Dismantling Racism in the Classroom: Recommendations for White Male Counselor Educators

Authors

Jason L. Vannest, Walden UniversityFollow
Rebecca J. Vannest, Oakland UniversityFollow
Lorise D. Grey, Walden UniversityFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6918-8756

Document Type

Article

Keywords

counselor educator, anti-racism, allyship, Whiteness, BIPOC

Subject Area

Clinical Supervision, Counseling, Counselor Education, Higher Education Counseling, Mental Health Counseling

Abstract

In response to the historical tradition of Eurocentrism and Whiteness in counseling programs in the United States, the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) have challenged their members to confront implicit bias, become allies with Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and commit to challenging racism and implicit bias. Despite these robust calls to disrupt racism and implicit bias, counselor educators - specifically White male counselor educators (WMCEs) - may wonder how to effectively take action due to their own racial identity. Several factors may contribute to WMCEs' reticence to deconstruct racism and Whiteness. The racially diverse (Black female, White female, and White male) authors explore factors that may hinder WMCEs’ participation and propose recommendations for engagement in dismantling racism.

Public Significance Statement

National counseling organizations have challenged their membership to confront racism and implicit bias. This article emphasizes how White Male Counselor Educators (WMCEs) can use their voices to support Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues and students in the counseling profession. This article explores practical strategies that WMCEs can uniquely employ to disrupt the impacts of racism within the counseling profession.

Recommended Citation

Vannest, J. L., Vannest, R. J., & Grey, L. D. (2026). Dismantling racism in the classroom: Recommendations for white male counselor educators. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 20(1), 1-17.