Key Concepts in Critical Whiteness Studies

Rooted in the fifteenth century and the beginning of Western colonialism, Whiteness is a pervasive cultural, social, political, and economic system permeating all aspects of the everyday and institutional lives in Western societies and globally. Developed in the late twentieth century, critical Whiteness studies offer a new conceptual angle and analytical tools to expose and scrutinize Whiteness across professional and academic realms. In setting the stage for the edited collection of chapters in the Handbook of Critical Whiteness, this chapter provides a brief overview of critical Whiteness studies and defines key concepts including White supremacy, White privilege, and White fragility, among others. This work builds on and contributes to the scholarship and actions taken up by many authors, activists, and organizations worldwide confronting Whiteness and undoing racism.