Handout: Racial Questionnaire for White People

Part A:  Reflect — the past

  1. When you were growing up, did you have Indigenous friends? If you did, what activities did you do together? Where did you play and at whose house? What messages did you get from your parents about these friendships? Remember that silence can also be a message.

  2. When you were growing up, did you have friends who were people of colour? If you did, what activities did you do together? Where did you play and at whose house? What messages did you get from your parents about these friendships?

  3. When you were growing up, did you have white friends with different ethnic/cultural backgrounds as you? Where did you play and at whose house? What messages did you get from your parents about these friendships?

  4. What was your most significant childhood experience involving people of colour? What did you learn from that experience?

  5. What was your most significant childhood experience involving Indigenous people? What did you learn from that experience?

  6. With respect to race, what was your most significant experience that involved white people? What did you learn from that experience?

  7. What are some other thoughts about your exposure or lack of exposure to childhood experiences with Indigenous people?

  8. What are some other thoughts about your exposure or lack of exposure to childhood experiences with people of colour?

  9. What are some other thoughts about your exposure or lack of exposure to childhood experiences with white people from a different ethnic/cultural background as you?

Part B:  Think — today

  1. Do you have friends who are people of colour? If you do, what groups of people of colour are included in your friends, and which groups are absent?

  2. Do you have Indigenous friends? If you do, what do you know about the tribe or band that your Indigenous friends belong to? What do you know about the Indigenous tribes throughout Canada?

  3. Were there Indigenous people at the last party you hosted or attended?

  4. Were there people of colour at the last party you hosted or attended?

  5. What are some other thoughts about racial/colour diversity as it exists? Or does not exist in your life today?

Part C:  Imagine  — the future

  1. Will there be people of colour at your funeral and who will they be?

  2. Will there be Indigenous people at your funeral and who will they be?

  3. Will you be more or less likely to develop friendships with Indigenous people over the next few years? Why do you feel this way?

  4. Will you be more or less likely to develop friendships with people of colour over the next few years? Why do you feel this way?

  5. What are some other thoughts about your current and future relationships with racially diverse people?

Adapted from: Katz, J.H. (2003, 1978). White Awareness: Handbook for Anti-Racism Training (2nd Edition) Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.