Exploration of Whiteness: The podcast often discusses race, including whiteness, which is often invisible to white people themselves but not to people of color.
Guest
Baynard Woods:
Writer and journalist from South Carolina, now based in Baltimore.
Author of "Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness."
Key Points from the Interview with Baynard Woods
Baynard's Background
Grew up in a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina.
Family history tied to Confederates and slave owners.
Experienced a racial reckoning as a white person, especially after the Freddie Gray incident in Baltimore.
Concepts from "Inheritance"
Autobiography of Whiteness: Woods wants to make whiteness visible and understand how it intersects with his life.
Structural Racism: Emphasizes personal accountability within the context of structural racism.
Family History: Discovered his great-grandfather killed a black man post-Civil War and fled.
Cultural Background and Personal Evolution
Cultural dissonance with his upbringing; his family normalized some racial attitudes.
Class and Manners: Differentiation within the white community based on class rather than morality.
Perspective on Whiteness: Realized whiteness exists in opposition to blackness.
Whiteness and Power
Whiteness as a lie that shapes behavior and experiences.
Emphasizes the importance of understanding personal and systemic impacts of whiteness.
Reckoning with History
Historical Understanding: Challenges the idea that white people in the South don't understand their historical context.
Naming and Identity: Crossed out his own name as a form of symbolic reparation.
Family and History: Confronted and researched his family's past.
Broader Implications
Current Legislation: Concern over laws restricting teaching about racial history.
Future Generations: Advocates for educating young people about a comprehensive view of history.
Organizing and Activism: Believes in active participation to dismantle systems of power.
Personal Costs
Experienced estrangement from family over his views and research.
Reflections from Code Switch Hosts
Discussed how white people often remain in predominantly white spaces and how exposure to diverse environments can shift perspectives.
South Carolina's racial demographics illustrate the depth of segregation that can exist despite significant black populations.
Conclusion
Call to Action: Encourages white people to actively engage with and examine their own racial identities and histories.
Additional Information
Podcast Name: Code Switch
Episode Focus: Whiteness and personal reckoning with racial history.