Urban dictionary says, “White Savior refers to western people going in to fix the problems of struggling nations or people of color without understanding their history, needs, or the regions current state of affairs.”
Coming into the World Race, the White Savior Complex was fresh on my mind. I have read When Helping Hurts and Toxic Charity about similar ideas. I also have listened to many podcasts and watched many Ted Talks on this topic.
This issue is very hard to tackle during a one month stay in a country. There is a huge importance to understanding this concept and knowing how to avoid it. In this blog I will profile 4 different times in my life and show you how the idea of White Savior has evolved since being on the Race.
Before the Race:
I understood that when you are going into a new country or culture you need to try your best to learn as much as you can about its history, customs, people, ideas, etc. You need to humble yourself and understand that your ideas are not superior. You need to understand that you are not going into it to change people or behaviors, you are coming into it to build relationships and to ultimately build trust among the people you are interacting with. You do not patronize or become paternalistic toward the locals. You simply try your best to come alongside them and love them where they are at. This will look different when you look at long term vs short term missions.
Training Camp in August:
Bob Mudd, who is the CFO of the World Race, spoke at our training. He said that we are not going into it to save these people. The fact that we have white skin mean that they naturally respect us. We have the opportunity to partner with them, to find out what skills/resources they have to benefit the community and to place them in a position to utilize those gifts. This is a concept called Asset Based Community Development. Bob was presenting great info but he had only really experienced The WSC in Africa. The tips and tool he gave us were great but I would find out later that the WSC looked different in other cultures.
Cambodia/Southeast Asia:
When I arrived at our ministry site in Cambodia, I had mixed emotions. I knew that we were going to be doing manual labor the whole month. I also new we were partnering with a sex trafficking prevention NGO – which excited me. Within the first day of being on the ground I realized that the White Savior Complex was in Cambodia. After a week I talked with Mark our host and his wife Cary about it. They said to effectively do ministry here the WSC would look different compared to Africa. They said that once you cross the line and become too friendly they will never respect anything you say. Cary and Mark said that you can still love them but you have to maintain a since of authority over them. That is the way the culture has been for hundreds of years and that is the way it will stay for a hundred more.
Botswana/Africa:
After doing ministry for a month in Botswana I have come to realize that the WSC looks different here as well. During this month we have been doing door to door evangelism and children’s ministry. I have had conversations with our ministry host that have come to the understanding that the biggest thing you can do is empower the locals. You have to give them the resources to run things on their own but also give them the permission to fail. There is a term for the white western, they call us a Lekgowa. The Lekgowa has given out free hang outs for far too long. It seems like every country I go into, I’m having to dig myself out of this hole that past missionaries have dug.
We have to come in to build relationships, gain their trust, empower them, and then ultimately hand it over and get out. We have to come in with humble hearts and a posture of learning first. We have to avoid the “we have something that they need” mentality because honestly we both have so much to gain from one another.
1. Can you use some of these same ideas in your everyday life?
2. Have you ever heard, read, or seen the effects of the White Savior Complex? If so, comment below.
Shout out to all my friends living in Wilmington. I miss you all! UNCW men’s basketball is kicking butt this season! Go Seahawks!
Next month my team and I will be near Cape Town, South Africa. I’ll also be turning 26 in South Africa.
-Joe
