Activism and Love: Loving White People Through the Struggle

Abstract

Love , as a radical, revolutionary concept, is necessary in social justice work. This chapter is an example of the deep and difficult struggle that is inherent in the act of social justice pedagogy and activism . We can sometimes forget that although we have come into critical consciousness around race and gender oppressions (in this particular case), it is constant work to disrupt the attempts we make to undo, critique, and eradicate our favorable positions to power and dominance. Understanding how to love radically and transformatively sustains people of color as we do the difficult work of sitting in relationship with and working to dismantle power hierarchies with white people who must learn to undo deeply internalized dominance.