White fragility refers to the defensive response exhibited by white individuals when confronted with racial issues. This defensiveness often manifests as denial, avoidance, and a lack of racial stamina, making it difficult for them to engage in conversations about race. The inability to tolerate racial stress leads to a range of emotional and behavioral reactions, such as anger, fear, guilt, argumentation, silence, and withdrawal from the situation. These reactions serve to reinstate white racial equilibrium and maintain dominance within the racial hierarchy.

A study conducted by sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva highlights the incoherent talk that arises when white people discuss uncomfortable racial issues. This incoherence is characterized by digressions, long pauses, repetition, and self-corrections, reflecting the fragility and ill-equipped nature of white individuals when confronted with racial tensions.

An example of white fragility occurred during a workplace anti-racism training session. A white participant left the session upset after receiving feedback on her unintentional racist behavior. Instead of reflecting on the feedback and trying to understand why her actions were hurtful, she became defensive and focused on invalidating the messenger. This response is a common manifestation of white fragility, which ultimately serves to protect problematic behavior rather than fostering growth and understanding.

In another instance, a white woman named Eva claimed that she had no racial biases because she grew up in Germany, where there were no black people. When challenged to reflect on the messages she received about people from Africa during her childhood, Eva became defensive and insisted that she was not racist. This reaction exemplifies white fragility, as Eva was unable to tolerate the racial stress of examining her own assumptions and beliefs.

To counter white fragility, it is essential for white individuals to develop their racial stamina by engaging in authentic conversations about race, acknowledging their racial biases, and taking action to address racism.