In this roundtable we will discuss (white) Western aesthetics' roots in racism and colonialism. We will brainstorm how we as white artists take responsibility for the whiteness in our work. Since whiteness is not always apparent or palpable to white people, we will learn to perceive whiteness, even and especially in art by white people that is 'not about race or racism.' We will question the worldview that teaches us that we do not need to consider whiteness as a part of what informs our work, or as a part of how racial violence and oppression shows up in various art communities.

This roundtable is informed by Toni Morisson's famous quote on racism: “The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing.”  

About naphtali 

Ruled by Pluto and Mars, naphtali is a yt/Jewish, queer trans* Scorpio ascendant into intellectual stimulants and errant intimacies, mysticism, Black (queer/trans*) feminism, citrus, night bouquets and care/study. They are a member of the P4W Memorial Collective where they do collective creative praxis and abolitionist organizing with folks who have been in prison and folks who never have.