Illinois Global Institute

As the home to the area and global studies centers and thematic programs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Illinois Global Institute is dedicated to fostering an environment where international perspectives are integral to teaching and research.

Center for African Studies * Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies * Center for Global Studies * Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies * Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies * Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity * European Union Center * LAS Global Studies * Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies * Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center * The Program in Arms Control and Domestic and International Security

 

2026 Florian Znaniecki Lecture - Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

May 7, 2026   4:00 pm  
Illini Union, Room A
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Lecture
Sponsor
Department of Sociology
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6
Originating Calendar
Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS)

It’s not the rotten apples: The Role of White Normativity, Racial Habituation, and RWF in Maintaining Racial Domination

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. On racial matters, most of us believe the devil is the racist, prejudiced individuals who discriminate against people of color. In this lecture, Professor Bonilla-Silva will argue that the devil has pulled a new trick: convincing the world that racism is all about the “rotten apples.” He will argue that racial domination fundamentally depends on the actions and inactions of RWF (regular white folks). To account for this new take on racism, he will explain how  “white normativity” rather than the actions of the big, bad wolves shape the racial polity. And white normativity is enacted by RWF manufactured through the process of “racial habituation.” He will explain these new terms to enlarge and slightly amend his original theorization in “Rethinking Racism: Toward a Structural Interpretation.” Professor Bonilla-Silva will conclude outlining how his theoretical amendments can help improve both our analyses as well as our political efforts combatting racism.

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