How to Handle White Privilege Healthily
“When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else’s oppression, we’ll find our opportunities to make real change.” — Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race
Understanding and navigating white privilege is a critical step in personal growth and anti-racist practice. In this guide, you’ll learn practical strategies to reflect on your white privilege, manage discomfort, and take meaningful action toward equity.
Why understanding white privilege matters
Reading this guide, you’re probably thinking about contributing to social justice. You, as a white person, want to support the Black Lives Matter Movement. Or, you’ve heard about decolonization but don’t know how you can do this. This resource will give you some information and concrete steps where you can start.
This is a starting point. Anti-racist practice is a lifelong journey that requires continuous growth from a white individual, no matter where we live in the world.
When we as white people want to practice anti-racism, we need to face the uncomfortable truth that we are in the social role of oppressor towards BIPOC people. Our denial or unawareness of this social role and the lack of responsibility we take for it is a major part of the problem when it comes to racism.
Reflecting on your motivation for anti-racist practice
Taking care of your white privilege is a change process. Knowing the why helps you stay motivated and overcome obstacles.
Self-Reflection Questions
- What will it mean to me if I practice anti-racist work?
- Why am I attracted to anti-racist practice now?
- How do my values align with anti-racist practice?
- What resources do I have that will support me during this process?
- What will support me in holding on to anti-racist work if it gets difficult?
Navigating emotional responses to privilege
Taking care of your white privilege may bring up difficult emotions because we are working with shadow aspects of our society. If we want to meaningfully engage in anti-racist practice we need to learn to manage our emotions.
Common emotions and how to navigate them
Guilt
Guilt is a human response when we did something wrong. If you feel guilty, it is a sign that you know that you did something wrong. However, don’t stay there. Your sense of guilt won’t change anything for Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Colour. Ask yourself what you can learn from it and how you can behave differently in the future.
Grief
When you learn more about the truth about Canada’s racism and the harm that is done by the culture of white supremacy, you may notice that you had a false perception of Canada. This new awareness may bring up losses and grief. We need to be aware that grief is part of the human experience.
Hostility
Hostility is related to resentment, anger, and fear. If you notice that hostility is coming up for you during anti-racist practice, give yourself time to explore your emotion. If you are in a conversation with a BIPOC person, ask for a timeout since your hostility may further harm them.
White Fragility
Understanding White Fragility
White fragility describes defensive behaviours of white people that allow us to avoid talking about race, racism, and a culture of white supremacy.
Self-Reflection
- Which behaviours of white fragility do you notice within yourself?
- How do you respond when a white person sets a boundary? Is it different from how you respond if a BIPOC person sets a boundary?
- What could you do to change your behaviour of white fragility?
Identifying traits of white supremacy culture
White supremacy is based on the ideology of the narrative of superiority. It depicts white people and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions as superior to BIPOC people. This narrative is untrue and dehumanizing.
While far-right extremist behaviours are obvious, colonialism and white supremacy are the foundation of Canada’s system. They create the foundation of Canadian social norms, rules, and policies. By being born into this system, our understanding of “normal” is shaped by it.
Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture
Understanding colonialism’s impact today
Colonialism refers to the practice of white Europeans unjustly taking control of Indigenous cultures, inhabiting the land with settlers, and exploiting the land. Colonialism is based on the Doctrine of Discovery, which promoted Christian superiority and domination and dehumanized those previously living on the land.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has created the Truth and Reconciliation Report as well as Calls to Action. Read the material and reflect on how it changes your perspective about the truth of colonialism and systemic racism against Indigenous people in Canada.
Self-Reflection
- What is the role of your family in Colonialism?
- Which stereotypes and prejudices have you learned about Indigenous cultures?
- What is your family’s story about coming to Canada?
- How much do you know about the Treaties in the area you live?
Perspectives of Canadian society
White people experience Canadian culture through the filter of white privilege, while BIPOC people experience the reality of racism and systemic oppression. These are fundamentally different perspectives based on race.
Different experiences based on race
White Perspective
White people experience the Canadian system shaped by privilege. They benefit from existing power structures without being aware of it. They can deny the reality of racism because they will never experience it personally. Their privilege blindfolds them concerning racism and white supremacy. They can ignore it because they will never experience it directly.
BIPOC Reality
Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Colour experience the daily reality of systemic racism and oppression. They cannot escape or deny racism—it affects their lives constantly. The harmful impact of white supremacy and colonialism is very noticeable and experienced directly by BIPOC people in Canada.
As a white person in Canada, you do not experience the reality of Canada. You experience a perspective of Canada that is shaped by your white privilege. Your unawareness is part of the problem. We need to actively work towards expanding our perspective to reduce our blind spots.
If you’re curious about the values that inform this work, you can read my anti-oppressive practice position statement .
Examples of white privilege in daily life
White privilege is a social privilege that advantages white people over Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Colour. White privilege is invisible for white people but very noticeable for BIPOC people.
Examples of White Privilege
Every white person in Canada has white privilege, whether they acknowledge it or not. Having other identities that belong to an oppressed group doesn’t negate white privilege—they are different experiences that coexist based on intersectionality.
Unpacking white saviourism
Superficially, white saviourism looks gentle and beneficial. White people and/or white organizations benevolently support BIPOC people. Looking from a more critical lens, white saviourism is white supremacy because it is based on the assumption that BIPOC people need white people to be “saved.”
White saviourism comes from a position of superiority and is toxic and condescending. It keeps the existing power structures in place because white people don’t need to dismantle the root cause of racism—white supremacy.
If you want to learn more, check out my blog post on why I don’t use the term white ally.
Self-Reflection
- Have you ever felt the urge to “save” a Black person, Indigenous person, or Person of Colour? If so, why?
- What can you do to be a witness to a Black person’s pain concerning racism without the need to save them?
- What do you need to heal within yourself to accept that the only person you can truly heal is yourself?
Practical steps to unlearn white supremacy
Unlearning white supremacy is a life-long journey that will transform yourself and your life. You need to do this process mindfully because we as white people are socially conditioned to not respect BIPOC people.
Stages of Change
Building your anti-racist action plan
Change doesn’t happen on its own. Make a plan for how you can get started with unlearning white supremacy. Review this plan once a month and adjust it.
Planning Questions
- What changes do you want to make concerning unlearning white supremacy?
- How important is it for you to make these changes (Scale of 1-10)?
- How confident are you that you can make these changes (Scale of 1-10)?
- What are the most important reasons why you want to make these changes?
- How can other people help you?
- How will you know that your plan is working?
- What could interfere with your plan? How could you address these barriers?
Practicing humility
Practicing anti-racist work is complex because white people are culturally conditioned to disrespect Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Colour. Practicing anti-racist work requires humility—the opposite of the narrative of superiority, white supremacy, and pride.
Humility means accepting that we are in the role of the oppressor and we have a lot of work to do to transform this. It means acknowledging that we don’t know what we don’t know and starting our learning process.
Don’t use the term ‘ally’ in anti-racist work. It’s easy to claim this label, however claiming a label doesn’t mean that you really practice anti-racism or that you navigate your white privilege healthily.
Let yourself be guided by the question: what is my next step in navigating white privilege healthily and working towards liberating myself from the patterns of a culture of white supremacy? Make this attitude your new lifestyle.
Key takeaways
Foundational Principles
Originally published as a downloadable PDF. Updated and adapted for the website.
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Disclaimer: This content reflects my professional knowledge and experience and is intended to educate and support. It may not apply to every situation, and I don’t know your specific context. If you feel stuck, notice symptoms that limit your ability to participate in daily life, or experience worsening distress, I encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health professional for individualized support.
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About Natalie
I’m Natalie Jovanic, an award-winning counsellor and trauma coach passionate about helping people reclaim their lives after trauma. I also host the podcast Trauma Demystified.
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My writing reflects my training, experience, and the way I practice. Counsellors and coaches vary widely in their approaches and standards of care, and I speak only to my own work and what I consider best practice for trauma recovery and healing. As you explore your options, I invite you to notice what feels aligned for you and your needs.