Washington Post is condemned for video urging Americans to set up ‘white accountability groups’ and force themselves into ‘a period of deep shame’ over their skin color

• The video is the latest in a podcast series called The New Normal hosted by Nicole Ellis
• It aired on Friday, and suggests white people segregate themselves into groups to discuss how white people have harmed people of color over history
• One expert on the episode, Resmaa Manakem, suggests people take part in these groups for years before they can confront people of color
• Trauma therapist Ilyse Kennedy said she took part in one such group and said it was important for white people to feel ‘a period of deep shame’
• The episode faced backlash, with one saying the suggestions were akin to a ‘pseudoreligious movement’ and constituted ‘neoracism’  

The Washington Post has been branded ‘neoracist,’ and as promoting a ‘pseudoreligious movement’ for the latest episode of its podcast series urging readers to hold ‘white accountability groups’ and feel ‘deep shame’ over their race. 

Its series, hosted by Nicole Ellis and called the New Normal, launched last spring, originally to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. The podcast shifted to conversations about race after the death of George Floyd last year. 

New Normal’s latest episode, launched on Friday, discusses how white people can combat white supremacy, among them were forming so-called ‘white accountability groups.’  

‘An antiracist culture does not exist among white people,’ Trauma specialist and author Resmaa Manakem says introducing the concept. ‘White people need to start getting together specifically around race.’ 

Hosted by Nicole Ellis (pictured), the podcast, called The New Normal, was originally launched to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, but shifted to conversations about race after the death of George Floyd last year. The latest episode featured experts calling for ‘white accountability groups’ to discuss the harm white supremacy has had on people of color

He adds that the groups should meet and discuss for up to five years, until, ‘you end up with a community that is aligned with each other.’

Rebecca Toporek, who is a professor in the Department of Counseling at San Francisco State University agreed with the concept, saying that such groups, ‘are really helpful in terms of having a place to process, having a group of people whose responsibility it is to call me on things, or to challenge me.’

Ellis then speaks to trauma therapist Ilyse Kennedy, who said she had been taking part in such a group, and said that it was important that members experience a,  ‘period of deep shame for being white and for acknowledging the harm that our ancestors have caused,’ adding, ‘we can’t ask people of color to hold our hand.’ 

Toporek said such measures might be necessary to separate oneself from white supremacy. 

Criticism of the podcast focused on its esoteric suggestions

‘Part of the structure of racism … is to keep us from recognizing that racism is part of our daily lives.’ she said. ‘So it’s a longer term process of looking at your understanding of yourself in the world, both historically but also contextually. Also the family you live in, the community you live in, and what role whiteness plays in that.’ 

Jesse Singal questioned the concepts promoted on the episode and likened them to a cult, tweeting, ‘This is a very strange pseudoreligious movement that is likely to do more harm than good.’

‘I’m fighting against race supremacy; the Washington Post wants to install it everywhere,’ tweeted Christopher Rufo a senior fellow for the Manhattan Institute, 

Rufo, one of the most famous opponents of critical race theory in the US, added: ‘The game is that they want to create an essentialized racial category (“whiteness”), load it with negative connotations, then impose it on individuals through guilt, shame, and school indoctrination. This approach is reductive, manipulative, and malicious. Don’t fall for it.’

Others accused the post of spreading ‘ignorant neoracist nonsense’ in the latest video

Some said it vilified white people

User @AGHamilton29 called the podcast episode a: ‘A 5 minute video propagating ignorant neoracist nonsense. It’s really astonishing the extent to which this stuff is becoming mainstream and normalized, especially by the press.’

Another user replied that: ‘It’s like a bizarre new religion. They have their own language, their idea of original sins (whiteness), and seeking redemption through “doing the work” to understand race issues. It’s a disconnect from the reality 99% of Americans live in.’

Discussions of race and ‘anti-racism’ efforts to actively tackle discrimination have hogged the headlines in recent months, and sparked fierce discussions between supporters and opponents.

Those who support critical race theory and anti-racism teachings say they are necessary to highlight the depth of racism faced by black Americans in almost every aspect of their life.

Opponents say the theories are too unequivocal, offer few solutions, and serve only to divide people further.  

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