Introduction to White Privilege Pop Quiz: Reflecting on Whiteness
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Chapter One. For those who have seen the earth from space and for the hundreds and perhaps thousands more, who will the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us Donald Williams. When was the first time you realize your racial identity played a pivotal role in your life? 1 1, 2, 5 years 2, 6 to 10 years 3, 11 plus years four. Never discuss. How old were you? What happened? What kind of impact did it have on you? How did it change your hopes? Dreams and goals? Did your parents or relatives inform you? This isn't a trick question, although if you identify as white, it might feel like one the age and context in which you first discovered what it means to be white is a critical component. If you can't remember the first time you were made aware of your racial identity, then it is highly likely you haven't wrestled with it or you were born on mars where it's rumored that race is irrelevant or you do live here on earth and have experienced privileges in ways you aren't aware of or have denied. If you are a person of color, there is little chance you didn't choose number one. You probably have a memorable story, if not several novels worth of how and when you discovered what it means to be non white, regardless of whether you were born in Harlem or rural Wisconsin. While the story details might reveal different fashion trends and hairstyles, there's a good chance the essence of your racial revelation is similar. However, if you are white most likely your story of racial awareness is tied to what it means for someone else not being white Living in the South. I've had ample opportunity to ask white people when they first became aware of their whiteness. nine times out of 10. The stories come in the form of having observed discrimination of some sort in their family school or a church, rarely are white people able to easily articulate what it means to be white. Often observations about whiteness seemed to be made from afar, even if it's happening on the other side of the room, I've met numerous people raised in white southern, upper middle class households who finally remember a black woman who was in service to their families as their first caretaker and with whom they formed their first emotional attachment. They will insist that because of this affectionate affiliation, they are immune from internalized racial biases. Many seem to fail to understand that the relationship, no matter how loving was indeed an unequal relationship in which their caretaker was subservient. This isn't to say that these relationships aren't authentic or that genuine feelings of love and concern never existed between white people and non white people. Very often, when white people do reflect on racial dynamics, we tend to focus on the injustices endured by people of color rather than the privileges white people enjoy. Notice how this helps us keep a safe distance from personal responsibility when it comes to the inequities. When white people are asked when they first became aware of their racial identity if they are and are willing to share While the narratives are varied, most will struggle to remember. Perhaps this is because even if we are aware at an early age that differences exist, we rarely suffer consequences because of it. Even if our parents taught us everyone is equal, which mine didn't, we still do not have a sense of what our whiteness means for us. Instead, we focus on how unfortunate for others to be on the receiving end of racial injustice. While not making the connection that we are on, the receiving end of advantage, simply put, we are all equal except for when we aren't as a white person. It's fairly uncomfortable to admit that tethered to privilege is inequity and injustice for others. There's something poignant about our readiness to engage in a discussion about racial poverty, poor black folks, but less likely to discuss white wealth As if there is no connection between the two. If we accept that there are those who are underprivileged might, we also conclude that there are those who are overprivileged. While it is tempting and understandable for poor white people to discount the notion of privilege as we will discover in coming chapters, there are invisible privileges embedded in all systems of our racialist society. When I ask a non white person what racial status means in white America, usually there is little hesitation given that my intentions for asking are trusted to be sincere. Sometimes an uncomfortable laugh is followed by a subterranean sigh. Like someone attempting to exhale a couple 100 years of discomfort. Rarely is there a shortage of definitive answers. Just the mention of driving to the store can inspire a litany of examples Prior to the slave trade. Some 700 years ago, black people on the continent of Africa were not even aware of their blackness until men of a lighter hue arrived with weapons and wicked intentions. The Portuguese and Dutch were among the first to inform native Africans that being black meant being inferior through violent coercion, kidnapping and murder. These explorers loaded ships with darker skinned human beings chained to the galleys and pointed. Their compass is north and west. For centuries. Non white people have been acutely if not painfully aware of what whiteness means. When non white people are asked to describe their first incident of being confronted with racial identity, regardless of gender or socio economic status, Most can recall an incident from a very young age. There is usually a definitive moment, followed by a memorable story of their first encounter with white folks. Whether positive or negative. Often it is a story that becomes a common theme throughout their lives and literally colors their perception of themselves and the world they encounter on a daily basis when asking a person of color to describe pivotal experiences regarding racial identity. Often the question of time arises as in how much time do you have for a person identified as white considering racial identity is generally a more casual concern. It is not burdened with worries or questions regarding your potential to realize your dreams because of how you identify racially. In fact, you are more than likely reassured at every turn. That limitless possibilities exist depending on your socioeconomic status. You may have been bombarded with messages that reinforce you can be all that you can be or you deserve it all. When I decided to write about whiteness, aka white privilege, the first page sat blank for the longest time, although I've spent the last several years focusing time and energy on exploring racial bias, white supremacy and white privilege, The question of what it means to be white proved elusive in the beginning, addressing white privilege was quite stressful. I had a temper tantrums, arguments, crying jags and loud conversations with God. The first time someone suggested I possessed privilege, the very idea of it rattled my self image as a hip white liberal that fancies herself as an ardent proponent of equity and justice. The good news is I discovered it was only stressful when I thought about it. If it got too unnerving, I could just set it aside until I felt like dealing with it again. This, by the way, was my first lesson in white privilege. I got to choose whether to deal with it or not, even though I may be ready and somewhat willing to explain what it means to be a person of european descent. I. E. A white woman in America. I don't get much practice. Who's going to ask me for most of us. Awareness of our privilege is rare, I can admit and come close to articulating the advantages I possess by virtue of my race. But that does not mean that I'm a good white liberal, a better person or that I have some divine insight. It merely means that I have made a concerted effort to think about it. People of color often speak of constantly being reminded of their race, i. E, that they are not white. This isn't because it's better to be white or that people of color long for paleness. In fact, my experience is quite the opposite. It's because the apparent and invisible advantage of being caucasian in a culture that was founded upon principles of white supremacy are infinite. The reminders are everywhere. An African American friend tells the story of going on vacation in the 1960s to North Carolina and how she used to love the adventure. The family would leave in the middle of the night and the kids would sleep most of the way there. When they awoke, the family would pull over to the side of the road for a picnic. It was one of her fondest memories until one day she discovered the reason their family left while it was still dark. It was so she and her sister would sleep most of the night and not have to stop to use the bathroom facilities which were not available to non white people. She is the same age as me. So I was stunned when she told me I had similar fond memories of piling up in the car in the middle of the night for a family vacation. But it was mostly so my father wouldn't have to listen to the yammering of five kids in the back of our station wagon. It is significant. My friend internalized this memory and stored it. It wasn't because they couldn't afford to eat in a restaurant. Her parents were both high level educators at a historically black college. The reason for the picnic was because between Nashville and their destination, there were few, if any restaurants that were guaranteed to serve people of color, learning why her parents had to be creative in their travel plans, siphon some of the magic of her memories and caused her to be mindful about what it means to be non white. Clearly one of the messages she learned early is that one can never take a vacation from being black. When I first became conscious of the existence of this thing called Whiteness. I too was skeptical and found a concept confusing. Even though I had wondered numerous times what it was like living with blackness. It is important when discussing racial disparities to consistently connect poverty with wealth, Inequity with privilege, disadvantage with advantage. Otherwise we are only addressing part of the equation as if one isn't connected to the other. When we talk about the war on poverty, it is important to consider that a true war on poverty might involve an initiative to equalize wealth. For some, this is truly a sticky if not disturbing proposition. Regardless of socioeconomic status, white privilege nevertheless impacts all non white people in short race supersedes wealth. If answering the question at the beginning of the chapter, you check number four, you aren't alone, millions of white folks have never had a moment where they became acutely aware of what it means to be white. If this is you feel free to cross out number four and check number three, you are officially aware of your racial identity now that you've read this far. Perhaps it will help to revisit the question with more perspective. When was the first time you realized your racial identity played a pivotal role in your life? Number 1, 1, 2, 5 years old. Number 26 to 10 years old. Number 3, 11 plus years old. Number four, never discuss How old were you? What happened? What kind of impact did it have on you? How did it change your hopes? Dreams and goals? Did your parents or relatives inform you? Because I am white? I can decide not to discuss race or my whiteness or address it on any level. I am the expert on whether I am racist and if I determine that I'm not than the need to discuss, my own privilege is taken off the table. If I start to feel bad during a racial conversation because of my perceived whiteness, I can just walk away and forget about it. I can claim fatigue at being blamed for all racial problems and excuse myself from the conversation. I cannot know the fatigue passed down from black grandmothers for centuries, and sometimes I resent others for harping on the subject of race. And I'm tired of feeling the pressure to be politically correct