Academia Declares War on Deadlines and Punctuality—Now ‘White Supremacy Culture’
An educator named Tema Okun, Ph.D., wrote a guide to “white supremacy culture” nearly 25 years ago. But recently, her work has resurfaced in academic studies about “whiteness as power” and claims that white people perpetuate “mathematical violence” and “mathematical trauma.”
Okun’s paper, “White Supremacy Culture,” offers a list for white people to supposedly recognize how they oppress others. In particular, the guide argues that perfectionism, urgency, and individualism are all characteristics of “white culture” that maintain systemic racism.
“These characteristics are damaging because they promote white supremacy thinking. Because we all live in a white supremacy culture, these characteristics show up in the attitudes and behaviors of all of us,” Okun explains.
Perfectionism and “White Urgency”
Perfectionism is the first trait listed as part of white supremacy culture. According to Okun, this includes a tendency to focus on what’s wrong rather than appreciating what’s going well.
She also describes “a sense of urgency” as a damaging characteristic, arguing that it discourages inclusivity, long-term thinking, and learning from mistakes.
This “urgency” argument has even been used to criticize white workers who complete projects quickly or work overtime. Some activists also claim deadlines and strict arrival times are unfair because they don’t account for cultural differences—such as “Black time.”
“Black time” (or “Colored People’s Time” / CPT) is a term sometimes used to describe habitual tardiness in Black communities. NPR’s Karen Bates explains that she learned about CPT as meaning “clock-challenged” and used as a self-referential joke within Black culture.
Still, some academics take this idea seriously.
“Unjust experiences of time are the reason that due dates and deadlines are so harmful—they amplify racism, sexism, classism, and ableism that already deprive the most vulnerable in our communities of their basic rights and dignities,” certain professors argue.
“Only One Right Way” and Objectivity as White Supremacy
Another alleged pillar of white supremacy is the belief that there is “only one right way” to do things. Okun claims this idea is inherently racist because white men are most likely to assert their opinions as “the right way.”
“Similar to the missionary who does not see value in the culture of other communities… people who only believe in ‘one right way’ may fail to appreciate what other countries’ practices can offer,” Okun argues.
She also lists objectivity as a tool of white supremacy, including:
1. The belief that neutrality exists and that people can be objective.
2. The belief that emotions should not play a role in decision-making.
3. Impatience with thinking that does not appear “logical.”
Western Society and “White Supremacy Culture”
Okun’s claims go beyond workplaces and schools. She argues that Western society itself perpetuates white supremacy culture, particularly through:
• The media
• The education system
• Western science
• The Christian church
“These institutions have played central roles in reproducing the idea of white supremacy—that white is ‘normal,’ ‘better,’ ‘smarter,’ ‘holy’—in contrast to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color,” states one passage on the website Dismantling Racism, which is linked to Okun.
On another page, activists claim that dismantling racism, sexism, and heterosexism is a lifelong process with no end.
“Dismantling racism, sexism, heterosexism, and unlearning oppressive attitudes will and does take a lifetime… This work is a journey without an endpoint,” the site explains.
Okun Reflects on Her Paper’s Impact
Two decades after writing her seminal paper, Okun acknowledges that many activists have expanded its claims to include basic elements of everyday life.
“As organizational infighting continues, many have used the article as a way to claim that basic elements of organizational life—editing, performance reviews, deadlines, urgency, the written word, perfectionism, etc.—are actually all characteristics of white supremacy culture.”
In a later interview, Okun was asked about how her ideas have been mocked by conservatives who argue that claiming deadlines, urgency, and perfectionism are forms of white supremacy is beyond parody.
“And you’ll see the right-wing lampoon some of these and say deadlines, perfectionism, and urgency are all white supremacy characteristics. So what do you mean, and what should people take from this?”
Okun’s theories on perfectionism, urgency, and objectivity as white supremacy culture continue to influence modern academic discussions. While some argue these claims highlight hidden biases, others say they undermine basic concepts of work ethic, personal responsibility, and logical reasoning.
One thing is certain—this debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
This report was brought to you by Toni Airaksinen, Senior Editor of Liberty Affair and a journalist based in Delray Beach, Florida. Follow her on Substack and on X @Toni_Airaksinen.
