Volume 38 / April 27th, 2021
Volume 38
Client
BGSTR Original
White Fatigue, a BGSTR original, is an animated short film intended to drive awareness around the phenomenon of white fatigue and how it perpetuates systemic racial inequality and injustice.
The film explores the history of white supremacy and how passive racism perpetuated via white fatigue is the biggest challenge in the fight against racism today.
Educate
What is White Fatigue?
An old disease is flaring up in our country: racism. It’s always been there working behind the scenes, but recently has become more prevalent as leaders and policies in America have given it room to breathe and grow. Discrimination based on race is out in the open and pulling us backward as a nation instead of forward.
It’s woven into every aspect of life, if you get approved for a loan, where your kids go to school, the culture of the business you’re in, the slang you use. White Fatigue is when white people who disagree with the premise of racism feel over- whelmed and exhausted with discussing and fighting for the cause, despite acknowledging the validity of antiracist practices.
Racism is intrinsically linked to American culture; it’s what we say, how we think and what we do. If you’re thinking “I’m not racist” or “I don’t see color” or “I have black friends” then you could be contributing to the problem. You’re not being liberal, you’re hiding and deflecting. This is a white issue that needs to be addressed and solved within the community.
Not that long ago, the historic Civil Rights Movement occurred and after several historic milestones, white Americans had the privilege to place aside the events and resume their daily lives thinking the problem was solved. While white Americans have the luxury of pretending racism was an issue of the past, it continues to infiltrate the fabric of society, placing the burden on Black Americans to resolve the issues.
In fact, it is white Americans’ responsibility to realize that progress requires their active participation toward ending generational oppression and stepping up to be allies and defenders in societal situations where white privilege matters.
"Things were allowed to sort of seep back to normal. And the normal in America has never been a comfortable space for Black people."
- Robe Imbriano, Author & Narrator of White Fatigue
Here's how you can help... SHARE! Knowledge is power and educating one another on White Fatigue will help stop the cycle.
