Attn: WHITE PEOPLE

Project: Passion Project (Instagram Account + Website + Podcast)

Concept + Copy + Design + Editing + Production: Madeleine Glenski

Date: May 2020-Present

HOW IT STARTED

As a privileged white person, I spent a lot of 2020 reading, listening, and watching every educational resource I could get my hands on. This learning and unlearning process sparked the desire to compile everything I had found in one place.

Attn: White People (@attnwhitepeople) acted as an Instagram account that was a color-coded resource library full of information from organizations and activists about white privilege and the journey to allyship for racial equality.

BRANDING + COLOR CODING

With my target audience in mind, I knew I wanted an attention-grabbing name and a grid that was unexpectedly aesthetically pleasing.

“Tapped the profile because of the name. Got a crush because of the aesthetics. Staying for the cause.” – @mybilliedesigns

To make this library of resources easy to navigate, I put a color code system in place. The Instagram Story highlights worked as a key, letting people know that:

Dark Pink = Organizations
Orange = Actions
Green = Recommendations
Light Pink = Quotes

Followers could see all of these resources grouped together in the highlights or scroll the grid on their own with the color meanings in mind.

“Colour porn meets amazing content.” – @clareellenoconnor

“@attnwhitepeople is a great resource for people with ADHD who have trouble organizing thoughts or remembering what readings have been recommended.” – @karlee.rogers

SHIFT FROM INSTAGRAM TO WEBSITE

By 2022, Instagram was solely pushing video content and the account was losing followers after every post. At this time, I took a step back and decided that if I truly wanted Attn: White People to serve as a resource library, it would be much easier to navigate as a website rather than an Instagram account. I moved all of the resources that had been collected into @attnwhitepeople and turned it into www.attnwhitepeople.com

THE PODCAST

In 2024, to combat Instagram’s shift to video content and join TikTok, the Attn: White People podcast was born. I recruited three of my friends – Steven, Jenny, and Tim – to create a safe space for important conversations, despite our differences. I now record with them regularly and then edit the podcast into full length episodes and social clips.