The Research Into Racial Inequality

Privilege is defined as “a special advantage or authority possessed by a particular person or group” in the Cambridge Dictionary. Globally, white individuals are often granted privileges than minority groups do not receive. While white privilege often goes unnoticed by white individuals, it causes many disadvantages for people of color and effects how they see themselves. Furthermore, Affirmative Action attempts to equal the playing field for minorities but is faced with contention by many white people.

1) The article “White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack” explains that shows from a very young age, we are educated to see racism on an individual level, not only racism but oppression as well. The idea of oppression starts with the topic that women are at an disadvantage when it comes to the idea that mean are the dominant sex. The male population will always have an image that they are better than women. This ties into race because men are always in competition and we notice some men believe they're better than others due to ethnicity. McIntosh explains that white privilege using the idea of an invisible weightless knapsack. To summarize that, a white person in the United States has an invisible weightless knapsack that allows for acceptance, favors from the law, and common discrimination. This is truly an issue in the United States that should and will be addressed. We can raise awareness by simply treating everyone with the same respect, not because they share the same skin tone as you.

Peddy McIntosh highlighted various unearned white privileges in her autobiographical article “White Privilege, Color and Crime: A Personal Account.” She illustrated the white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that one white person could count on cashing in each day. White people have these privileges given to them by the society in which they live in. The same society taught them to be ignorant and unawareness of these privileges. This system of unearned privileges established by white individuals made people of color feel oppressed. In this system being white is a norm and dominant power. Caucasians, who benefit most from the white privilege system in the United States, are more likely to

In this spellbinding lecture, the author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son offers a unique, inside-out view of race and racism in America. Expertly overcoming the defensiveness that often surrounds these issues, Wise provides a non-confrontational explanation of white privilege and the damage it does not only to people of color, but to white people as well. This is an invaluable classroom resource: an ideal introduction to the social construction of racial identities, and a critical new tool for exploring the often invoked – but seldom explained – concept of white privilege.

Today, the U.S. is considered a “post-racial” society, and many believe that in this day and age, equality is much more prevalent among races. However, the word “many” is mostly referring to the white population in the U.S.. Majority of white people often refuse to believe that they have more privileges, or benefits, compared to people of color. Throughout history, and even in todays society, white privilege has been an issue that many people of color have discussed. For example, research shows that white people are much less likely to be arrested and jailed compared to black people, even though blacks only make up 30% of the population, they make up 60% of the prison population. White privilege and the advantages received through colorism is very much evident even now in current times.

White privilege embraces the behaviours, values, beliefs and practices of the dominant white culture (Puzan, 2003). There are often unnoticed advantages

Bennett, Jacob. "White Privilege: A History of the Concept." (n.d.): n. pag. 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

In Peggy McIntosh’s article, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” McIntosh embarked to uncover the countless advantages whites tend to have over those of color. By doing so, she validated her credibility to the reader by listing her findings along with research and evidence to supplement her claim. After reflecting on the privileges she found, McIntosh stated, “…whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence, which I was being subtly trained to visit in turn upon people of color” (McIntosh, 3). This makes it obvious to the reader that McIntosh’s findings are unjust and should be changed. Unfortunately, most white individuals are currently doing nothing to modify these unfair privileges. McIntosh concludes the article by posing

The concept of white privilege helps to highlight the hypocritical nature of the American ideologies of democracy and meritocracy. Ask yourself: Do we live truly in a democratic system if the voices of our nation’s disenfranchised people are not heard? Or are we truly a nation that functions on a meritocratic system if every person-- regardless of socioeconomic background or race-- is not given the same opportunities for development? The concepts of white privilege and male privilege, as used by McIntosh, are meant to unveil the hidden schemes of American ideology.

Being born with white skin grants me certain unearned privileges in life that others may not readily receive. White privilege can be defined as “a set of advantages and/ or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others” (Baldwin, n.d.). For example, I can wait on a friend inside a Starbucks without purchasing anything and not be arrested. Unfortunately, two black men in Philadelphia were just arrested for this. In fact, I can even sit there for hours on my laptop and not purchase a single thing, and not need to worry I will be confronted by police officers. This paper will evaluate other privileges I receive as a white woman, discuss intersectionality, and explain how whiteness is maintained through fear of others and a desire for niceness.

This article was written by Peggy McIntosh. She talks about how white privilege is often times overlooked and not recognized by whites themselves. We take the privileges we get for granted and most times don’t realize that a lot of the things we are able to do aren’t just handed to other people, especially people of color. This article also explains that these privileges can sometimes have a positive effect or a negative one. McIntosh explains how now that we can recognize what white privilege is, we can try to spread the positive types of advantages and work to get rid of the negative ones.

Case (2007) "found that participating in a diversity course increased White students’ awareness of white privilege but did not improve their attitudes toward other racial or ethnic groups. In fact, prejudice toward Latina /os s increased over the semester, which may be because White college students confronted with information about white privilege can experience a strong negative emotional response. (p.145)

By associating the potential existence of racism with consumption, a form of rationalization is that we now live in society that does not recognize and reward race, but merit. In turn, whites do not inherently realize the privileges that they are born with. Peggy McIntosh actually used the terms unearned entitlement and unearned advantage to describe disproportionate lead that whites have over blacks (McIntosh, 103). The fact of the matter is that most white people are in denial that they have been born with unearned entitlements that minorities do not have and according to McIntosh this is because they have been taught not to recognize it. As much as white people have been taught not to recognize that they have been given white privilege, blacks and minorities recognize that they do. Although many believe that the playing field is now level, is apparent that there is an uphill struggle for people of color. But how should one first recognize this struggle?

The documentary “White Like Me” illustrates controversial topics of white privilege and present-day racism. The film aims to open the audiences’ eyes and make them realize “Wow! There really are advantages of being white.” For example, Wise discusses the hate crimes committed against black, latino, and Jewish individuals by showing multiple newspaper headlines: “New Orleans tense as police kill four blacks.” While also describing the thoughts and opinions of public personas. For example: The idea of giving white individual scholarships for being white because black individuals are receiving scholarships solely because they are black. He refutes these voices with statistical evidence. By listing that white people are more likely to obtain scholarships

As a white, middle-class, able bodied woman living in the United States, I recognize my privilege and wish to use it to the advantage of helping those who are marginalized and oppressed within our society. While being a woman helps me to understand the struggles of other women, growing up white middle class also brings forth the challenge of being able to empathize with certain clientele. For example, I have never experienced marginalization, exploitation, or oppression the way a young Black woman has. When applying for a job, I have never been concerned with being offered or denied the position because of the color of my skin. I have never been in fear for my life if I am pulled over by a police officer. Privilege as a white person means I don’t necessarily need to worry about job discrimination, policy brutality, or judgement because of my skin color. Even the ignorance of not recognizing that you have privilege is oppressive.