Essays on life, lineage, and the inheritance of whiteness

Descendants of people who have caused harm and those of people who were and are victimized often stand apart, or in opposition. In these times, when efforts to address systematic racism are raised up, white people especially are called to process their continuing role.

A new collection of essays takes on that responsibility. Whiteness Is Not an Ancestor: Essays on Life and Lineage by White Women explores that call and that space between. In this event, the editor Lisa Iversen is joined by two of the essayists. They discuss the role of whiteness in collective moments of immigration, colonialism, slavery, and war, and disentangle themes of innocence, grief, race, privilege, and belonging in their families and ancestries.

Lisa Iversen is the director of the Center for Ancestral Blueprints. She was joined by author and activist June BlueSpruce and wilderness initiation guide Anne Hayden. University of Washington Professor Bonnie Duran moderated the discussion.

Town Hall Seattle and Third Place Books presented this discussion on February 11.