When white people talk about their perceptions of non-white people out loud, it seems like they are not entirely comfortable with what they are saying, either. (Steve Wilson, Creative Commons)

Filmmaker Whitney Dow created The Whiteness Project in an attempt to define what it means to be white and how this identification impacts white peoples’ views and lives as a whole. Upon first listen, it may seem as though the ignorance displayed only furthers the concept of white privilege.

For this, we could reprimand them, but we need their honesty to understand where the underlying problems about stereotyping and race lie, and work as a collective nation to move forward.

When white people talk about their perceptions of non-white people out loud, it seems like they are not entirely comfortable with what they are saying either. Part of the problem is that, "70% of white millennial Americans did not grow up in families that talked about race,” and therefore have no reason to think about issues surrounding race and racism on a daily basis. Additionally, 75% of them say that they come into contact very little with people of color, according to the Public Religion Research Institute.

This lack of exposure to different ethnicities explains why it is so difficult for many white people to gain a comprehensive understanding of people of color and why it is so easy to draw on stereotypes.

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Rarely are they invited to be part of the conversation, but voicing their opinions forces them to think more critically about the thoughts they have kept within.

While many of the people interviewed are unaware of the stereotypes they are promoting, the man behind the project is actually very critically aware of racism and white privilege. The interviewees have a very limited view of the current landscape. Dow articulates, “Most whites see themselves as outside the American racial paradigm and their race as a passive attribute. Subsequently, they feel that they do not have the same right to speak about race as non-whites.” 

The minority issue is a conflict often left for minorities to resolve on their own. But it's an issue that people of all races must address if we seek improvement.

To draw a parallel, we can look to the way in which the fight for gender equality has long been left to the women of the world. By themselves, it is an unconquerable feat, because there is not a particular action women can take to change the entire power structure. Rather it is a mentality that must be changed within society as a whole. Feminists have long since been pushing for men to get onboard the movement.

But the dialogue surrounding racism in America has been cast aside and practically dismissed. The Whiteness Project is what we need to bring it to the forefront once again.

These 21 interviews are just the first installment. We have to keep an open mind and digest what is being served to us before we decide to spit it out. Moving past the initial shock of each individual’s commentary, we can engage in discussion and work to advance a culture of true equality.

The real purpose of the project is to look beyond the white box. We must question why these people still hold on to these outdated beliefs and figure out how to correct them. I would encourage everyone to watch these stories without resentment.

With this project, white people and possibly more people of color will see the absolute necessity to become a part of the conversation and provide their support for racial equality.

"On Reel Diversity" is a column exploring the dynamics of ethnicity in film and television. Reach columnist Juliette Lin here.