Detouring

It is interesting how life works and the timing of events. Just this weekend the concept of detouring was brought to my attention. Then 24 hours later I read the articles: "The unexamined Whiteness of teaching: how White teachers maintain and enact dominant racial ideologies" and "why talk about whiteness", and these articles discuss detouring without explicating naming it as detouring. 

Detouring is a new idea that I am still working through and understanding but from what I understand in this current moment, it is when a White person uses tactic to detour from discussing race and racism and therefore maintain their dominance and privilege. Detouring can take many forms and are actively used daily. 

When reading "The unexamined Whiteness of teaching: how White teachers maintain and enact dominant racial ideologies" especially, I couldn’t help but think "that’s a detour, that’s a detour, that’s a detour". 

The first instance of detouring in this article that I could recognize was when Dawn discussed her father’s ability to make it, so anyone can. Here Dawn detours by using the "My privilege Isn't the Only Problem", she deicides to focus on other issues instead of the issue at hand. This is a detour that I myself have made in the past and must actively seek to not make again. Yes, race and racism are connected to other issues like socioeconomic status, classism, and sexism; but it is important to not detour off the conversation and use those other forms of oppression to downplay or ignore racism.

Another instance of detouring I noticed when reading this article was Diane’s view that her teaching is altruistic and helpful. This in other cases has been called the white savor complex but in detouring it has been given the name of “The Certificate of Innocence”, in this detour Diane views herself as the “good white” and is looking for recognition for effort and time. Also, at the same time Diane is making the detour of being “The White Knight or White Missionary”, she is doing such great things by helping and saving those “poor” kids. These two detours as common and I have committed them myself too. When I started TFA they immeditatly brought to our attention that we are not in our placement schools to “save” our students. This idea didn’t hit home for me until the end of my first year.

I went home to visit my family, and everyone kept saying, “Wow, you are so impressive, your year must have been so crazy and exhausting teaching those kids. They are so lucky to have you, you’re so great. Those types of kids need a strong influence like you”. At first, I found myself saying, “Thank you and yes it was hard”. But then I found myself privately thinking – “what do you mean those kids!” I haven’t yet to correct those family members and friends yet and I recognize that I detoured by not saying anything and therefore next time I need to make the effort to not detour.

Throughout this article there are many more instances of detouring and I could name them all but instead I want to turn the conversation to the idea that for most of my life discussing race and racism only came up when someone was being overtly racist. However, through my time with TFA I have come to realize that only talking about racism in overt situations is another detour and therefore we need to talk about racism in all situations because it lives and breathes in all situations.

I know I am still not confident in discussing racism so openly and consistently but I know I need to make the effort to and while I do so I also need to stop myself from detouring. I need practice and would love to find spaces to practice. Does anyone else feel this way? 

Below are the photos of the detouring document I was given during one of my Teach for America DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivness) sessions.