Interrogating Whiteness
This month, we highlight three anti-racism resources that challenge us to interrogate whiteness.
How can design be a tool of decolonization? How can we acknowledge privilege to help us dismantle systems of inequality? What can we as individuals do to confront our biases during difficult conversations?
January Coffee Break Picks
LINA’S PICK
Exhibition Design and Decolonization
"I found this article, first published in the journal Exhibition, to be a great resource for museums to rethink normalized design choices and more intentionally create exhibitions that center decolonization. It raised questions for me as well, especially in regards to the overall conversation on decolonization in museums—specifically, how to meaningfully incorporate decolonization into museums for visitor understanding, when even the concept of a museum, at its roots and origins, is colonization."
KATIE’S PICK
Why Does Privilege Make People So Angry?
“I appreciated this video about privilege shared by Dr. Melissa Crum in a resource library before Kera’s team retreat on anti-racism. This short, energetic clip gets straight to the point regarding why talking about privilege, and white privilege in particular, is often an emotionally-charged conversation. The video discusses how we can shift discussions about privilege away from feelings of guilt and blame and toward awareness. 'Guilt isn’t productive. Acknowledging privilege isn’t about shame, it’s about challenging the system that perpetuates inequality.'"
STEPHANIE’S PICK
Safe Spaces vs. Brave Spaces
“In early October, I had the pleasure of attending the Association for Art Museum Interpretation’s 2023 Convening. Given my background in artmaking and interpretation, I loved attending this conference, and I enjoyed reading this piece on AAMI’s blog, ‘Reflections on Interpretation.’ The post features excerpts from a conversation between interpretation colleagues: Manuel Ferreira, Ariel Russell, Loren Wright, and Sally Otis (moderator). In their conversation, they reflect on critical interpretive practices, significant changes in the field, and the importance of DEAI work within interpretation. Happy reading!”
New on the Learning Hub
What’s New At Kera?
In a virtual retreat last month with Dr. Melissa Crum, our team members spent time together discussing implicit biases, microaggressions, anti-racism, intercultural conflict, and more. We are working to apply our learnings and continue developing our workplace culture to benefit our team as a collective as well as our clients.
We have many new projects lined up for 2024! We’ll be working on a variety of evaluation and strategy projects for the National Museum of American History, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Association of Science and Technology Centers, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Check out some of our recent project summaries, including an overview of walk and talk interviews at the Denver Art Museum, mini ethnographies at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, and an impact strategy project with Creative Discovery Museum.
Moment of Wonder
“I’m a terrible gift giver—mostly because I don’t love receiving gifts, and I tend to think about what I would want, rather than the recipient (#AriesProblems). Needless to say, the holidays stress me out! But a friend recently got some bad news, and a few of us got together and sent a care package with our favorite things—some fancy butter, a lip balm, things like that. It felt nice to send something to hopefully brighten this particular moment for her, rather than because the calendar said so. I’ve officially become a gift giver, so if you get some random butter in the mail, you’ll know who it’s from!”
— Hannah
