Season 2 - Episode 6: One Woman's Journey to Becoming a Recovering Racist

Racism is defined as a prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

By that definition, anyone, even those in the majority can suffer from racism. That is not the case. Racism is only effective because of its power to impact the lives of people on a systemic level. People of color aren’t upset about the aforementioned definition, it’s the real definition that keeps us fighting for equality and equity.

Racism is the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges white people.

For most people of color this isn’t a definition that is hard to wrap your head around, but believe it or not, many of our white brothers and sisters find the idea that they benefit from the color of their skin and have more “privilege” in our society than people of color is offensive. The challenge here is that they think that the presence of privilege removes the struggle from their journey.

With all that has happened to people of color in America, it’s hard to believe that some people still deny the truth. On this episode, we are speaking to my friend, my sister who, in her words, is a recovering racist. Join us as she shares her journey from believing what she was raised to believe to seeing the world for exactly what it is.

Pat Lange, is a wife, mom, grandmother, volunteer, leader and budding social activist. She is the former director of Marriage Initiatives at Kensington Church. Former business trainer, program developer and consultant. She has a strong automotive background both as an employee of GM and as a trainer to the Big Three. Pat grew up in suburban Detroit and now lives and leads in Traverse City, Michigan.