"[An all-white group] is essential to creating the atmosphere of security,

safety and trust needed for participants to feel able to express, recognize

and change racist attitudes and behaviors. In addition to fostering trust, the

all-white group encourages the white students’ racial identification. One of

the important steps that whites must go through in learning about racism and

their role in combating it is to recognize themselves as white. While...ethnic

minorities are forced by their racial oppression to be aware of themselves as

members of racial groups, whites generally have the luxury to feel "normal,"

not aware of their whiteness."

Echols, I., Gabel, C., Landerman, D., & Reyes, M., (1988). "An Approach for Addressing Racism,Ethnocentrism, and Sexism in the Curriculum," in C. Jacobs & D. Bowles (Eds.), Ethnicity and Race. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of Social Workers