What Is “White Savior Complex”?
White savior complex (WSC) refers to when white people act from a position of superiority in an attempt to “help” or “save” BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.
Who is Affected By It
WSC is something that is typically exhibited by white, affluent individuals of more privileged backgrounds. It impacts people of color and especially those in countries that tend to be referred to as “developing” or “Third World.”
Travel + WSC
In the context of travel, it is often seen when white foreigners travel to the Global South to do “service” work. It is predicated on the notion that the outsiders know what’s best for the local people and environment better than natives do.
While the phrase has its origins in film and media, a common real-world WSC trope that people often cite is when a white person takes a photo of themselves with African children that they tend to treat as props.
References + Reading Material:
A Savior No One Needs: Unpacking and Overcoming the White Savior Complex