Getting to Know Your White Privileges

Getting to Know Your W W HIT E PRIVI LEGE S* Combating racism begins with understanding how your race or skin color has unfairly granted you advantages that people with a different skin color or race do not often enjoy. As a white person living in America, you experience life with an unearned collection of opportunities and privileges. Acknowledging how those privileges often oppress others not of your race is the first step towards overcoming racism. Below is a brief list developed by anti-racism activist Peggy McIntosh of the types of privileges you experience, simply for being white. What else could you add to this list? FAMILIARITY ACKNOWLEDGMENT If you wish, you can be in the company of people of your When you're taught about your national heritage or "civilization," you are shown that people of your color made it what it is. The privilege of having your race acknowledged, appreciated, and The race most of the time. privilege of seeing and being You can turn on the TV or open the news and see people of your race widely represented. You can be sure that your children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race. around You usually count on if you ask to talk to "the person in charge," you will face someone of your race. You can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having co- workers on the job suspect that you got it because of race. represented. people and situations You can go into stores and find expect to find If you want, you can usually find music, food, and clothing that fit your cultural traditions expect someone who can cut your hair. that are publishers and employers who will take your work seriously. OPPORTUNITY into salons and The privilege of not having opportunities unfairly taken from you. familiar and You can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children's magazines featur- ing people of your race. Whether you use checks, credit cards, or cash, you can count on your skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability. similar to your race and culture. You can choose blemish cover or bandages in "flesh" color and have them more or less match your skin. You can be sure that if you need medical or legal help, your race will not work against you. You can be pretty sure that you can rent or purchase a home in an area you can afford and would want to live. You can speak in public to a powerful group without putting your race on trial. SAFETY INDIVIDUALITY The privilege of not worrying about being harassed or endangered because of your skin color. The privilege of You can most of the time, mostly assured that you will not be followed or harassed. You can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to your shopping alone being seen as an individual, with your race. You can arrange to protect your children most of the time from people who may not like them. You are never asked to speak for all the people of your racial group. own merits, and not as someone who You can go in public places without fearing people of your race will can be sure it wasn't be mistreated. If a cop pulls you over or the IRS audits you, you represents an entire because of your race. race. You can be pretty sure that neighbors where you move in will be kind or neutral KINDNESS You can criticize our government, its policies, and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider. The privilege of expecting kindness or neutrality. to you living there. You can swear, dress in second- hand clothes, or not answer messages badly, you don't have to ask if each without having people attribute those If your day, week, or year is going choices to be the bad morals, the poverty, or the negative episode or situation has racial illiteracy of your race. overtones. *This infographic and list of privileges is a summary of Peggy Mclntosh's original article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" Her article is one of the most widely cited on the topic of white privilege. SOURCE: http:// www.nationalseedproject.org/images/documents/Knapsack_plus_Notes-Peggy_McIntosh.pdf TheVisualCommunicationGuy.com