations and trainings in 2014 but had a very limited response. Change in the culture of therapy and training is slow and there are still trainees who are discriminated against: unheard, invisible, hurt, excluded.

As part of addressing this oppression within the therapy profession PCSR is having a pop up in London on 23rd September for therapists who identify as White to explore and process what it means to them to be White and working as a White therapist in a racist society. We would like to invite you to come and share your experiences and deepen your understanding of White identity in a supportive environment.

The idea for this pop-up comes from 2 white members of PCSR, Suzanne and Bea, who are also currently on the steering group. Having participated in conversations about racism through BAATN (Black African and Asian Therapists’ Network) they have seen how much work is being done by those who are a minority in the profession. This pop up is an opportunity to encourage and stimulate personal and collective work on White identity, power, privilege and entitlement and to address the injustices and inequalities of racism.

If you haven’t already heard or seen Tim Wise, US anti-racism activist, he is worth checking out online as is Helm’s White racial identity development model and Peggy McIntosh on White privilege. Also, UK journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge’s 2017 book Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race based on her blog.

Please remember that if you have an idea for a PCSR pop-up you are very welcome to put it forward. You do not have to be on the steering group or in London. PCSR will cover the costs of a venue anywhere in the UK for PCSR members to meet around a political subject they feel is important to discuss face to face.

 

 

Prices:

FREE - donations on the day

For more details contact: beatrice@bmillar.com