Understanding White Centering: Definitions, Impact, and Paths Toward Change

What Is White Centering?

White centering is the prioritization and privileging of white people, white values, white norms, and white feelings over those of people of color in societal, cultural, and interpersonal contexts. This phenomenon manifests in conversations, policies, media, and organizational structures, shaping the standards by which many institutions operate.

As Layla F. Saad describes, “White centering is the centering of white people, white values, white norms and white feelings over everything and everyone else.” When these norms and values become the default, they relegate the experiences and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to the margins.

How Does White Centering Manifest?

• Tone Policing: Critiquing the way BIPOC speaks about racial issues rather than addressing the substance of their concerns.
• White Fragility: Making white discomfort or defensiveness the focus when discussing racism, rather than centering the needs of marginalized groups.
• White Exceptionalism: Positioning oneself as “not like other white people,” which shifts the focus away from systemic issues.
• Refocusing Conversations: Shifting dialogues about equity away from supporting oppressed groups to ensuring the comfort, understanding, or enlightenment of white people.
• Policy-Making: Designing policies that uphold white norms or primarily benefit white communities, while treating others as exceptions or problems to be fixed.

Examples of White Centering in Everyday Life

• Workplace Diversity Programs: Prioritizing white employees’ comfort or educative needs above making substantive changes that benefit BIPOC staff.
• Social Media Dialogue: Redirecting conversations about racial injustice to discuss how these topics make white individuals feel instead of tackling the injustice itself.
• Education: Teaching curricula centered on Eurocentric history and literature, presenting them as the standard for all students.
• Interpersonal Relationships: Expecting BIPOC friends or partners to educate white people about racism, often without acknowledging the exhaustion or emotional cost of doing so.

Why Is White Centering Harmful?

When white centering persists, it:

• Perpetuates inequities by making whiteness the default norm, marginalizing people of color and their experiences.
• Shifts the burden of racial education, empathy, and change away from those with privilege and power onto marginalized communities.
• Reinforces stereotypes and justifies exclusion, consciously or unconsciously.
• Undermines efforts towards real equity by keeping decision-making, resource allocation, and narratives centered on those already privileged.
• Supports the empathy gap—where empathy for communities of color is minimized or dismissed compared to empathy for white communities.

Perspectives on White Centering

Social justice experts, activists, and academics argue that white centering is not just an interpersonal issue but an institutional one. Its influence can be seen in media, education, workplace dynamics, and governmental policy.

• Ijeoma Oluo highlights that white centering often arises in diversity conversations when the goal shifts from justice for marginalized people to making white people feel understood and comfortable.
• Layla F. Saad underscores the persistent nature of white centering and how it manifests from subtle behaviors to overt actions, including violence and exclusion.

Ultimately, critics argue that dismantling white centering is integral to meaningful progress toward equity. This requires honest reflection and intentional change at systemic and individual levels.

Understanding Terms: Whiteness and People of Color

• Whiteness: Not simply skin color, but a social construct with associated benefits, norms, and assumed neutrality. Whiteness often shapes laws, cultural values, and societal standards.
• People of Color (POC): Refers to individuals who are not considered “white,” though critics say the term itself can reinforce white centering by framing non-white identities relative to whiteness.

While the phrase “people of color” aims to unify marginalized groups, Daniel Lim points out it can inadvertently reinforce whiteness as the norm by framing non-white identities in relation to it.

Early Socialization and the Empathy Gap

Research has shown that children, even at an early age, begin to internalize messages about race and empathy. One study observed that white children, by age seven, rated the pain of Black children as less severe than pain experienced by white peers. These perceptions deepen as children grow, revealing that the empathy gap widens over time in racially segregated societies.

This empathy deficit highlights the effects of white centering—when white feelings and experiences are consistently prioritized, it becomes harder for white individuals to empathize with people of color, perpetuating systemic injustice.

White Centering in Media and Pop Culture

Media is a powerful tool in shaping and reinforcing societal norms. Television, film, and advertising have often centered white protagonists, stories, and perspectives, relegating BIPOC experiences to the background. Even diversity efforts sometimes fall into the trap of white centering by making white allyship the focal point instead of the lived experiences and empowerment of marginalized communities.

• Representations: BIPOC characters are frequently sidekicks, antagonists, or background figures, while white characters drive the narrative.
• Allyship: Media may highlight white “saviors” or allies rather than BIPOC agency, reiterating the idea that change happens because of and for white people.

Indicators of White Centering in Everyday Encounters

Seven Ways to Prevent and Dismantle White Centering

• Listen Actively: Center the voices and experiences of BIPOC by listening without interruption or judgment.
• Reflect Before Reacting: Pause before responding defensively to discussions about race, and consider why discomfort is arising.
• Educate Yourself: Take personal responsibility for learning about racism and privilege, instead of relying on BIPOC to provide information.
• Support Equity Initiatives: Back programs and policies that create space for BIPOC leadership and decision-making.
• Challenge Norms and Systems: Question norms, policies, and media that privilege whiteness or treat it as the default.
• Celebrate Diverse Narratives: Seek out and promote media, art, and stories produced by BIPOC.
• Practice Humility: Acknowledge mistakes and commit to continual growth in anti-racist practice.

The Role of Allyship: Decentering Whiteness

While white allyship is crucial, it must be informed by a commitment to decentering whiteness, prioritizing support for equity, and respecting the leadership of BIPOC communities. Effective allies should focus on:

• Listening and amplifying BIPOC voices.
• Avoiding the urge to make allyship about themselves or their own learning journey.
• Actively working against systemic inequities and advocating for institutional change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can I tell if I’m centering whiteness in a conversation?

If you find yourself prioritizing your comfort, understanding, or perspective over those of BIPOC when discussing issues of race or equity, you may be centering whiteness.

Q: Isn’t it important for white people to be included in the conversation about race?

While inclusion is vital, the central aim should be justice and equity for marginalized groups. When inclusion means shifting focus to white comfort or making white experience the standard, it becomes white centering.

Q: What’s the difference between white centering and white privilege?

White privilege describes unearned advantages afforded to white people, while white centering refers to making whiteness the default focus in social, cultural, or political settings.

Q: How can schools help address white centering?

Schools can diversify curricula, support BIPOC educators and leaders, and proactively address bias, stereotypes, and inequities in student experiences.

Q: Is using the term ‘people of color’ problematic?

Some critics say the term ‘people of color’ can reinforce white centering by framing non-white identities in relation to whiteness, implying whiteness is the norm. It’s important to also recognize and affirm distinct identities on their own terms.

Final Thoughts: Toward Equity and Inclusion

White centering is a deeply embedded pattern in which white experiences, values, and norms are positioned as the universal standard. Recognizing and dismantling these patterns is critical for moving toward genuine equity and inclusion, both at the interpersonal and institutional level. The path forward requires humility, self-awareness, and a commitment to amplifying and supporting the voices and experiences of those historically marginalized and excluded.

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Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

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