Handout: White Person’s Questionnaire

Developed by Frederick A Miller, The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Inc. (Katz, 2003).

Reflect - The Past

  1. When you were growing up did you have friends who were aboriginal people? If yes what are the things you did together? Where did you play - whose house? What messages did you get from your parents about these friendships (remember silence can also be a message)? 

  2. When you were growing up did you have friends who were people of colour? If yes what are the things you did together? Where did you play - whose house? What messages did you get from your parents about these friendships? 

  3. What was your most significant childhood experience involving people of colour? What did you learn from that experience? 

  4. What was your most significant childhood experience involving aboriginal people? What did you learn from that experience? 

  5. With respect to race, what was your most significant experience that involved white people? What did you learn from that experience? 

  6. What are some other thoughts about your exposure or lack of exposure to childhood experiences with aboriginal people? 

  7. What are some other thoughts about your exposure or lack of exposure to childhood experiences with people of colour?

Think - Today

  1. Do you have people of colour who are friends? If yes, what groups of people of colour are included in your friends, and which groups are absent? 

  2. Do you have aboriginal people who are friends? If yes, what do you know about the tribe or band that your aboriginal friends belong to? What do you know about the aboriginal tribes throughout Canada?

  3. Were there aboriginal people at the last party you hosted, or attended? 

  4. Were there people of colour at the last party you hosted, or attended? 

  5. What are some other thoughts about the racial/colour diversity as it exists or does not exist in your life today?

Imagine - The Future

  1. Will there be people of colour at your funeral and who will they be? 

  2. Will there be aboriginal people at your funeral and who will they be? 

  3. Will you be more or less likely to develop friendships with aboriginal people over the next few years and why do you feel this way? 

  4. Will you be more or less likely to develop friendships with people of colour over the next few years and why do you feel this way? 

  5. What are some other thoughts about current and future relationships with racially diverse people?

References:

Katz, J. H. (2003). White Awareness: Handbook for Anti-racism Training. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.