Ask participants to read this excerpt from White By Law and White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.
Pre-work
Quiet room with enough chairs/space for all participants. If you have a group larger than ~6 people, chairs should ideally be mobile so people can break into small groups and then join the large group again.
Supplies
Activity
Read “caucusing guidelines” to the group
If you have a group that includes multiple levels of medical hierarchy (medical students, residents, attendings, nurses, MAs…) consider explicitly pointing out that expertise in medicine does not equate to expertise on issues of race and equity. One example, “For this exercise, experience and expertise may flip from how they are in clinic or on the wards. The attendings in the room may be the learners today and an MA may be the expert. Let’s recognize that we are all here to learn, share, and challenge each other.”
Break into small groups.
Group size may depend on the size of your large group. We have found that groups of 3-4 work well. Breaking into small groups allows people to be more vulnerable than they might be in a large group. It also makes it challenging to not participate.
Consider the make up of your group and how you might do this. Do you want mixed groups that include all levels (ex. student, intern, attending) or would it be helpful to break into groups that might be more comfortable for challenging discussions (ex. group attendings, students, residents separately)? Are the groups assigned in advance or do you have your group “count off” and then group by number (all the “1s” together, “2s” together, etc.)?
Discussion questions
When did you first realize you were white? Or when did you first begin to identify as white?
When are you most aware of your whiteness?
When you think about whiteness, what ideas, thoughts, or emotions arise?
Have you ever found yourself referring to white (or yourself) as “just normal”? Have you seen others do so?
How segregated is your life? Be honest.
What are the demographics in your neighborhood? Which neighbors do you know best? What did your neighborhood look like growing up?
What is the racial make-up of your friend group and family? Who are the friends you call in emergencies? Who gets invited to birthday parties and weddings?
How diverse have your schools been at each level of education? What do most of your teachers look like?
Report back
Ask each group to share some highlights of what they discussed with the large group.