Federal government sends employees from top US nuclear lab to insane reeducation camp for white privilege

Sandia National Laboratories made their white, male executives attend this reeducation program at a resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was called "White Men's Caucus on Eliminating Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia in Organizations."

According to documents, the white men were instructed to make a list of things that are part of white, male culture. A board reveals the words " MAGA Hat," "KKK," "Aryan Nation," "mass killings," "no rhythm," "power," among others.

A document details those things which are categorized as "white privilege," "male privilege," and those that are "heterosexual privilege."

The section on white privilege contains these assumptions "I do not need to ask myself if each negative episode or situation I experience has racial overtones." Another assumption is that the participants in the reeducation seminar "routinely witness and benefit from the many positive white male role models displayed in the media, politics, and entertainment that far outweight the Tim McVeighs and Ted Kaczynskis of white maleness."

The area on male privilege notes that men are more able to take on a heavy workload without considering additional responsibilities and obligations outside of work, and can "take up more time, get more respect, and be listened to more often than a woman."

White heterosexual privilege notes that photos of family can be freely displayed without concern for what others will think, and that a straight person doesn't need to "edit" what they say about, for example, what they did last weekend.

The reeducation was led by a company called White Men As Full Diversity Partners, which claims "We work with business leaders to reveal the unconscious biases that weigh heavily on women, people of color, LGBTQ+ and other frequently marginalized groups. When these biases are brought to the surface and understood for what they are, leaders can begin to disrupt status quo thinking that assumes everyone is just like them.

"Through this process," they claim, "we create courageous leaders. Courageous leaders aren't afraid of someone else's good idea, realizing they aren't all-knowing and all-seeing. Instead, courageous leaders come to work every day and say, 'I don't know, but let's go find out.'"

The disenfranchising roots of white maleness were exposed, such as "a tendency to rugged individualism," "operating from principles and conscience," a "focus on hard work, action and task completion," and "striving toward success."

These apparently were considered undesirable traits for those working in a nuclear weapons lab, primarily because these traits are associated with white maleness.

The nuclear lab workers were made to recite "white privilege statements" and "male privilege statements." They include things like having "easier access to the system," "loiter[ing] at Starbucks without having the police called," "not being rejected for a loan," and the assumption that local schools are a good fit for their kids.

For male privilege, the fact that men are "physically stronger" was something the men should apologize for. As well as the belief that "men can go into a room and not feel different," and can "assert leadership without being challenged."

Finally, at the close of the sessions, the white, male, nuclear lab employees had to write letters of apology to women and persons of colour in general.

In the leaked letters, the white men appear to be appropriately shamed. "I'm sorry for the time I have not stood up for you to create a safe place," one letter reads. "I'm sorry for the time I've spent not thinking about you..."

Christopher Ruffo published his research and analysis on his blog.