The possessive investment in honorary whiteness?: how Asian and Asian Americans reify a transnational racial order through language

Conceptualizing Anti-Racist Pedagogies Within Experimental Music's Community of Practice

“…Across all three of the dimensions of COPs described by Wenger (1998) that Kenny (2016) applies to CoMPs, the board members interviewed in this project have conceptualized ways developing a critical understanding of racism within this community while also forwarding actionable steps the organization can take to address the persistence of white supremacy (i.e., further resource distribution, diversifying concert programming, amplifying decolonial approaches to musical experimentation). But because this initial theorization of their work as an organization does not yet represent actionable steps taken by the board members to address issues of white supremacy, the initiative still holds the potential to replicate the issues described by critical research into DEI initiatives: furthering racialization, reinscribing white supremacy, and absolving organizations of their continued involvement in both (Beeman, 2021;Kim, 2022;Thomas & Albern-Nardo, 2020). For instance, the decision to expand the board rather than having volunteers step down so racially marginalized community members can occupy leadership roles raises questions of whether the board will move beyond performative acts that often comprise DEI initiatives and primarily serve the purpose of soothing white consciences (Martin & Apugo, 2021) to truly reimagine the mutual engagement, joint enterprise, and shared repertoire of experimental music in a way that counteracts the tenets of white supremacy.…”

“…Thinking beyond the educational framing of anti-racist pedagogies, many organizations (including the venue at the center of this study) have made attempts in recent years to address issues of racialization and white supremacy through DEI initiatives (Beeman, 2021). At their core, DEI initiatives involve focused efforts to restructure organizations to more closely resemble the cultural identity of the surrounding community by welcoming and supporting normally othered populations (Kim, 2022). However, critical research also shows that many DEI initiatives result in acknowledging white supremacy without affecting organizational structures, thus producing a false narrative of equitable transformation while undermining efforts of marginalized individuals to make meaningful change (Goez, 2021;Kaiser et al, 2013;Thomas & Ashbern-Nardo, 2020).…”

“…However, critical research also shows that many DEI initiatives result in acknowledging white supremacy without affecting organizational structures, thus producing a false narrative of equitable transformation while undermining efforts of marginalized individuals to make meaningful change (Goez, 2021;Kaiser et al, 2013;Thomas & Ashbern-Nardo, 2020). Additionally, DEI initiatives regularly fail because of their inability to address broader manifestations of systemic oppression, thus shielding the organization from critique and reinforcing a culture of white supremacy (Beeman, 2021;Kaiser et al, 2022;Kim, 2022). To successfully move beyond these problematic processes, "adult educators must charge beyond the oftentimes performative nature of [DEI] initiatives and rhetoric that primarily soothe the consciousness of Whites-to a stance of relentless refusal and rejection of White supremacist manifestation in adult education spaces" (Martin & Apugo, 2021, p. 126).…”

Predicting group consciousness among Asian Americans: Considering commonalities, shared interests, panethnic group identification, and linked fate

“…Given the expansion of other non‐White groups such as Asian Americans and the higher on average socioeconomic advancement and assimilation of some Asian American subgroups, Bonilla‐Silva (2004) argues that many Asian American ethnic groups have now reached “honorary White” status and are used as a buffer class against claims of racial inequality and conflict between the dominant White society, Black people, and other marginalized groups. As “honorary Whites,” Asian Americans would hypothetically align with the dominant White society, embrace such elevated status, or even consider themselves as being superior to other non‐White groups (Dhingra, 2003; Kim, 2022). Asian Americans may also invest in “honorary whiteness” by perpetuating anti‐Blackness and upholding the notion of American exceptionalism and imperialism, even while experiencing racial discrimination as a marginalized group (Kim, 2022).…”

“…As “honorary Whites,” Asian Americans would hypothetically align with the dominant White society, embrace such elevated status, or even consider themselves as being superior to other non‐White groups (Dhingra, 2003; Kim, 2022). Asian Americans may also invest in “honorary whiteness” by perpetuating anti‐Blackness and upholding the notion of American exceptionalism and imperialism, even while experiencing racial discrimination as a marginalized group (Kim, 2022).…”