This paper draws on the non-fiction writings of James Baldwin to introduce a novel conception of white guilt that is consistent with standard philosophical views that guilt is fitting only in cases of direct moral culpability while addressing practical criticism that white guilt is at variance with the aims of social justice movements. Taking on Baldwin's perspective on whiteness as a subjective choice, I develop an Identity-Based Account of white guilt describing the emotion as tracking culpability for a pernicious form of self-identification. My central claim is that white guilt is fitting because in experiencing the emotion, one is simultaneously recognizing the role their own identity plays in providing a source of justification for actions that sustain a system of injustice. Conceived in this way, responses to white guilt demand taking part in corrective political action as a means of moral self-creation. / Master of Arts / In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others due to police and vigilante actions, there has been a noticeable shift in racial sentiments among white individuals in the US and globally, leading to increased reports of white guilt. This paper explores the concept of white guilt as a negative, self-conscious emotion experienced by white people in response to their behaviors, attitudes, or perceived racist injustices. It addresses two main concerns: the appropriateness of white guilt when many white individuals lack direct culpability, and the effectiveness of outcomes driven by this guilt in combating racial injustice. Drawing on James Baldwin's writings, the paper proposes a novel understanding of white guilt, focusing on white individuals' self-perception rather than their actions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/118963 |
| Date | 10 May 2024 |
| Creators | Cantu, Luis |
| Contributors | Philosophy, Yaure, Philip Christopher, MacKenzie, Jordan, Corredor, Mercedes Maria |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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