As a white female being educated in a mainly white community that advertises, yet lacks diversity, what is my privilege? Am I blind to severe racism that exists against people of different backgrounds and skin colors? Is my ignorance bliss? In Peggy McIntosh’s article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, she explains her belief that whites are conditioned to not “recognize white privilege” (McIntosh). This white privilege is described as “unearned assets” that are expected each day and accumulated with the idea that we are “meant” to remain oblivious about them. According to McIntosh, each day I wake up and act, participate, and take part in many things that a colored person could not just wake up and do. These aspects of white privilege have become less common over time, but some circumstances still exist where racism and fear of diversity put whites at an advantage over people of a different skin color. However, now there are some instances where African Americans are at an advantage over Caucasians. Our country has progressed to a time where racism and prejudice is scarce, but the few conditions where it exists are so intense and uncomfortable that we choose to overlook it as to avoid conflict.
McIntosh continues her investigation of this “white privilege” by outlining some of the “daily effects” of white privilege in her life. She lists 50 conditions under which she act on every day without even having to think twice about (McIntosh). These conditions are also freedoms that African Americans could not wake up and unreservedly have access at the time when McIntosh’s article was written. Some of these effects were simple things like being confident that your neighbors would treat you well or at least “neutral” upon moving into a new neighborhood. This is an example of something that is now universal for the most part. In the majority neighborhoods, African Americans can move in peacefully and get along with their neighbors. Of course, there are exceptions to this statement, but there always will be exceptions. In fact, in some neighborhoods, a white family moving into a home can cause controversy with the neighbors. Many of McIntosh’s listed “daily effects” I have deciphered as untrue and in some cases the opposite has become true with progression.
Daily Effect number 32 is listed as “My culture gives me little fear about ignoring the perspectives and powers of people of other races” (McIntosh). As I read this I immediately labeled this as untrue. Thoughts proving this effect wrong flowed through my head. Ignoring opinions and beliefs of people of other races in unacceptable. No one looks at a person skin color to judge their perspectives and powers in situations. As I began to think about it more, I questioned myself. Is it really that far off? Do all people look past skin color and into the true meaning behind the opinion? Does a racist past still affect the way whites treat the perspectives and powers of people of other races?
While I do believe a time of racist sentiments is behind us, after contemplating McIntosh’s list of daily effects, I am questioning just how much we have progressed. Does our history with racism condition us to hold the same beliefs against people of color? Are racist ideas still held but hidden? Do these “daily effects” still exist in a less prominent way? How does one skin color affect the way a person is judged?
McIntosh, Peggy. "White Privilege:Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." Essay. Independent School Winter 1990. Print.
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It is inevitable that we still have post-racism in our nation. It is not seen frequently as before but there are still those
ReplyDelete"invisible systems" that McIntosh speaks about. Racism is a worldwide issue that seems to have had after effects on our nation. I do believe that a racist past affects the way whites treat the perspectives and powers of people of other races. For example privilages of a white and a colored person. The white person goes to an interview. A colored person goes to that same interview for the same job. The colored person has better qualifications than the white person. The white person gets the job hands down. Is this right? Or is this just another privilege of the invisible systems towards the white person? This could still be happening in our nation as we speak. The person with the better qualifications should have the job, or is it just another daily effect of white privileges? Yes post-racism has become more hidden, the colored person in the example would not have known why, but still it is wrong. Why can't we just let this go, I ask myself sometimes. Some thigs just refuse to die I guess. Post racism exists in all races not just whites. It exists in Hispanics, African Americans, European Americans, and Asian Americans. Many people tend to look at skin color and start to stereotype, Oh this person is like this or that because the color of his/her skin. Everybody tends to judge according to the outer appearance, and to some people the color of your skin says alot.
I believe that in "post racial" America, many people think it is wrong to discriminate because of race but that does not mean it doesn't happen quite often. I think the majority of people do not consciously decide to make racist judgements, they do it without even noticing. This stems from culture differences and a history of racism in our country. McIntosh's article about white privilege brings up many things whites take for granted on a daily basis. It helped me recognize that I don't even realize sometimes that people of another race may not have all the freedoms I have, even though we all share the same rights. I think the racism of the past is not fully in the past. It remains in the subconscious of many. Not all people look past skin color to see the true "perspectives and powers" of others.
ReplyDeleteI think the point we are at is labeled "post racial" because blacks share the same rights as whites, which was obviously not true for a long time. But although we share the same rights, I do not think we are treated the same in professional and social situations.
Most Americans believe that because our current president is of the African descent that we are a "post-racial" country. This is a notion that I completely disagree with. Just because we have our first African American president does not mean that we have overcome racism and prejudice. I do believe that Obama being the first African American president is a step forward for America becoming "post racial". But, on the other hand, the election has caused many outrages who are racist. Also, this post racial era does not just apply to whites and blacks, Hispanics and Asians are quite frequently part of the frequent but subtle segregation/racism.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has had a halfhearted response to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina reveals him to be "racist" or perhaps his election of non-white-males to be a part of his cabinet makes him "racist". McIntosh's article allows us to compare her time period to this (hopefully) soon-to-be post racial country.
While we have overcome many obstacles since the 1950's, we have a long way to go as far as being a completely post-racial country.
I agree that we are on our way to being a "post-racial" country. Every race in America are given the same rights and are not to be discriminated against. However, on many occasions people of different descents are given less opportunities. We tend to ignore this because we are so used to it in our own communities. White people are so used to their privileges that they often overlook any mistreatments of others. We take for granted everything that we are given on a daily basis. While there is still discrimination seen in our country, there are also many people who celebrate diversity. When applying to college, many colleges would be more interested if a student was from a different background in order to make their school more diverse. This is a step in the right direction because we want a community where everyone of all descents are treated equally. Overall, we have become accepting of every race, but there are still a few groups of people who are determined to stop America from becoming "post-racial".
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else. We have yet to overcome racism but we are on the way to doing so. Sometimes people don't even see themselves doing it, like McIntosh states in his essay. While some groups of people make it known like the KKK. Even in my dorm, the nazi symbol was drawn on the stairwell. But, I do believe racism is seen less and less everyday. Like Lindsey Kelley, colleges do look for a variety of students with all different races. If we were still like we were before, colleges would only be accepting one race.
ReplyDeleteI live the town over from Lowell, MA and every year they have different types of cultural festivals and every year I go to atleast two. Every festival that I have been too, there are always people there enjoying themselves that aren't that ethnicity. So, I do believe that our country is trying to work on the racism.
Everytime I read an article on racism, I try to never take anything that I have for granted. I feel bad for anyone that is discriminated against and I never will against anyone.
I believe that even though as a country, we have made huge changes in how people of different races are treated, on some level there still is racism to a certain extent. It is true that in law and government, a person of color can do just as much as a white person, but racism has not been completely wiped from the community. Even though people of different races have the freedom to do what they choose, that doesn't stop others from judging their actions or beliefs based on their race. A couple with mixed races walking down the street is more likely to be judged then a couple of the same ethnicity. So until we remove racism on a subconsious level I don't think we will be to call ourselves a racist free union.
ReplyDeleteWe are progressing as a country to be "post racial" but it has been a slow road. Everything progressive movement in America has been slow. Women didn't get to vote until early 20th century, Native American's didn't get the vote until the 1950's.. it is going to take time for anything in America to change completely. Citizens have been taking the right step towards being a "post racial" country. There is a lot more equality in the government, shown by electing our first African American President. Also there are many cultural fests, and colleges do look to make their campus's more diverse. There is still inequality in America that is holding the country back.. White people still seem to get better education, better jobs, live in safer environments, among other things that white people tend to ignore. It may take America another 100 years before there is equal opportunity for all races, but progression is happening.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the United States is moving towards becoming a "post-racial" country, and that we could be at that stage sooner if everyone would work together to eliminate the racism that has impeded our progress. I agree with Jess.Stewart when she stated that just because we have elected an African American president, that doesn't mean that we no longer have prejudice or discrimination in this country. To be honest, I think a part of what is keeping racism alive in the United States is that we seem to be so aware of it and always looking for it. When Obama was elected president, although it was an amazing feat for the African Americans of this country and it was a huge step forward for us as a nation, I think that the issue of Obama's race was publicized far too much. No matter what Obama does in his term of presidency, he will always be known as the first African American president because that was all the media could talk about or focus on. They didn't speak as much about his campaign or promises, but merely focused on the fact that it was amazing that we had elected and African American president. Until society stops focusing on race as a whole and tries to become "color-blind," race will always be a topic of discussion.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that there is still racism alive in our community. Even so, i believe that this racism is enivitable. Because of the strong oppression that was present in the past, it will take many more years for black people to be treated as equally as white people are. We have made immense progress, having just elected our first black president in history. In many years, i believe racism will die down a bit, but it will always remain in some aspect, just like there is good people and bad people. I dont believe that i am oblivious to the racism that lives in my country, but there is just nothing much i can do about it besides treating everyone i meet with respect.
ReplyDeleteIn our country today, we make claims to be completely judgement free and to be in the 'post-racial' period of our history. We have obviously come a huge way from our history, when discrimination based on race were common, everyday happenings. But despite how far our country has come, the history of discrimination still rears its ugly head at certain times. It is so hard to break stereotypes, and it took a very long time for people in our county to change our views of others. As a person who grew up in this generation, I consider it ridiculous to judge someone else based on their race. What does the color of someone's skin have to say about their character and viewpoints? But not all of were fortunate enough to grow up in a non-prejudice environment, and others had an extremely hard time moving past the prejudice viewpoints on which they were raised. As someone previously stated, now with Obama as our present, it gives our country hope to move even farther away from prejudice actions and move towards an even more promising future. I hope America, as well as the rest of the world, take the current opportunities and use them to their greatest advantage. I hope that the world realizes that if we stop judging others based on their race, religion, gender, or any other physical attribute, our world could work together to really make our world a better place.
ReplyDeleteAlthough some may consider America to be "post-racial," racial discrimination is still prevalent in society. I feel that it is easy for any one of the white students to claim that racism is gone, and these prejudiced opinions and actions just aren't present in today's society. The truth is…how do we know? With some exceptions, I doubt any of the white students have been subjected to the experience a student of color may have endured. To claim that racism is over, is just expressing our ignorance to the situation. And while you pose good questions and make valid points, I disagree that people of color moving into a new neighborhood will be accepted as welcomed or as neutral as people that are white. Even if it is not overt, there is usually (not always), negative attitudes and connotations associated with people of color. I feel that white people, in general, are still uncomfortable with neighbors of color. There is that subconscious discomfort and questioning. Not that all people behave or feel this way. But it is not extinguished. We claim to be a society of equals, but daily behaviors and attitudes contradict that. If occupational prejudice is so prevalent that the government has to enact equal occupation measures, than we are NOT sufficiently representing that title of equality. Racial discrimination and prejudice remains existent in this country, and until it is exterminated completely, this country cannot boast of its equality for all.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the United States still has a long way to go when it comes to discrimination against blacks; God knows theyve been through a lot in the past few centuries. I don't agree with them using it to their advantage.I hate hearing on the news that a man was speeding but he's filing a law suit because he happens to be an African American so it must be discrimination. Not every time something happens to an African American is it racial profiling or intentional.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that our society has come a long way in dealing with this. Coming from Maine, however, I'm not sure that I can speak for the whole nation. I've never been to a Southern state, or seen blatant rascism, but I have heard that it exists.
My point is that rascism does exist but, it is not always the case.
I know many times people are wrongly judged or stereotyped because of their skin color. However, whatever ethnicity a person is, he or she is subject to judgement no matter what. For example, I work at an outlet mall and there is a very high number of foreign customers. I find myself coming into contact with people from all different walks of life. However, just because someone has a certain skin color is not always the root of judgement. For example, if a person has body language that "shuts off" the rest of the world - I might be quick to judge and think that he or she is not very friendly. Am I proud to say I've done this? Absolutely not. But the fact of the matter is regardless of what color a person's skin we many times judge by attitude, speech, gender, etc. I think that people are judged by their skin color yet I think that many other factors play into what basis we decide to judge on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that Peggy McIntosh might be blowing the "White Privilege" out of proportion.
ReplyDeleteBut when I asked myself what the modern white privilege is, I immediately thought, "Well, Caucasians don't really have any major /disadvantages/ to speak of." In other words, there is no advantage aside from the ones which still echo from a white-dominated past time to time. For example, while we're making progress, higher paying careers certainly don't reflect the percentage of minority groups in America.
I wouldn't really call it an advantage so much as the remnants of one which is gradually merging into equality.
As for racism itself, I think it's best to remind that a natural bias is at the center of it. We all, on some subconscious level (or perhaps conscious too) have a predisposition toward people we find similar to ourselves- be it in age, sex, ethnicity, religion, or whatever. It's a matter of whether or not we let those underlying tendencies to control us in discerning a natural price from true prejudice and racism. Unfortunately, race, as a social construct, has been ingrained in our minds as a concept of differences rather than uniqueness.
And so we see racism from all races. Racism, reverse racism, and everything between, is a noticeable part of our society.
But maybe that isn't true. I'm speaking mostly from an empirical view- most of this I have gathered from my own experience. And perhaps that is the "White Privelege"- ignorance to the racism that still exists, rather than willingness to commit racist acts. A sin of omission, not commission.
We have to take into account, though, that this is a predominantly white society. Racism is more likely to occur for whites simply because there's more.
And then we look at statistics. For example, while there are more white people below the poverty line in the US compared to blacks, a larger percentage of the black population than the white population is below the line of poverty.
So numbers can't necessarily account for the racism.
If racism still exists on a higher level than I was aware, though, I think I should look to my own experience more than statistics and facts. By doing so, I can at least erase any possibility of the "White Privilege" of ignorance.
I do believe that American society as whole is less racist than it used to be. There are absolutley racist people and divisions among races but it is not to the extent that it was in the past. Now racist themes and actions are more subliminal. I did not believe that I had different rights because I am a white citizen. After reading McIntosh's article I realize that there are things that seperate myself from people of other races everyday. Technically, by law, we all have the same rights as citizens. However, things are generally easier for white citizens and they are given automatic privlidges that many people do not give a second thought to.
ReplyDeleteWhile I believe that racism is still an issue in our society, it is not the explination for every incident between races. I become agrivated when an issue between two people is automatically credited to race when the issue at hand is nothing of the sort. I believe that the race card is pulled at times when it is unecessary.
I hope that the issue of racism is one day eliminated from our society. At the present it is still an issue that must be recognized and delt with appropriatley.
Racism in America today is significantly less than it was in the past. However, racism is very much alive in society today. Racist cults do not have as much power as they did in the past but they still are around and are still committing racist crimes. People use racist slangs and commit hate crimes everyday.
ReplyDeleteBy law, I have the same rights as every other person in the country despite their race. After reading McIntosh's article I realized that white people are given certain automatic priveledges that we over look. For instance, there was a survey online where employers were proven to base off who they interview for certain jobs, based off of their names. Things like these cause people of other racers to be a little hostile and always assume that anything held against them is due to their race.
Hopefully one day racism will not be an issue at all in our society but unfortunately, I do not see that happening in my lifetime. People need to forget about the past, people of other races need to be a little less defensive and maybe the government needs to increase the punishment against hate crimes; in order to decrease racism in our society and across the world.
I understand that I myself cannot speak for the entire nation, since I am from a small town in Massachusetts, and I was not privileged enough to travel down south often. Although I believe America is moving towards being “post-racial”, racism is still strongly present in our nation. However, at least through my own observations, racism seems to have shifted its major target since the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteToday, if an African American man makes a joke about a young white woman, it is socially accepted. However, if that same young woman cracks a joke about the African American gentleman, she would be titled a racist. If an African American teenage boy calls another African American teenager boy “nigga”, no individual would be troubled by it. However, if a Caucasian teenage boy calls an African American teenager that exact same “label”, then heads would turn. The young Caucasian man’s life would be in mortal peril! Eminem, when he released his first album was chastised by several members of society because he was a Caucasian rapper. In addition, I am sure we can all recall the recent Kanye West and Taylor Swift incident at the MTV Video Music Awards. If West and Swift had switched roles however, meaning Swift would call Kanye West out instead, would America not have considered that demonstration racism?
In the book Freakonomics, by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, it states 87% of society claim race does not matter in relationships. However, only one out of that 87% would actually date someone of a different race. Racism is still present in our world today, and our generation has been granted the opportunity to transform our nation. We as individuals just need to take advantage of that golden prospect.
I have to agree mostly with what everyone is saying. I think that in the United States we have overcome a lot of racism in the past decade but currently it still remains. In the majority of cases racisms isn’t as extreme as it used to be, but still does that make it okay? While reading McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” it really made me think of subtle racism in society today. As much as I don’t want to believe what she is saying it is hard not to. Coming from such a diverse city and transitioning into a not so diverse school I think I have noticed a lot more things. Sometimes I can’t believe what people will say about “minorities” because where I grew up these groups weren’t considered minorities like they are here. These thing may not be meant to be racist but they defiantly are and it’s hard to blame the person saying it when they were raised to think that way and don’t know any different. I think that the “white privilege” still exists very much today, even if people can’t realize it or admit it.
ReplyDeleteI have to completely agree with everyone. People assume that racism is over but it is still going on today. Some people dont have the intention to be rasist but might be looked at as if they were by their actions. I do admit that rasism is getting better and you see less of it everyday. It does not matter what race someone is, because we are all equal and we all need each other.
ReplyDeleteI do believe we have moved past a lot of racism that use to exist but racism definitely is not over with. Coming from a predominately white town there was not a lot of diversity in my high school. Since I am use to being around very little diversity I sometimes feel uncomfortable when discussing racism. Personally, I have not been in any significant situations where race has played a factor. However, just because I have not experienced an act of racism does not mean that it does not occur. In general, there have been improvements in racism in America but who knows if there will ever be no racism in society.
ReplyDeleteI feel that racism is definitely less obvious in today’s society, but nonetheless still exists. It is more evident depending on the town one resides in. The way a household raises their kids is the reason whether or not those kids will grow up to be racist or not. I live in a predominately white town, but I went to school in a town that was of all races. Since I have been around people of all races, I cannot fully understand why people are racist. Skin color shouldn’t be the factor of whether or not you like somebody. It is the individual’s personality that should be the deciding factor. I believe racism will unfortunately never cease to exist, but it is diminishing. People need to realize that we are all in this world together and need to be able to live amongst each other in peace because all races will always exist.
ReplyDeleteIt is too ideal to say that there is no racism in society. In fact, I'm pretty sure that this will never be the case. People who are stubborn and stuck in their bigot like ways, will never change. That perspective is cynical, but it is unrealistic to say that all bigots will change. As an Asian-American, I have experienced many underlying racist situations. For instance, when I was in a restaurant full of Caucasian people, I felt atomized. I was with my family and we were having a good time. We were what I would define as "normal" family having a nice sit down dinner. However, the minute we sat down and got comfortable, I felt several pairs of eyes on our table. That's when I heard it. "Wow, they're well dressed for an Asian family." It was said softly, but I heard it loud and clear. I wanted badly to go up to that table and ask what they meant by that. Did they mean that only Caucasian people could look polished? Did they mean that Asian Americans were all poor Chinatown peddlers? What did they mean? Despite my anger I kept my cool. When it all comes down to it, certain people don't know they are being racist. The fact is, subtle racism still exists in America. We can only hope that certain people can reform their narrow-minded perspectives.
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