Book Review: White Privilege and Racism: Perceptions and Actions. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education by Lund, C. L., & Colin, S. A. J., III. (Eds.).

Abstract

Lund, C. L., & Colin, S. A. J., III. (Eds.). (2010). White Privilege and Racism: Perceptions and Actions. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 125. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 104 pp. ISBN: 978-0-47063162-1 (paperback). Racism, in America and globally, continues scar Whites and people of color, despite what is called a postracial society. This stubborn continuation necessitates discussion centering on the correlation between White privilege and racism. In the 125th edition of New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. edited by Lund and Colin III (2010), the goal is do just that. This volume was primarily written challenge White adult educators to reflect on their paradigm and practice and institute appropriate changes (p. 2). The eight chapters cover a spectrum of adult and continuing education fields from adult education graduate programs, vocational training, human resource development (HRD), community-based organizations health education, while focusing on how White privilege and racism are instituted in the authors' respective fields and, in some instances, offering ways for White practitioners reflect and act for change. In Chapter 1, Colin III begins with the argument that we are not a postracial society. She continues by citing examples of racial profiling in employment and the media, as well as manifestations of White racist ideology in higher education affecting curricula, faculty retention, promotion, and the graduation rates of students of color in adult education. Lund, in defining White privilege, examines her own journey of what it means be White and how she has come understand how she perpetuated racism as an educator and colleague (p. 23). She encourages White educators take this same journey and entertain the possibility that, if you are White, it is impossible be nonracist. Baumgartner and Johnson-Bailey. two adult educators--one White and one Black, examine the correlation between White privilege and racism through their own experiences in adult education graduate programs. Through the lens of Australia and vocational education, Shore looks at the racialized nature of Australian vocational training beyond skin color social regulation through institutional practices, which she calls everyday whiteness (p. 45). The chapter goes on describe a research study of the university course, Learning Cultures: Whiteness and Education. …