Many people believe white supremacy refers only to violent hate groups, like the Ku Klux Klan or Nazis. But white supremacy is not just about violent extremists. It is a system, a way of organising society, where white people are seen as the norm, and their lives, cultures, languages, and choices are treated as better, safer, or more important than others.
White supremacy is not only about individual hate. It is built into schools, laws, workplaces, media, and even Deaf communities. It shapes who is hired, who is heard, who is seen as “professional,” and who gets to lead.
White supremacy gives more power, safety, and freedom to white people, while creating barriers, harm, and exclusion for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. It can show up in both open and quiet ways.
Open white supremacy (what most people know):
- Hate speech and racist violence
- Far-right groups and marches
- Laws that openly target BIPOC communities
Everyday white supremacy (what is often ignored):
- Mostly white teachers, bosses, and leaders
- Sign language norms based on white expressions
- People trusting white interpreters more than BIPOC interpreters
- “Professional” dress, voice, and behaviour based on white middle-class culture
- History books or Deaf education that only teach white perspectives
White supremacy does not need people to be openly racist. It works quietly when white is treated as “normal” and everything else as different, strange, or unprofessional.
Important terms to understand
Systemic racism: Racism that is built into laws, rules, and institutions — not just individual behaviour.
Norms: Unspoken rules about what is “right” or “accepted.” In white supremacy, these rules are usually based on white people’s way of speaking, dressing, thinking, or signing.
Internalised white supremacy: When Black, Indigenous and People of Colour start to believe that whiteness is better, even without realising it.
White supremacy in Deaf communities
White supremacy also exists in Deaf spaces. Some examples include:
- Mostly white interpreters being trained or booked, even for Black and Brown spaces
- BIPOC signers being told their signs are “wrong”, “different” or “too much”
- White Deaf leaders staying in power while BIPOC Deaf voices are ignored or minimised.
- White coded behaviour being treated as “the right way” to be professional, successful, or respected
White supremacy is not just about hate groups. It is a global system that gives power to whiteness, in culture, language, leadership, and everyday life. It shapes how people are treated, who gets resources, and whose stories are told.
To challenge white supremacy, we must stop looking only at extremes and start seeing how it lives in the middle of our communities, including Deaf communities. We must listen to the Global Majority, name where power sits, and change the systems that keep whiteness at the centre.
Saved By The Sign (SBTS) is an Irish based intercultural consultancy and social enterprise committed to fostering social inclusion and racial equity within the global Deaf community. Through media, advocacy, and education, SBTS actively builds bridges across cultural divides, empowering Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Deaf communities and promoting Deaf awareness and cultural understanding. SBTS engages with both Deaf and hearing BIPOC communities, enhancing accessibility and inclusive practices to ensure supportive environments for Deaf people within their cultural contexts. This work is deeply rooted in addressing social exclusion experienced by BIPOC Deaf individuals navigating predominantly white Deaf spaces and their own cultural communities, thereby bridging critical gaps for a more inclusive future.
