The Culture and Family Lab at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, part of the Institute of Child Development, hosts a webpage that frames what it calls a "Whiteness Pandemic" and offers resources aimed at addressing it.
The page argues that many people born or raised in the United States have been socialized into a culture the lab describes as "Whiteness," and that adults—particularly White adults—can play a role in "halting and reversing" that influence through ongoing self-reflection, re‑education, and antiracist parenting or caregiving. The site suggests that cultivating a healthy White racial identity and practicing courageous antiracist caregiving are part of that work.
What the webpage says
The lab characterizes racism not only as an epidemic of harms inflicted on people of color but also as driven and sustained by an underlying cultural pattern it calls the "Whiteness Pandemic." According to the site, "Whiteness refers to culture, not biology: the centuries-old culture of Whiteness features colorblindness, passivity, and White fragility, which are all covert expressions of racism common in the United States."
"If you were socialized into the culture of Whiteness during childhood, it is not your fault, but as an adult it is now your responsibility to self-reflect, re‑educate yourself, and act. If you are a White adult, antiracist action involves an ongoing process of self-reflection in order to develop a healthy positive White identity while engaging in courageous antiracist parenting/caregiving."
Resources, research and funding
The page lists several experts and links to resources, including materials described as "especially for white parents." It references scholarship and works by writers such as Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, and offers practical guidance, for example a piece titled "How to explain white privilege in terms simple enough for a child."
One paper featured on the site surveyed a sample described as mostly liberal White mothers with an average household income above $125,000; the authors concluded that family socialization into the culture of Whiteness—characterized by colorblindness, passivity and fragility—helps perpetuate systemic racism. Project funding is listed as coming from multiple sources, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Reactions and context
Defending Education, a parents' rights organization, released a report criticizing the materials and described them as politically left‑leaning programming. Rhyen Staley, research director at Defending Education, said the prominence of diversity, equity and inclusion programming in higher education gives such ideas legitimacy and urged universities to discontinue similar efforts.
A University of Minnesota spokesperson responded to inquiries by reaffirming the institution's commitment to academic freedom and to supporting scholarly work within the university's research mission.
The webpage follows other controversies involving the university, including reporting that the institution supplied K–12 teachers with ethnic studies lesson plans that critics say promote particular political perspectives. Supporters of the lab emphasize that its work is scholarly and intended to inform research and practice on family socialization, race, and child development.
