As a white person, I experience privileges everyday. I have these privileges simply because of my race. I did not earn them. I did not work for them. And I typically do not think about them. I just accept and enjoy them.
To many, what I am saying is hard to digest. After all, we have been raised to believe that we live in a society where people get what they deserve. People who work harder and apply themselves are going to be rewarded. Those who slough off and take the “easy road” get their just due as well. But what I am talking about has nothing to do with someone’s work ethic or talent.
Let me offer some other examples of unearned white privilege in my life:
- I can encounter people, especially women, and they will not change their path to avoid me, clutch their purse tighter, or tense up when I walk by.
- I have more free time because I am not asked to serve on committees or groups so they can get the “minority perspective” and appear diverse.
- When I go into a store, I can be almost certain that I will not be followed or watched carefully because of my race.
- I can get a job with an affirmative action employer without people assuming that I only got the job because of my race.
- I can do a great job at work or do something out of the ordinary in our community without being called a “credit to my race.”
- I can drive a brand new Lexus without people wondering whether the car is mine, whether I can afford it, or whether I purchased it with drug money.
- I can let my lawn grow a foot high and let my house fall into disrepair without any of my neighbors or a passerby thinking, even for a split second, that it has anything to do with the color of my skin.
- While having lunch or dinner in an upscale restaurant, I can be sure that I will not be mistaken for a coat-check clerk or some other “help” because of my race.
- When I am in need of customer service, I do not have to smile to make myself approachable.
- I can write this blog without people attributing what I write to my race.
To be continued…
So true! My biggest frustration as an African American is going into a grocery store and on several occasions I’ve had clerks just assume I was using food stamps. Or when I say I attended George Washington University I’ve actually had people say “Oh wow that’s a very pricey school and hard to get in, how did you do it?” I also find it annoying that people thing A.A.’s vote for Obama because of his color. Republicans and Independents come in all colors. But if they were voting for him based on color, could you blame them? They don’t know if they’ll ever see another A.A. president again.
As I was reading this post Amy Cuddy’s statement regarding Obama and the debate come to mind. “Obama, is aware that as a black man, and this is supported very very well by good science, it is very risky for black men to show any signs of aggression. So, when a black man shows a sign of aggression, people say, ‘See!’ It confirms a stereotype of black men.”- Amy Cuddy. She was referring to Obama and the debate but as an African-America woman I can relate. At work I’m mindful of my attitude and my behavior so I’m not ‘labeled’ as an angry black woman. I’m paranoid about how I will wear my hair in the mornings b/c it’s natural and I don’t want to offend anyone or teach a class on the versatility of natural hair. I wouldn’t choose a president based on race, but Dara’s comment above brings up a good point and I don’t know if I would blame them either. Just like I don’t know if I blame black women for being angry. Yes I do think we should get over it in order to advance our race but there is definitely a lot to be angry about.
Reference:
Check out the link with the article http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/04/amy-cuddys-statements-on-ac360/?hpt=ac_mid.
Well to start we are using your book for my college class. What you stated is so correct in our society. I am a white male and I have personally seen as you described. The only difference is I do not follow our view of a typical American white male. I have dreadlocks and I am consistently judged based on my looks. Then when i tell people I am going to college to be an educator and a spanish and sign language translator they look at me as if I have two heads. Along with the others replied this is true because i have walked into several stores and the African Americans are watched suspiciously. Which is sad, becasue it just sates that we were not able to battle our perceptions. Also I noticed since I have been judged by “my” own race it has made me be able to open my mind and accept more so I can have the skills towards diversity consciousness. Now a question would be, does america fear acceptance because it destroys their orignal perceptions? Is our great country still stuck in social cruise control?
This is so true, but I believe it expands to white women with four kids. When I was raising my children as a divorced mom on food stamps, I felt the looks and judgement from others. I was embarrassed, but no one new the hard work I was doing to improve myself. I was attending school so I could afford the things we needed, and I was working full time, but it was a catch 22 in many ways. Do I have unearned privileges? I believe I do, but I believe all do in their own situation. I guess realizing the privileges will help me understand how lucky I have been.