White Privilege : The Black Privilege

When I think about white privilege, I see it as something I must understand to truly feel a relation to my own privileges with race. “As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something which puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.” (McIntosh 1988) When comparing other privileges McIntosh sees that her life is more influenced by her skin color than class, religion, ethnic status, or geographical location. Tim Wise explains “even though there is more than one type of privilege, they can never fully eradicate white privilege.” “Understanding the persistence of privilege requires recognizing the sleight of mind that occurs on the subject of individuals as members of groups” (Wildman 2005). Early work done by African American sociologist W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963) showed that studies with white workers over time came to see themselves as white unlike the developing working class with recently freed black slaves. DuBois was one of the first people to initiate the concept of white privilege.

Privileges are things that a person receives that gives them an advantage over most people (Merriam-Webster). These are benefits that only certain people receive for being in a certain group or discourse. Peggy McIntosh, director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, wrote “White Privilege and Male Privilege” and states “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privileges, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege” (605). She argues that whites and males receive certain privileges, yet they do not even notice them. This shows that different races and women are still put at a disadvantage, but the people who receive the benefits are blind to the problem. Many people will argue that she is correct

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

White privilege is a form of structural racism where whites are routinely advantaged while producing adverse outcomes for people of color such as Blacks and Hispanics. White privilege is a historically based system which still exists in the United States (US). In my view, white privilege system marked the beginning of racial inequality in the US. White privilege exists in the United States and is one of the contributing factors to the injustices people with color are facing in the US.

The term “privilege” is when a person has the right or confused with having the right to do something. For example, for someone to advance their education is not a privilege perhaps it is a right. In some cases during certain situation person can be granted the privilege. White privilege is a word greatly used in social rights that advantage individuals to be acknowledged as white in Western countries, afar what is frequently proficient by non-white individuals in the same social, political, or economic conditions (Rothenberg, 2016). However, when a certain race color is treated more superior than another race is giving the advantage or benefit to have the opportunity to do anything they want without anyone trying to stop them.

Firstly, white privilege entails wide media representation, where people of colour are consistently underrepresented. Many people don’t see this as an issue at all, but it is necessary

As I read the required read "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" I noticed myself reflecting on it in a sense of sorrow. The sorrow I felt reading it was reflecting towards the realness in McIntosh words. In todays society it seems that "white privilege" is something that is assigned not entirely earned. As I say assigned I mean by the color of ones skin. I feel the article/journal I read illustrates that "white" receive and can say a lot of things that people of "color" can not. I got this impression when McIntosh stated things like "I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented." It seems that people think "whites" have a more advantage and get greater treatment

White privilege is the societal privileges that specifically benefit white people. White privilege is why white people can get pulled over by the police and escape a ticket with just a smile and apology. White privilege is also why whites are in charge of a company and they see a black person, they bypass the application. Whites carry a certain privilege not available to people of color. Marilyn Frye describes how whiteness is a form social and political power.

What is privilege? What does it mean? Is privilege inherited or is it earned? As an American resident of color I’ve learned that privilege in this country is something that is innate and inherited. The privilege that I speak of is that of White privilege.

When discussing the issue between African-American and Caucasian the claim of is white skin privilege a myth can be debatable. Paul Kivel claims yes, from White Benefits, Middle-Class Privilege. Tim Wise claim No, from “The Absurdity (and Consistency) of White Denial: What Kind of Card Is Race?” Paul Kivel and Tim Wise both agree that African American and Caucasian have received different treatment. However, Paul Kivel states, “Privileges are the economic extras that those of us who are middle-class and wealthy gain at the expense of poor and working class people of all race.” Tim Wise believes that Caucasian is in denial that discrimination is a real problem. After reviewing both claims I believe Tim Wise made a more valid point. Wise states,

In our class discussion, it was mentioned how whites still have privilege over people who are colored. To an extent and through some aspects, whites may have have advantage. However, if people were to examine “privilege” closer it would see that colored people are more privileged then they would like to believe.

White privilege as I see it is an endowment bestowed to white people affording them unearned perks and benefits based solely on their ethnicity and race. Moreover, these perks and benefits are not a privilege yielded to minorities.

White privilege. What does it really mean? Well, according to Mount Holyoke College website, white privilege is “a set of advantages and/or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others.” But is it real? Some would argue that white privilege is just a mere illusion spread by angry people of colour but really it’s just something that makes white people – 4 in 5 people, to be exact,

“White privilege” as defined by McIntosh (1990) is a phenomenon that is “similarly denied and protected” by those who have it (p. 31). This means that those who encompass whiteness; those with “white” skin, are subject to privilege not shared by others with skin that is not white. But, this privilege is not something clearly seen by those who enjoy it. On the contrary, McIntosh (1990) points out that, those who have white skin have been “carefully taught not to recognize white privilege” (p. 31). By refusing to acknowledge, and clinging to the advantaged state they possess, people with white privilege are perpetuating the disadvantaged state others without said privilege experience. Privilege in this context is not a preferred or ideal state

Racial minorities are aware of the privileges that are not given to them, whereas whites are easy to be dumbfounded of the fact. White privilege is seen as the other side of racism, where things that others work hard to earn are just given to the white people. White privilege continues to exist because of color blindness; many try to play on the phrase “color does not exist” are normally the one’s that feed into the chaos. Also, whitewashing plays a huge role of white privilege. Whitewashing is the process of promoting the white culture and denying other races, tactic is often used in the