University of Minnesota Project Sparks Debate Over 'Whiteness Pandemic' and Raising Anti-Racist Children

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A University of Minnesota project has ignited controversy after labeling 'Whiteness' a 'pandemic' and urging White parents to re-educate their children about racism. The 'Whiteness Pandemic: Resources for Parents, Educators, and Caregivers' webpage defines Whiteness as a cultural system rooted in 'color-blindness, passivity, and White fragility,' rather than a biological category. The initiative argues that children born into White families are socialized into this system from birth, making family structures a key factor in perpetuating systemic racism. According to the project, while racism is recognized as an epidemic, Whiteness represents a deeper, underlying issue driving that racism. The project cites a study on the police homicide of George Floyd, concluding that White mothers in Minneapolis were often apathetic or overwhelmed when discussing the case. The resources provided include guides for White parents on developing a 'healthy positive White racial identity,' talking to children about race and privilege, and engaging in 'courageous antiracist parenting/caregiving.' However, the project has faced significant backlash from conservative groups, who argue that it amounts to 'far-left programming' and effectively paints a large swath of White Americans as perpetuating systemic racism. Parents Defending Education, a conservative watchdog group, has criticized the University of Minnesota's initiative, saying it is unscientific and broadly accusatory. The group argues that the project's conclusions are based on a narrow, unrepresentative demographic and are not generalizable to the broader White American population. The university, however, has defended the project as part of academic freedom and welcomed debate. The initiative received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and encourages White parents to adopt 'anti-racist parenting/caregiving' tools. The underlying study concludes that 'family socialization' into a 'culture of Whiteness' drives systemic racism, shifting the narrative from individual acts of racism to condemning an entire racial identity.