The Trump administration has made significant strides over the past year in eliminating what it views as racist diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from government and educational institutions nationwide. Still, left-leaning identity politics continue to linger in various publicly funded organizations.
A parent advocacy group, “Defending Education,” recently drew attention to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC). Their analysis revealed that hidden within a $628 million allocation for federal research in fiscal year 2024 is a project that posits the existence of a “white pandemic” in America.
According to the group’s statement, “Centuries of family socialization into white culture, characterized by colorblindness, passivity, and vulnerability, contribute to and perpetuate racism in the United States.” Ryen Staley, the research director at Defending Education, expressed concerns regarding how deeply embedded DEI practices have become in higher education, suggesting they won’t be disappearing anytime soon.
The UMTC’s Institute for Cultural and Family Studies, part of the Institute for Child Development, hosts a page titled “Whiteness Pandemic Resources for Parents, Educators, and Other Caregivers.”
- The site characterizes white families as threats, asserting that “young children raised in white families begin their socialization into white culture from birth, implicating the family system as a crucial institution in systemic racism.”
- It instructs white adults to take responsibility for self-reflection and to commit to “courageous anti-racist parenting/caregiving.”
- Furthermore, it urges white adults to engage seriously with narratives and suggestions from the Black Lives Matter movement and to “humanize victims of police brutality and racism, like George Floyd.”
- The site links to various materials aimed at facilitating discussions about race, racism, white privilege, and anti-racism for parents and their children.
This site seems to echo ideas from several radical sources, specifically focusing on 2021 papers authored by the lab’s directors, including one titled “The White Pandemic Behind the Racist Pandemic: The Socialization of White Families in Minneapolis After the Murder of #GeorgeFloyd.”
The paper, which was published in American Psychologist and dedicated to George Floyd, argues that “centuries of family socialization into white culture perpetuate racism in the United States, reflecting an insidious white pandemic.” It implies that “whiteness” could be seen as a disease, with “color avoidance and power avoidance” identified as particular harmful factors. These elements are viewed as transmitted within families unless proactive anti-racist measures are taken.
The authors suggest that a key indicator for determining if a white mother is contributing to this “whiteness disease” is her response to George Floyd’s death. Indifference towards his death and hesitance to discuss “systemic racism” with children are viewed as signs of complicity, while expressing sadness and engaging in discussions about Floyd and Black Lives Matter is considered an example of a positive “antiracist” mindset.
They emphasize the importance of providing white students with education regarding racism and anti-racism from a young age, advocating for actionable steps towards racial justice rather than merely speaking the “right” words.
The conclusions in the paper stem from a survey of 392 white mothers, revealing that a significant portion identifies as liberal, while a smaller group aligns with conservative ideologies.
Federal funding from the National Institute of Mental Health during President Biden’s administration facilitated this controversial project. When approached for comments regarding the initiative, UMTC reaffirmed its commitment to academic freedom, while the NIMH did not respond.
Staley remarked on the troubling persistence of such ideologies, noting that the university should cease these initiatives without delay.
