University of Minnesota’s Controversial Webpage on “White Pandemic”

The Institute for Culture and Families at a prominent university in Minnesota features a webpage warning of a “white pandemic” and offers resources aimed at addressing this issue.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, states, “If you were born and raised in the United States, you grew up in a white pandemic. You can play a role in stopping and reversing this pandemic, particularly if you are white, due to the privilege and power you wield in this racialized society.” This content is part of the Institute of Child Development’s mission.

The university further clarifies that while racism itself is an “epidemic” or “pandemic,” there’s an “invisible” pandemic that underpins it—termed “The Pandemic of Whiteness.”

According to the site, individuals socialized in white culture aren’t to blame for their upbringing; however, as adults, they are expected to engage in self-reflection, re-education, and proactive anti-racist behaviors. White adults, the site suggests, should strive for a positive white identity while actively participating in anti-racist parenting and caregiving.

The site also emphasizes that “whiteness” pertains to culture, not genetics, highlighting how historical white culture is marked by traits like colorblindness and white fragility—traits that covertly embody racism in American society.

“Framing this as a white pandemic shifts attention from the victims of racism to the systems and institutions perpetuating it, including family structures. From birth, children in white families start absorbing aspects of white culture, making families a key institutional player in systemic racism,” the webpage notes.

Among the resources listed are insights from various experts, some of which are tailored especially for white parents, addressing subjects like the impact of George Floyd’s death and cultivating a “healthy white racial identity.”

One piece of research on the site, focusing on liberal white women making over $125,000 a year, argues that the socialization into white culture—with its tendencies toward colorblindness and passivity—fosters and sustains racism in America, shaping a detrimental “white pandemic.”

Funding for this initiative comes from multiple sources, including the National Institute of Mental Health.

The website also features literature by notable authors like Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, along with a guide titled “How to Explain White Privilege to Kids in Simple Words.”

Ryen Staley, research director at Defending Education, expressed concern over how deeply entrenched such “far-left” ideologies have become in higher education. He suggests that these discussions around “whiteness” are legitimizing confusing concepts propagated by activists and academics, and he calls for universities to discontinue such initiatives immediately.

A representative from the University of Minnesota asserted that the institution remains devoted to the principles of academic freedom. Previously, it was reported that the university offers K-12 ethnic studies programs promoting progressive views, including discussions on police defunding and challenges associated with “white supremacy” and “settler colonialism.”