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Dissertation
Exploring the intersection of mindfulness, racial justice efforts, and Whiteness: an autoethnography
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011158
Abstract
This autoethnographic study explored the intersection of mindfulness, Whiteness, and racial justice by examining how mindfulness practices have influenced my understanding of Whiteness and my efficacy and racial justice efforts. Data were drawn from journal entries, presentations, training reflections, and personal archives. Critical incidents were analyzed using an adaptive reflex protocol and reflexive thematic analysis grounded in Helms' (199) White racial identity development (WRID) model and the self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) framework of mindfulness. Three essential themes emerged: (a) navigating vulnerability and doubt, (b) awakening to embodied awareness, and (c) choosing ethical engagement. These themes reflect the developmental and embodied process by which mindfulness supports increased self-awareness, emotional regulation, and relational responsibility within the context of Whiteness. Rather than offering resolution, mindfulness was found to cultivate the capacity to remain present with discomfort and contradiction, offering White individuals a practice-based pathway to remain engaged and accountable in anti-racist work. These findings suggest that when grounded in critical consciousness and racial identity development, mindfulness becomes more than a personal wellness tool; it becomes a relational and ethical resource for disrupting the subtle mechanisms through which Whiteness reproduces itself. This study contributes to the emerging scholarship on mindfulness and racial justice by offering insights to the inner work required for collective liberation. It concludes with recommendations for anti-racist training development, White participant engagement, mindfulness educators, and future research.
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Details
- Title
- Exploring the intersection of mindfulness, racial justice efforts, and Whiteness
- Creators
- Kathleen Metzker
- Contributors
- Harriette Rasmussen (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 167 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022089155504721