Nanette D. Massey

Nanette Massey conducted a workshop

Nanette Massey conducted a workshop for the Bar Association of Erie County based upon Robin D’Angelo’s “White Fragility, why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism.”

It was enlightening and inspiring. Ms. Massey is a superb presenter and facilitator, who deftly dealt with a group that included people who had read the book and who had not.

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn with her, and hope to have more such opportunities in the future.

My biggest takeaways from last night’s event [on Zoom] hosted by Nanette D Massey; drop the finger pointing at the whole people who ‘aren’t doing the work’ and see where I can do more. And it’s more about ‘being’ the change other white peoples can see. Less about teaching and preaching and booklists. There’s no ‘magic formula’ to ‘getting it right’. In black spaces, ‘Show up, shut up, listen, aim to interact as fellow humans rather than drawing attention to ‘how cool am I for showing up in your black space!’…and I have definitely been that white person who wants every one to know ‘I’m doing the work’ so that I feel better about myself. Thanks again, Nanette

Well done, Nanette. I enjoyed

Well done, Nanette. I enjoyed and learned from your explanation of the variables involved in responding to an anti-racist remark as outlined in “White Fragility”. I had listened to the audio book but missed the intricacy of that issue. Your commentary was excellent and very appropriate for all “levels” of listeners.

But it’s amazing. I have

But it’s amazing. I have no words to tell you how wise, insightful, intuitive and GENEROUS, I think you are.

this was one of the

this was one of the best i have attended. Nanette stayed on point and did not feell the need to take care of the white people. she was also very supportive of us all. i will do this again.

Nanette, I can’t tell you

Nanette, I can’t tell you how impactful your series in White Fragility for nurses was for me [Jan 2021 online]. It’s incredible how lessons, even small redirections, can influence and ripple out in ways that are unimaginable. I am a nursing faculty at Augsburg University and I teach a 45 hour practicum course for nursing grad students called, Dismantling White Supremacy Culture. Your teaching to white persons, like myself, to shift from “We” to “I” language had an incredible effect on me- not only personally but professionally. I am now coaching my white students to do the same in class in order to take accountability in white supremacy culture. And likewise they are coaching their white peers, friends, and family as well. Thank you so much.

I really, really enjoyed the

I really, really enjoyed the Sunday Webinar on Race & Faith, and found it incredibly enlightening to hear so many divergent points of view. In fact, I told a couple friends about it afterwards, and was wishing I could ‘share’ it with them somehow. This is a topic I’ve been trying to become more knowledgeable about, so it was great to have such informed perspectives.

Thank you for presenting a

Thank you for presenting a terrific and thought-provoking program. Race is a tricky subject, but the way you brought it all back at the end with the advice to stop being ‘nice’ was brilliantly done. It’s an action I know I will aspire to.

By giving us context and backstory, you did a great job connecting the present with the past.

Thanks again. I admire you greatly and am grateful that our paths have crossed.

Janet Schneider, Adult Programming Librarian
Peninsula Public Library
Lawrence, NY

Thanks Nanette for joining our

Thanks Nanette for joining our group, the West Linn Alliance (West Linn, Oregon) April 22, 2021 virtual meeting discussing the book “White Fragility”. I only want to say that I greatly appreciate your contribution to tonight’s discussion. Invaluable. Especially because it enabled me to openly express my white fragility and have someone illuminate that for me, when otherwise I may have gone on my merry way, unchallenged.

Thank you again for that illumination. Hope to see and/or hear you again.

Nanette It was amazing today!! I

Nanette

It was amazing today!! I was so delighted to witness and share in this growing awareness for myself as a “white” woman…I have so
much to “hear” and learn …I’m humbled by my unawareness …

Thank you for your open joy and desire to teach what has been terribly missing in the education of white folks…

Bless you,
Mary Anne Geskie

Last thought: you are a

Last thought: you are a REALLY GREAT facilitator. Whenever someone was going a little too long or going off topic, you were amazing at reeling people back in. It’s not surprising that you have built a following.

Cedrick Simmons
Director of Equity
Greece, NY Central School District

Zoom Sunday 1/9/22 I am sharing

Zoom Sunday 1/9/22

I am sharing this with you as you asked us at the end of the session what we learned. I could not answer you at that time because I was swimming among several points made that day and I did not feel grabbing one point would be appropriate, or accurate. So I want you to know, now, that your sessions (I have attended 2, maybe 3) have been awesome stepping stones in my journey and my practice. Thank you. Sincerely, deeply, thank you for your intentional approach to help us learn. You have made a difference in my journey and I am forever grateful.

The comments from participants, sharing

The comments from participants, sharing their takeaways from events with Nanette, really say it all. We are all coming from a different family, different community, even a different region in the country as we navigate life. All these differences should be celebrated, not used as tools for division.
Nanette makes it clear that we all have work to do; that we can’t expect change, more inclusivity and equity, if we don’t identify disparities around us and ask how can we be allies/change the environment. This country’s deliberate barriers set up to deny many the access to so many aspects of life, not only encourages racial superiority, it hurts all of us in the process. Thank you Nanette for your candor, your experience and your ongoing mission to educate.

Nanette spoke to our group,

Nanette spoke to our group, Embracing Race-The Conversation, on Thursday, February 10. She began her talk discussing Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676. I took an anti-racism course through my church in which they briefly mentioned the rebellion, but Nanette took the time to make us understand why this event is so pivotal in American history. I believe every white person in the U.S. should be made aware of this history. This “us against them” mentality was fabricated by rich Virginia plantation owners to pit poor whites against blacks in order to dilute their collective control. But as Nanette made clear, “We are all in the soup together.” The rich and powerful have cleverly given all other whites a little extra to make them feel artificially “superior” to all other races. Her talk was excellent and provoked many interesting questions. I thought about what she said for days.

topic was “Reparations, A Historical

topic was “Reparations, A Historical Context”. Nanette brought up myriad ways that access to wealth has been systematically and intentionally denied to Black Americans from slavery right up to the present. In just an hour I have way more context to consider why and how I can redistribute any part of my own white-inherited wealth, and also many new places to continue learning. I learned a ton and will definitely be back. Thanks so much Nanette.

I attended the meeting today

I attended the meeting today with Robin D’ Angelo. Nanette was exceptional. She took the discussion to another level by tying in White Fragility and Nice Racism to real-life situations that impact Black people every day. When she talked about how a 12-year-old could lose his life in this country just for being Black, she touch my heart. As a Bllack mother of a Black son, it hit home the importance of having these conversations. She provides real ways that White people can learn to be anti-racist and hold each other accountable. Nanette, I appreciate you and your work. Thank you!

Nanette, [Ref. March 20 Zoom meeting

Nanette,

[Ref. March 20 Zoom meeting with Robin D’Angelo:] It was such a good experience! So many wise things resonated! And then that poem. It’s one thing, I imagine, to read it. We experienced it.

Something else. When I figured out how to access the meeting via ZOOM, I enjoyed seeing the faces react. So many Black attendees were nodding at the validation Robin offered. It was just good to see.

I think particularly white people sometimes feel blamed when Robin speaks. Today I witnessed the faces of understanding and validation. Congratulations!

And thank you for the mouse trophy analogy! Police behavior, like when one of them killed a 12 year old black boy, is eerily too much like when a cat catches a mouse. Cats seem proud of their trophy. Individual officers might reflect, but when it’s too late. It’s forums like this that offer valuable understanding and awareness of a manufactured perception—an awareness that could literally save lives, avoid sorrow and regret.

Me and my wife Teri

Me and my wife Teri attended the event Nanette hosted with Robin DiAngelo. What an honor to be able to participate directly with questions and discussions as opposed to just being a passive observer. Being able to participate makes all the difference in the world.

Nanette’s and Robin‘s interactions were also great to see. Nanette was able to share experience and perspectives that Robin had not contemplated and Robin had the humility to model teachability.

We are all at different points on our journey of taking part in racial justice. Nannette’s forums makes room for all of us regardless of where we are.

More than anything though, it is clear that if we are going to change our country, we must start with the person in the mirror.

Furthermore, I know these events are very difficult to put on requiring physical, psychological, technical stamina even when everything goes perfect. I know Nanette does not have a huge staff and had to face some hurdles yet she and her relatively small crew put on an amazing event!

I’ve attended several of Nanette’s

I’ve attended several of Nanette’s zoom sessions through Eventbrite. The sessions take the book White Fragility to another level. Nanette creates a safe space for honest dialogue. I’ve laughed and cried and everything in between. Nanette gives so much of herself and I’ve learned and grown through her generosity. I am incredibly grateful and can’t recommend her sessions enough!

Dear Nanette, You blew me away

Dear Nanette,

You blew me away a couple months ago when Robin was your guest. But senior moments and all, I forgot your name. Now that I’m following you, I won’t miss your gems.

Thank you for the work you do, for the hope you keep alive in yourself, and for the faith you have that we white people can do much, much better than our history suggests.

In love and solidarity,
Liza

Just had the privilege to

Just had the privilege to attend Real Talk on Race workshop with Robin DiAngelo on Saturday (November 5, 2022). What an amazing duo you are!

I am on our DEI Committee at work and am looking forward to sharing many of the insights from Real Talk with them. Hoping that we can use this positive energy to deepen our conversations (and, get the RIGHT conversations started)!

To be succinct: through her

To be succinct: through her presentational skills and style, she has made this white male feel challenged and more enlightened, while not threatened or shamed. That’s not easy! I attended her workshop at Unitarian Universalist Church in Buffalo (May, 2018?), and we have more informal conversations as well.

I too have attended one

I too have attended one of Ms. Massey’s workshops, this one in Rochester, NY. The workshop was entitled “Moving Beyond White Fragility: Honest and Effective Conversations About Race.” Mostly attended by white folks, of course, her presentation using her personal conversations with a former white friend, was most effective. The response/questions from the audience from both white and Black attendees were intelligent and pertinent to the overall message of her presentation. I found myself embarrassed at times as I recalled my own insensitivity regarding racial issues, but also could see how far I have come from just a few years ago. Education needs to be ongoing as our society tries to navigate this sensitive, sometimes uncomfortable, but necessary topic. Through workshops like these, new ideas presented begin to percolate and take hold and we hopefully move forward. I enjoyed the hours spent at the workshop. Do yourself a favor and check out Ms. Massey’s message if you have the opportunity.

I attended Ms. Massey’s workshop

I attended Ms. Massey’s workshop in Williamsville in Spring 2019. With humor, compassion and grace, Ms. Massey was able to call white people in to the table of difficult conversations about race. She provided concrete examples of how the white perspective is often so very blind to the everyday minor and major challenges faced by African-Americans in America, and she called on us to challenge our own culturally conditioned assumptions about race, class, education and more…I would recommend her workshops to any groups looking to deepen their self-reflective journeys of anti-racism, regardless of how far along they are on that path.

I had the privilege of

I had the privilege of attending Ms. Massey’s first presentation using the book White Fragility. It was an excellent experience that allowed white people, like me, to face our latent racism without shaming or insult, but with a desire to address the reality and change it. Nanette has a unique talent of making people feel at ease while addressing very difficult issues. Her presence is engaging and compassionate without being apologetic or excusing inappropriate comments. She helps us really examine our responses and feelings. I highly recommend her workshops for any organization that wants to address issues around race and have meaningful dialogue. Thank you, Nanette, for helping us grow!

I attended a white privilege

I attended a white privilege workshop led by Nanette on 5/18/19. Her grace with dealing with a white audience at various stages of its journey into deeper self discovery about racism in our country was stunning.

Nanette spoke from her heart, sharing personal experiences. She was then able to contextual them into a framework that hit me over the head like the proverbial two-by-four. Before long, I was able to start understanding how a white person’s friendship (and statements) might be viewed radically differently by a person of color, who is on the receiving end.

I made it my obligation to seek Nanette out and get to know her better as an individual. We have established a friendship that entails personal growth out of mutual respect.

I have since discovered that her personal journey leads her to be able to understand the white experience and mythology. For much of her life, she believed the falsehoods perpetuated by the power culture — white America. It is this mythology that has enabled my cluelessness about America’s historical past and white privilege.

Nanette’s talk at the North

Nanette’s talk at the North Presbyterian Church [May 2019] was an eye-opening education in the depth and immensity of the burden Black people carry 24/7 in our society and in the direct impact of embedded racism on their life chances. It was enlightening for those in the white community who have actively worked to reduce racism for decades and those who think it is largely a problem of the past. Her request that we all look inside ourselves and evaluate our knowledge of racism’s impacts, and into our daily lives for the conversation opportunities we have to challenge subtle or status quo maintaining positions was most welcome.

I just attended Nanette’s first

I just attended Nanette’s first online workshop “White Fragility: Black Echo–A unique opportunity”. I enjoyed the workshop despite the technical difficulties on having to move to Zoom at the last minute.
The discussion of “White Women’s Tears” was eye opening. We were challenged to listen to the Black person’s experience and not make our reaction about us.
Nanette also talked about pattern recognition and prejudice. Using pattern recognition, we can see when a prejudice is no longer helpful and let it go.
I look forward to attending another of Nanette’s workshops.

I also attended Nanette’s online

I also attended Nanette’s online workshop on March 29th – it was a great experience. I very much appreciated the opportunity to interact. Nanette started by asking us to pose questions for discussion, which led to a rich discussion. Nanette shared her perspective of the issues we discussed and many of the participants also chimed in, which was very helpful to understand various points of view. I appreciate Nanette’s sense of understanding for white experience, while at the same time her frank ability to lay it on the table when addressing the blind spots that we keep white people tend to carry around. Thank you, Nanette.

Nanette’s Sunday session was really

Nanette’s Sunday session was really great! She doesn’t sugarcoat serious topics but still comes to the work with a generous spirit and enthusiasm for healthy cross-racial dialogue. Her advice to white allies is super concrete and applicable to everyday life. Highly recommended!

Today’s session on Bacon’s Rebellion

Today’s session on Bacon’s Rebellion was very thought provoking. Nanette was able to provide a detailed and accurate description of the events without notes. She made it interesting and informative. The discussion and Q&A that followed were very informative.

Attended Nanette’s webinar discussing the

Attended Nanette’s webinar discussing the topic of “white fragility” today. Good discussion with Nanette starting us out with some interesting historical context regarding white/black designations and how that came about. My main takeaway was just leaving with a sense of wanting to do more to help my fellow man (black/white/poor/American). Especially amidst this pandemic, one feels helpless and a little hopeless. I’m thinking I can volunteer from my home to make calls for the Dem candidate for NY27 (McMurray), who is interested in making Universal healthcare a reality. It’s something I believe in very much and would ultimately benefit every member of the “working class”.
Thank you, Nanette, for the inspiration!

Nanette presented to our staff

Nanette presented to our staff in the Department of Access Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology on January 10, 2020. Her presentation was not your “typical” academic lecture but one that was very real, very well informed and one that resonated with all of our staff. Nanette brought us all to a place where we could access and discuss the topic of White Fragility and the many ways it is displayed so that we could begin to have open dialogue.

Thank you for your work Nanette, you were a breath of fresh air for our staff and we would love to have you back!

Hope you are doing well!

You have a wonderful presenting

You have a wonderful presenting presence, especially confronting people for the racism hiding in their statements (and probably their personal beliefs) to the contrary while leaving all dignity in tact. You are a natural teacher. I thought the second half of your Zoom was dynamite. I had assumed you’d be talking about the Diangelo book (which I love and thought to be a breakthrough work) and was a little thrown off wondering when it would come in—my fault for assuming. Your ability to address the big charged issue and not drive away an audience while doing it is really an art.

Keep up you good work. We will see you again.

I thought you were a

I thought you were a great facilitator and I admire your skill in graciously educating people and intervening in their train of thought to interject some new perspectives.

What I really appreciate about

What I really appreciate about Nanette is her balance of humor, encouragement, and seriousness when she is speaking to her white audiences. As a fierce advocate for the black community, she inspires me to take action by examining our country’s history, moving through my whiteness, and embracing our common humanity. She implores her white audiences to make meaningful and mundane connections with the black and brown neighbors in their community so that change may actually be possible.

I want to thank you

I want to thank you for what you are trying to do, I can only imagine the personal toll it takes on you to try to create the awareness/awakening, it must feel sometimes like a very long, hard road. You have been helpful to me. I appreciate your style-you can be pointed yet gracious at the same time, and you have made my efforts at greater engagement more rewarding than they would have been without your participation.

Hi Nanette, I just want to

Hi Nanette,

I just want to take a moment to share with you the gratitude that I have for you. I am a part of the racial training/discussion group and I am so appreciative of the space that you hold. You inspire me. You are a fantastic leader and you hold us accountable. You have boundaries, you ask depthful questions, and you know how to get us to see and understand. Thank you for taking your precious time to help us whities along 🙂
I wish you nothing but success!
I look forward to our next meeting.

I stumbled upon Nanette D.

I stumbled upon Nanette D. Massey’s online workshop “White Fragility – Police and Thieves” and found it worthwhile and thought-provoking. It is now a full week later and I’m still mulling over things I learned. My eyes are open more as I move through my days, wondering how other peoples’ experiences are. To have a perspective shift of this magnitude after just one hour-plus online experience is remarkable. Thank you!

I attended Nanette’s 5 week

I attended Nanette’s 5 week Zoom webinar series on “Me and White Supremacy”. Her workshop helped increase my comfort level talking about race and I’m so glad I took it. Nanette’s work is the type that will create so many small ripples in the big pond of American society…in the long-term, Western New York will owe a great debt to Nanette Massey. She’s changing lives for the better.

This is the second workshop

This is the second workshop I attended of Nanette. Her straight forward get to the real style has got me hooked and wanting to dig deeper! This session being a focus on just one of the chapters of White Fragility I was excited for the laser focus! Thank you Nanette for keeping it simple and straight to the point!

I had the privilege of

I had the privilege of attending the Real Talk on Race workshop on November 5th at the Montante Center in Buffalo. I was surprised and encouraged by the large audience who attended. There was lots to think about and discuss (both during and after the workshop). I found it to be very educational and worthwhile.

With regard to the venue, I found it difficult to hear everything the speakers and audience said because the acoustics were not optimal. Others I spoke with during the lunch break said they too were having trouble hearing everything. I fear we may have missed some important points of discussion due to poor acoustics.

I attended Real Talk on

I attended Real Talk on Race workshop with Robin DiAngelo on Saturday (November 5, 2022). This was the most eye-opening experience I’ve had centered around race that was inclusive of White people in all my life!!! Conferences such as this is necessary and it’s overdue to utilize this POWER and dismantle and deconstruct one system at a time in order to change the narrative. There needs to be more conferences like this. My spirit was filled and I know there’s more work to do.

I attended ‘Real Talk About

I attended ‘Real Talk About Race’ on November 5, 2022. Nanette’s presentation highlighted real life events in our community and interactions between friends to illustrate the realities and blind spots of racism and how we need to have a different conversation about it than the one we’re usually having. She has humor, empathy and the ability to drive home the truth powerfully on this topic.

My girlfriend found out about

My girlfriend found out about [the 11/5/22 workshop at Canisius College presented by Nanette and Robin DiAngelo] and we decided to go together (we’re both white, btw). She and I met in a book club that read White Fragility before I joined. Not having read it myself yet, I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn more about it.

One thing I learned is how hurtful and exhausting black people often find their interactions with “progressive” white people. I’ve been confused by some unhappy interactions in the past (interactions that I’ve been a part of or just observed) and this goes a long way to explaining what happened. One example involves a black coworker, M., and a white former coworker, R. M. developed a strong dislike for R., who I always got along with. I struggled to figure out where things went wrong, but from what M. told me, in retrospect, I think R. was constantly making tone-deaf resume statements around M. I don’t think I’ve been that obnoxious, but I’m not sure anyone would have told me if I had. Certainly no one told R.

Another thing I learned was that insistence on the rules of engagement (Chapter 10 of “White Fragility”} can stifle dialogue. Frankly it sounded like you were describing every argument my girlfriend and I have ever had. We had a good talk about it after. You might have been the relationship counselor we needed.

Yet another thing I’ll remember is Robin’s story about repairing instances of racism. It sounds like using that approach could turn an awful situation into something positive and productive.