Since the SF State and UC Berkeley campus strikes of 1968, students of color have been seizing opportunities to learn, organize, and teach, trying to lessen the tides of racism. One of the most recent organizations trying to get off the ground is for white people working for this same goal.

SF State undergraduate Jim Ace has been trying since last fall to start a student organization for white students against racism, hoping to raise awareness and understanding of white privilege and the negative consequences it fosters in society. Not sure of the direction he needs to take, he has found himself repeatedly back at ground zero.

“I’ve been sent back to the drawing board a couple of times," said Ace. "Which I think was completely appropriate for me, as a white male, talking about or working on racism or any kind of sexism.”

“How can a group of white people get together with any people of color in the room and have it not be threatening?” Ace asked rhetorically. “There’s no way, given the history of this country–-of white people getting together to lynch someone and that kind of thing,” he said. “It would be really hard for a white group to do that in a good way.”

Ace said he wants to call the organization Students Against Racism, but the purpose of the group will be to educate whites on how to utilize their existing “white privilege” to challenge white supremacy. Ace explained the racist dynamics within the organization must be examined, and they should “outreach to European Americans at SF State or people racialized as ‘white’ at SF State.”

Ace, a 32-year-old history major, has "three of four" students who are interested in forming the organization with him, which is the minimum required by the Office of Student Programs/Leadership Development (OSPLD). He is trying to make whites aware of and accountable for existing and past racism by following the lead of one of his mentors – Tim Wise, a white male who for the past 30 years has been writing and speaking on anti-racism issues.

Two classes at SF State -- History of People of Color in the U.S., and Race, Class and Gender -- also helped steer Ace’s path. “I began looking at the intersections of race with class and gender, and my own privilege based on white skin, gender and economic class,” Ace said.

Aaron McMath, a white 25-year-old cinema student, is skeptical of the idea because it’s only for whites. “It depends on the direction [the organization] goes,” said McMath. “There’s something about drawing lines in race – trying to break down barriers of race.”

Ace's idea has not become an organization yet. Start-up student organizations at SF State need to be recognized by the OSPLD and sanctioned by the Associated Students. They need to complete a student driven petition, present a proposed constitution or organizational code, and a faculty advisor.

Larry Salomon, professor of critical thinking in ethnic studies, remembers Ace approaching him for advice and direction. He said he didn’t see the “groundswell of support” needed from the students.

Salomon said he used to see more support from student groups coming out of the campus strike in 1968, but doesn’t see it as much anymore. He explained that students organizing on campus is great, but unless they take what they learn and bring it directly into society, they will not operate to their potential.

“I would like to see ideally a training kind of institute for whites – to say we are going to learn community organizing skills on top of learning about whiteness,” said Salomon. “Unless [Ace’s organization] takes that into the community and organizes regular people who don’t go to college, who work at the jobs, who work at Wal-Mart, whatever, none of this stuff will be relevant.”

Robert Anderson, an African American SF State student, thinks it’s a good idea. The 21-year-old junior, who's majoring in physical therapy, said that as long as Ace intends on educating whites to diverse perspectives, it could help minorities. And Ace should define why people of color get looked at and treated the way they do, he explained.

“[Ace’s organization] should not only listen, but actually acknowledge differences between races,” Anderson said. “The reason minorities think the way they do is because of the ways they’ve been used.”

Anderson pointed to the portrayal of people of color in media – environmental and familial portraits that perpetuate stereotyping. He said that unless people break away from these traditions and make their own decisions, racism would never go away.

George Kaivanov moved here from Bulgaria six years ago. He is now 32 and is a senior majoring in civil engineering. “[Racial accountability] is needed, but not by isolating whites,” Kaivanov said. “It seems like a conspiracy: a lot of organizations proclaim something, but you don’t really know what they’re doing.”

“People [in Bulgaria] would announce they’re forming an athletics club, but they were really doing politics and trying to change the government,” Kaivanov said. “For something to be successful, it has to be open, especially like racism – it shouldn’t be all white people.”

Ace said he has to be careful because historically their have been white people working for justice, risking their lives and their freedom for “un-antiracist” racist campaigns. And, he added, “You don’t see very many contemporary organizations that are specifically white folks working on racism...that incorporate deep levels of analyses.”