---
title: White fragility
slug: white-fragility
defined: true
excerpt: the tendency for dominant white culture to respond to racism with defensive, dismissive, and angry responses; “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.” (Robin DiAngelo).
speech: noun
flag:
  level: tool
  text: White Supremacy Tool
reading:
  - text: 'White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo'
    href: https://robindiangelo.com/publications/
  - text: 'White Fragility tag on The Root'
    href: https://www.theroot.com/tag/white-fragility
---

the tendency for dominant white culture to respond to racism with defensive, dismissive, and angry responses; “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.” (Robin DiAngelo).

## Impact

White fragility detracts from critical conversations about the systemic oppressors at play. The cost of white fragility is that it centres the feelings of white people while ignoring and invalidating the systemic harm conducted towards people of colour. White fragility also prevents white people from doing anti-racist work to unpack their socially internalised racism.

## Other Languages

[Français](/definitions/fr_FR/fragilite-blanche)