The Death of white Supremacy Culture in the US Creative Sector and Implications for Arts Management

Abstract

As a response to the 2020 global protests for racial justice, more cultural organizations have posted statements supporting Black lives than ever before. More than a year later, we have observed an unparalleled seriousness in the US creative sector about addressing racial access, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) issues through an increase in training, the hiring of diversity, equity, and inclusion officers, and the creation of anti-racist strategic plans. Although this momentum is heartening, history has shown that because of how white Americans have socially constructed race, structured it, and systemically built it into society, white supremacy culture will always seek to thwart the search for racial justice by people of the global majority. Thus, this chapter explores two research questions. First, how might critical race theory (CRT) inform and assist the death of white supremacy culture in the US creative sector? Second, what implications might the death of white supremacy culture hold for the future of arts management? As it pursues an anti-racist and liberatory culture, the creative sector must remain hyperfocused on the threat that white supremacy culture poses to progress at this pivotal moment in the movement. The chapter’s discussion of the tenets of CRT, characteristics of white supremacy culture, and case studies aims to aid the creative sector in understanding why it must make an unwavering commitment to addressing racial ADEI now.