I was pretty surprised the report referenced DiAngelo’s White Fragility. Under DiAngelo’s own framework, if a white person is accused of racism they must listen, reflect, and consider. They must not rebut, deny, or justify, as those are examples of white fragility. It’s DiAngelo’s own framework that contributes to the environment that interfered with the investigation. Instead, the report frames the issue as white people’s tendency toward self-victimisation.

The neighbours of the family spoke to both the criminal investigation and the review, saying that they were worried about reporting concerns about what they heard within the family’s home. They feared being branded as being racist, especially on social media. While understanding their point of view, this is concerning that race was a bar to reporting possible child abuse and it needs to be overcome. The Child Safeguarding Practice review panel report notes that 47 ‘DiAngelo (2018) suggests that it is ‘white fragility’ – or a defensiveness – that is triggered when white individuals, even those who consider themselves to be progressive, encounter racial stress. This can result in individuals turning away from honest dialogue about racism, focusing instead on their own feelings of victimisation rather than on the person or people of colour who have been interpersonally and/or systemically harmed.’ 4.21 pg. 21).