Beyond Tolerance: Moving Ahead Together

Keynote Speeches

Panel Presentations

A Community-wide Conference Organized by the Santa Barbara School Districts
June 28, 1997

Dr. Joycelyn Landrum-Brown, Adjunct Faculty UCSB Graduate School of Education/Black Studies and UCSB Technology Trainer

Beyond Tolerance: Overview of the Problem

When many people think of intolerance they limit it to issues of race, religion, gender or cultural differences. While it is important to understand how intolerance manifests in those areas, it is also helpful to understand that intolerance of difference operates in every sphere of human relationships. Intolerance of differences is a problem that is seated not only in the attitudes and beliefs of individuals but also in the institutions and systems that have been established to maintain social controls. Institutions and systems are set up to maintain and perpetuate a particular philosophical worldview and way of being in the world. Mechanisms are established that promote this particular worldview as the norm. While societies need some measure of social control to effect social stability, it is problematic when the social controls reflect a worldview or paradigm that deems certain members of society as less valuable. In this way social controls become a tool of oppression rather than a mechanism for cultural stability.

I start with an assumption that we are all constantly exposed to social, institutional and cultural messages promoting different forms of intolerance and oppression. We are socialized to believe that "our" way of doing things is the only and right way. We are socialized to believe that anything that is different is a threat, deviant and abnormal. When differing worldviews and ways of being are presented, they are considered deviant and abnormal. Those who most closely match the appearance, beliefs and behaviors of the "valued" social group are deemed normal and "good," while those who differ are considered deviant and are considered less valuable. We have learned to see "other" as a threat to our safety, security and well being. In this way intolerance is closely linked with ethnocentrism and other forms of oppression.

It is critical that we identify, examine and understand the messages that we have received about different "others." Once we have a clearer understanding of what these messages are we will be in a better position to decide the accuracy and value of the messages that we have internalized. If our assumptions and worldview is based on misinformation or lack of experience or limited experiences, then our perceptions of those different from ourselves is likely to be inaccurate.

We must be willing to work through and honestly sort out our own thoughts and feelings about culture, race, ethnicity, sexual preference, gender roles, cultural and language differences, as well as the social construction of race (including Whiteness and white privilege, White and Western European cultural superiority myths). This will not be easy for some, because it often means that we will find out that we are not as open and bias-free as we might like to think.

There is an assumption that to move beyond tolerance involves affirming all differences. I think it is unrealistic to believe and expect that we will all believe and value the same things. On the other hand, I believe it is crucial that we are aware of personal and societal biases that might cause us to intentionally or unintentionally discriminate against those who hold differing beliefs and ways of being. We must find ways to work and live together even when we don’t believe in the same things. To do this we must be open to the possibility that "our" way of doing things is not the only or even the "best" way for everyone. We have to develop strategies for being able to share and express our differences while not "imposing" them. We must also learn to distinguish when someone is simply sharing their beliefs versus imposing their beliefs.

It is hard to develop effective strategies against a problem unless it has been accurately assessed. In my opinion, because this problem resides not only in the heads and hearts of individuals but in our institutions, we must understand and address it at many different levels. We need to tackle the problem of intolerance in our beliefs, behaviors, systems, policies, practices, law and cultural traditions and norms. Many would like to skip to developing solutions without thoroughly considering the problem and as a result Band-Aid remedies and programs that never quite solve the problem are implemented.

Some say the solution to the problem is eliminating race-based preferences, however they don’t acknowledge or seek to dismantle the system of White racial privilege that has been institutionalized as normative social relations in this society. Some say the solution is for everyone to abandon their ethnic and cultural ties for "American-ness," without truly understanding that culturally becoming "American" has traditionally meant adopting a world view and way of being that primarily reflects the cultural standards of White, Anglo-Saxon, middle-class, Protestant, Heterosexual, Males. Some say the solution is no more color lines, however before you can erase the color line you have to understand what it is, how it got there and how it is maintained. Some say the solution is color-blindness, however I believe that seeing color, cultural diversity and differences is not the real problem, the real problem is that we are being taught that certain differences are to be devalued, invalidated and discriminated against.

I believe that to counter intolerance we all have to – on an ongoing basis – be watchful for messages (implicit and explicit) that promote insensitivity to differences and oppression. This includes examining ourselves, our families, our communities, our businesses and services, our institutions and our cultural norms. We have to increase our awareness not only of our intolerant and biased thoughts but our feelings. In approaching this problem we must address both the "head" (thoughts) and the "heart" (feelings).

Countering misinformation through education isn’t enough when we have not dealt with the discomfort, fears, anger, resentments and frustrations that often accompany dealing with those who are different from ourselves.

Power Dynamics in the Service of Oppression

A great part of oppression is fueled by the need to maintain power inequities. Power dynamics and systems of privilege and oppression work together to establish and maintain intolerance and discrimination. We must understand these terms and how they operate in our social systems and personal relationships. Power involves the ability or capacity to act or perform effective control or influence over events or individuals. Oppression involves a systemic or personal abuse of power that hinders another’s right to be fully who they are and who they want to be. In my opinion, oppression operates very similarly to abuse. In this sense it can involve physical, emotional, spiritual or psychological mistreatment. Privilege involves holding a favored status (earned [merited] or unearned [assigned]) in a social stratification system that provides added benefits, resources, opportunities or advantages.

Strivings for power and control have led to the development of hierarchical social systems based on social categories. Examples of social categories in our society include race, ethnicity, class, gender, age, size, and sexual orientation, to name a few. Within these hierarchically stratified social systems certain groups are identified for domination and value is assigned based on their position in the hierarchy for that social category. Those who are conferred value within a particular social category are allotted privileges and access to additional resources and opportunities. Those who are assigned less value are not accorded the same privileges and opportunities of the valued group. The assignment of positive (and often unmerited) value is used to trade in on a variety of social and psychological privileges in our society. Worldviews are established and promoted that reflect assumptions regarding those in the valued and devalued groups. In general this differential treatment creates bridges or barriers depending on whether that particular groups difference is valued or devalued in the society. It is in this way that power dynamics within cultural systems fuel inequitable social relationships, social systems and institutions.

It is important that power dynamics and unequal power relationships be explored thoroughly when attempting to dismantle systems of oppression. To ignore the power dynamics that are operating to maintain social controls in systems and institutions is to ensure that the power status quo remains the same. The biggest block to social change is that individuals and groups are typically unwilling to give up their power and control unless they can be shown a personal or economic benefit.

Once we understand how systems of power and privilege work to establish and maintain systems of intolerance and oppression we can be alert to when it is happening and counter it. The beginning point is to identify the different forms of intolerance, understand the mechanisms (social and psychological) that maintain it and the extent to which intolerant belief systems and practices are part of our daily life.

To break the cycle of intolerance we need to understand our role in colluding with systems of oppression. There are basically three roles of oppression: target, agent and ally. Targets are those who have been identified for discriminatory and differential treatment that is negative. Agents are those who intentionally or unintentionally discriminate on the basis of a particular difference, seeking to maintain their privilege status. Allies are part of the valued social group in a social hierarchy yet are willing to help targets of that social category gain access to privilege. Allies use their privilege to equalize conditions for target group members. This empowering often takes the form of support, advocacy, valuing and affirming. These roles operate in relation to each other. Both agents and allies benefit from the oppression of target group members. They may be unwilling or unaware beneficiaries, but they benefit from being in the "valued" group just the same. Those who are agents and allies have the choice of whether to use their privilege to share resources or block opportunities. This choice in itself is a privilege. In my opinion, to not be an ally is to effectively become an agent although it may be to differing degrees (either you are part of the solution or you are part of the problem). To do nothing is to be an agent by collusion and contributes to the conspiracy of silence surrounding oppression. Understanding one’s role regarding different social categories is essential to breaking the cycle of oppression.

I don’t believe in a hierarchy of oppression. Each of us feels our oppression the greatest and we often consider that the most important form of intolerance to eliminate. It is important that we guard against this tendency to downplay the oppression of others as less important. We may tend to focus on the ways that we are oppressed and turn a blind eye to the ways that we hold privilege.

It is crucial that we all account for our privileges in addition to acknowledging the ways we are oppressed. Each individual has some areas in their life in which they experience privileges and some areas in which they experience oppression. People tend to get defensive when you speak of privileges because it stirs up their guilt or there is a fear that the ways they are oppressed will go unacknowledged. When the issue of privilege comes up people tend to focus on economic indicators such as money as the primary benefit of privilege, however, it is important to keep in mind that economic privilege is but one kind of privilege. More frequently benefits and privileges are distributed in terms of social or psychological advantages.

Beyond Tolerance: Food for thought and strategies for change

In closing I would like to suggest a few strategies for approaching this problem. Consider this a starting place in your journey to move "Beyond Tolerance."

In order to move beyond tolerance individuals and systems have to be willing on an ongoing basis to:

Honestly examine your beliefs and assumptions for misinformation and biases. Work actively to unlearn the misinformation associated with those targeted for oppression.
Honestly examine your feelings (fears, resentments, discomforts) about different others. Work actively to heal the emotional fears, hurts and discomforts associated with these learnings.
Increase your awareness and understanding of how you came to believe and feel the way you do about "different others."
Honestly assess whether you want real social change, cosmetic change or superficial change. Acknowledging that your position might change depending on the social category and whether you are operating as an agent or ally.
Honestly acknowledge whether or not you are choosing to operate as an agent or ally in different situations. Realize there are some groups you will not be able to be an ally for because their beliefs and ways of being are antithetical to yours. Seek to find a way to distinguish between sharing beliefs and imposing them.
Learn how to be an effective ally by acknowledging, using and sometimes sacrificing privileges to empower those who are targeted for oppression.
Be willing to examine conflict situations for the possibility that an "ism" or intolerance toward cultural differences might be operating. Notice and challenge situations when racism and other forms of oppression are denied, minimized and justified.
Strategically pick and choose your battles. It is important for you to decide what is important to challenge and what is not. This is a personal decision based on your interest, motivation, resources, support systems and energy.
Understand the connections between racism, sexism, economic issues, political issues, and other forms of injustice and oppression.
Work within systems and institutions to shift the paradigm from one that reinforces and rewards oppression and intolerance to one that values diversity and respects differences.

Editor’s Note: Due to time constraints, only part of Dr. Landrum-Brown’s presentation was actually delivered on the day of the conference.