Mark Chesler , Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Carol Hardy-Fanta , Director of Research for the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, John W. McCormack Institute of Public Affairs, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA Format Mark Chesler began by talking about white male privilege and how white men can engage in and benefit from multicultural coalitions. Throughout, Mark explored the dilemmas facing white males in multicultural coalitions and suggested possible guidelines for forming successful coalitions. Carol Hardy-Fanta discussed her view that Latino community empowerment may depend to a great extent on the political leadership of Latina women. Mark Chesler Mark Chesler began by explaining how organizations can learn from the work done in and on social movements working through issues of difference concerning race, class and gender.
Organizational work tends to depict change efforts as being built around consensus and harmony.
In particular, Mark focused on practical issues that white men face when working in multicultural coalitions. Mark shared some rules of engagement for white men in multicultural coalitions. In order to do this, white men must overcome a focus on individualism, or their desire to be understood as an individual. Rather, in multicultural coalitions, it is important to understand the ways in which one carries the baggage of accumulated privilege. At the same time, it is important to confront instances of one's own unmerited privileges.