White privilege: Portland Community College to dedicate month to challenging 'problem of whiteness'

A US community college is set to dedicate a month to 'whiteness' history, studying the narrative of racism and white privilege.

Portland Community College's Whiteness History Month, which will take place in April 2016, is intended to 'inspire innovative and practical solutions to community issues and social problems that stem from racism'.

The college's annual programme of events also features Black History Month, but the Cascade Campus Diversity Council sought to include whiteness history as a particular solution to racism within the community.

On its website, the college said: "Whiteness History Month: Context, Consequences and Change is a multidisciplinary, district-wide, educational project examining race and racism through an exploration of the construction of whiteness, its origins and heritage.

"Scheduled for the month of April 2016, the project seeks to inspire innovative and practical solutions to community issues and social problems that stem from racism. Whiteness History Month, unlike heritage months, is not a celebratory endeavour, it is an effort to change our campus climate."

Included in the month of events will be lectures, an art exhibition featuring the 'legacy of medical and scientific racism', a community-based learning project, workshops and plays.

The committee described their venture as a "bold endeavour", adding on the website: "The project seeks to challenge the master narrative of race and racism through an exploration of the social construction of whiteness.

"Challenging the master narrative of traditional curriculum is a strategy within higher education that promotes multicultural education and equity."