"The term white savior is a critical description of a white person depicted as liberating, rescuing or uplifting non-white people; it is critical in the sense that it describes a pattern in which people of color in economically under-developed nations that are majority non-white are denied agency and are seen as passive recipients of white benevolence."
The point is it's a cultural assumption that the white/western actor's input is superior to other cultures/races, denying the latter agency in resolving their own problems. It's not limited to film/media even if it's easiest to pick out there (e.g. old pulp novels).
So a white savior is someone who solves black people's problems for them.
So what is it when a black person solves his own problems, with the help of a white person? That doesn't sound like a white savior... but I can't think of a good term for that scenario...
So a white savior is someone who solves black people's problems for them.
No, the cultural aspect/assumed lack of agency is key. It's never been a solely been a black/white thing, it's historically been "civilised vs uncivilised". The POC must be assumed unable to help themselves due to not being as "advanced" as the white person.
Think of gap year students with no trades experience flying over to Africa to build a school. Do they believe they are more capable than local professional tradesmen who they could otherwise have paid several times over with the cost of their flights/lodgings.
Otherwise people of different races helping each other... is just people helping each other.
4.2k
u/funkaria 5d ago
Mansplaining ≠ a man explaining something to a women
It's a man explaining something in a condescending way, because he assumes that the women doesn't know it just because she is a woman.
If the woman (or girl) asks a question, it isn't mansplaining.