Episode 4: De-Centering White Comfort

“Until the aftermath of 2020, I felt a sense of embarrassment, sharing some of the [racist] experiences that I’ve had, and I think it stems from the fact that I didn’t want my close friends — who are white — to feel uncomfortable, or like I was pointing fingers.” - @stefanieannflippin

In our fourth episode, ‘De-Centering White Comfort,’ Stef and I (Carolyn) reflect on the events surrounding the Boston Marathon weekend, including the over-policing of the only Black-and-Brown cheer zone at the marathon and its aftermath. We also talk about the ways we are both un-learning the default habit of staying quiet or of modifying our behavior in order to keep from making our white peers feel uncomfortable, as well as the feelings of shame that come when we fail at ‘preserving peace.’

AND!! If you haven’t already heard, #MakingStridesPod is now available on Apple, Spotify, and Overcast! Hope that makes our conversations more accessible to everyone!

If you listen to this episode and can relate, or if you learned something new, or if you have any thoughts you’d like to share (any at all!), we would love to hear from you! Of course, subscribing and leaving a rating and review would also be greatly appreciated, as it helps others find our pod too!

Thanks for being here, and thanks for being YOU.

#togetherforward,

Carolyn & Stef

Show Notes:

01:55 - recap of events surrounding the Boston Marathon and our Live Show

03:15 - unpacking the recent convo with the AAPI Undoing Racism Collective, regarding how Asian Americans cater to white comfort

7:40 - Stef sharing her perspective as a biracial woman

10:05 - the significance of the live show as a personal point of healing and of letting go of shame

12:30 - recognizing white comfort

14:10 - Carolyn sharing the freedom that comes from proudly embracing the ways her culture and ethnic background have shaped her experiences

16:20 - how this student-founded course at UC Berkeley is an example for us in allyship and in making change

20:25 - the problem of racially-targeted policing at the Boston Marathon

35:50 - the significance of being a spectator who is also a Person of Color, at the Boston Marathon