Tim Wise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim Wise
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Wise in 2011
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Timothy Jacob Wise
October 4, 1968 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Education | B.A., Political Science |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
| Occupation | Anti-racism activist, writer |
| Children | 2 |
Timothy Jacob Wise, born on October 4, 1968, is an American writer and activist. He works to help people understand and fight against racism. He also gives talks to different groups and organizations about how to create a fairer world for everyone.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Nashville
Tim Wise was born in Nashville, Tennessee. His family background includes Jewish heritage from his grandfather's side, who was from Russia. His family also has roots in northern Europe, including Scotland. When he was around 12 years old, his place of worship was targeted by people with hateful beliefs.
College Years and Activism
Wise went to public schools in Nashville and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1986. He then studied at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he earned a degree in Political Science. He also studied Latin American history and culture.
While in college, Tim Wise became a leader in the campus anti-apartheid movement. This movement worked to stop Tulane University from investing in companies that supported the unfair system of apartheid in South Africa. His efforts gained national attention in 1988. At that time, Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa decided not to accept an honorary degree from Tulane. This happened after Wise's group told him about the university's investments in South Africa.
Career as an Anti-Racism Activist
Starting His Work
After graduating from Tulane in 1990, Tim Wise began his career as an anti-racism activist. He received special training from an organization in New Orleans. He first worked as a youth coordinator and then as an associate director for the Louisiana Coalition Against Racism and Nazism. This group was formed to oppose political candidate David Duke when he ran for office in the early 1990s.
After his work against David Duke, Wise worked with several community groups in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. These groups focused on issues like fair taxes and workers' rights. Later in the 1990s, Wise started giving talks across the country. He spoke about racism, including how "white privilege" (advantages some people have just because they are white) affects society. He also supported "affirmative action," which are policies designed to help groups that have faced discrimination.
Understanding Racism Today
From 1999 to 2003, Wise was an advisor to the Fisk University Race Relations Institute. He believes that racism in the United States is deeply rooted in society. This is because of past unfair treatment and its lasting effects, along with current discrimination.
Wise explains that while open prejudice might be less common now, existing systems still create and continue "white privilege." He argues that even policies that seem fair can still lead to unfairness and inequality for different racial groups. In 2013, Tim Wise was featured in a documentary called White Like Me. This film was based on his book with the same title.
Personal Life
After living in New Orleans for ten years, Tim Wise moved back to his hometown of Nashville in 1996. He got married in 1998 and has two children. Wise identifies as Jewish because of his family background, but he does not practice Judaism as a religion. He has also shared his views on Israel, stating he is against Zionism. He believes it can be unfair to non-Jewish people in Palestine and not helpful for Jewish people either.
Books by Tim Wise
- White Like Me: Reflections on Race From a Privileged Son (2004)
- Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White (2005)
- Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections From an Angry White Male (2008)
- Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama (2009)
- Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity (2010)
- Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority (2012)
- Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America (2015)
- Dispatches from the Race War (2020)
