white savior

American  

[wahyt sayv-yer] / ˈwaɪt ˈseɪv yər /

noun

1. a white person who acts to help people of color in a way that creates a narrative, whether intentional or not, suggesting that the people being helped are unable to deal with their own circumstances without such intervention.

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Sensitive Note

The term white savior is often used in discussions of culture and society to describe actions or narratives that suggest marginalized groups lack the agency to solve their own problems. Such portrayals may center the white individual's role or personal growth rather than the experiences of those being helped. In this way, the term can also point to patterns that reinforce stereotypes related to competence and power while minimizing the perspectives of those from racial and ethnic minority communities.

Other Word Forms

• white saviorism
  noun
• white-savior
  adjective

Example Sentences

In others, however, the writers ply exhausted tropes conflating inclusive storytelling with white savior caping.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2023

Ella learns about the danger of investing in a white savior, but she still emerges with a hopeful world view.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2023

"It's our story. There is no white savior in the movie. There's none. We save ourselves," she told Reuters.

From Reuters • Sep. 15, 2022

Mr. Taylor linked to an interview he gave the New York Times, in which he said “the idea of replacing Clark Kent with another straight white savior felt like a missed opportunity.”

From Washington Times • Oct. 11, 2021

“This is not about a white savior narrative. It’s about us and our sponsor and our board not being sued if we distribute the story. You owe us an apology.”

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2021