Teaching About White Nationalism

Ethics, Vulnerability & Racial Pain in Learning Environments

Abstract

U.S. white nationalism is virulent and escalating, expressing itself through a variety of digital and media spheres, violent assaults on Black, Jewish, Muslim, migrant and indigenous communities, and via increasing participation and alliance-building in mainstream politics. Notwithstanding the public presence, impact, and persistence of white nationalist organizations, education remains thin. These educational deficits have alarming implications, signaling a lack of public readiness to engage and challenge white nationalist movement building. Fostering a conversation between educators is therefore both productive and compelling. Such dialogue can catalyze increased communal and scholarly commitment to providing education about white nationalism, grounded in the premise that critical education is a necessary element of effective racial justice work. As a contribution to this vital discourse, we attend to the complex ethical challenges involved in the process of learning about white supremacist organizing, using the example of U.S. white nationalism.