What are White People to Do? Listening, Challenging Ignorance, Generous Encounters and the ‘Not Yet’ as Diversity Research Praxis

Abstract

Responding to the call to theorize praxis in relation to philosophy and white diversity research, I draw on philosophers of race, and in particular collective white ignorance, and generous encounters to argue for listening as a form of progressive white praxis. While praxis has been theorized in feminist theory in relation to knowledge, standpoint and bodies, literature neglects how whiteness structures the production of knowledge and praxis. I argue that an understanding of white praxis should entail an examination of white epistemology, white ignorance and encounters with the stranger. At the same time, heeding critical race theorists’ cautions about critical whiteness studies and white feminism, I propose ways in which listening could begin to work as a form of white praxis responding to racism in research on diversity and organizations.