Today in class was a real eye opener. I knew that I have been fortunate all of my life, but I have never realized how much people around me haven’t been as privileged. Also, reading the article by McIntosh made me recognize that there are so many privileges that I have being a white female. We also watched a little bit of a film by Jim Wise. He was discussing the different privileges whites have over those of a different race. It was an interesting film and I wanted to hear even more of what he had to say. Watching the film and reading McIntosh allowed me to realize some of the privileges that I have; some of them which include:
1. I have been able to attend a good public school district and receive a great education.
2. I can go to the store late at night and not be followed by an employee because he thinks that I’m going to be stealing something.
3. I can go through airport security without worrying if my bags will be checked or being searched because of my race.
4. I can drive and not worry if I’ll get pulled over randomly because of the color of my skin.
5. I can walk into a store and not be judged by others because of my race.
6. I have been privileged in the fact that I have been able to grow up in a safe neighborhood.
7. I have the privilege of being able to work in a workplace and not get judged by the color of my skin.
8. I am able to go into a class at school and have a majority of the class be of the same race.
9. I can flip through a magazine and see a majority of my race being represented.
10. My family has been fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my college as well as my brothers’ colleges.
11. When I get into my profession, I can be sure that a majority of the people I will be working with will be of my same race.
12. I can be sure that I am heard when I speak an opinion that I may have.
13. I can easily find extracurricular activities with the involvement of people of my own race.
14. I can be sure that I can ask questions about culture and it not seem politically incorrect because of my race.
15. I know I can talk to a professor here at the university and know that he or she will be willing to answer any questions that I have.
16. I can put down other languages, thinking that others should learn English, and not be looked down upon because of my race.
17. My parents have always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to try best.
18. Both of my parents graduated from high school and they both attended college.
19. I know that I can interview for a job position and not be discriminated against because of the color of my skin.
20. I have the ability to decide exactly what I want to do with my life; I don’t have to be told what I should or shouldn’t do, because of who I am and the life that I am able to live.
Privilege, I believe, is something that I’m not able to control. I was born as a white female and am fortunate. It isn’t fair that I was able to live the way that I have so far and have people so close to me live such a harder life. There are people that I know of a different color who are just as smart, if not smarter, than I am. For them not to be able to live the life that I have lived just isn’t right. And I hate that they did not get to choose how they wanted to live. They, too, were born into it.
1. I have been able to attend a good public school district and receive a great education.
2. I can go to the store late at night and not be followed by an employee because he thinks that I’m going to be stealing something.
3. I can go through airport security without worrying if my bags will be checked or being searched because of my race.
4. I can drive and not worry if I’ll get pulled over randomly because of the color of my skin.
5. I can walk into a store and not be judged by others because of my race.
6. I have been privileged in the fact that I have been able to grow up in a safe neighborhood.
7. I have the privilege of being able to work in a workplace and not get judged by the color of my skin.
8. I am able to go into a class at school and have a majority of the class be of the same race.
9. I can flip through a magazine and see a majority of my race being represented.
10. My family has been fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my college as well as my brothers’ colleges.
11. When I get into my profession, I can be sure that a majority of the people I will be working with will be of my same race.
12. I can be sure that I am heard when I speak an opinion that I may have.
13. I can easily find extracurricular activities with the involvement of people of my own race.
14. I can be sure that I can ask questions about culture and it not seem politically incorrect because of my race.
15. I know I can talk to a professor here at the university and know that he or she will be willing to answer any questions that I have.
16. I can put down other languages, thinking that others should learn English, and not be looked down upon because of my race.
17. My parents have always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to try best.
18. Both of my parents graduated from high school and they both attended college.
19. I know that I can interview for a job position and not be discriminated against because of the color of my skin.
20. I have the ability to decide exactly what I want to do with my life; I don’t have to be told what I should or shouldn’t do, because of who I am and the life that I am able to live.
Privilege, I believe, is something that I’m not able to control. I was born as a white female and am fortunate. It isn’t fair that I was able to live the way that I have so far and have people so close to me live such a harder life. There are people that I know of a different color who are just as smart, if not smarter, than I am. For them not to be able to live the life that I have lived just isn’t right. And I hate that they did not get to choose how they wanted to live. They, too, were born into it.
I find it pretty interesting, not surprising just interesting, how many white students start with how this made them recognize how privileged their lives are. Not that having a very privileged life is a bad thing, I personally feel my life has been pretty privileged, it just depends on how you use those privileges to better the world. From what I have read it seems like you have a very honest understanding of the separations created by these privileges, but what I hope the people with similar privileges in the country will learn to use these in the best way they possibly can.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the person who wrote above me that last Friday was an eye opener for all of us. I had never heard of white privilege until now, but it’s so crazy that it consumes our everyday lives and we never even realize it. I am an African American female, and in America that can sometimes be a double burden. But because of my ancestors who fought for our freedom, I am able to live a better life. I have lived a life that from the outside looking in was pretty equal to my peers. I lived in the same suburb my whole life; I was raised in a two parent household, upper middle class family, and surrounded by people who constantly showed me love and support. Like you said we can’t help where we come from, but we can change how we view others and our mindset about people of a different race or background. I enjoyed viewing your perspective on privilege; it gave me a chance to see a different side of things.
ReplyDeleteI believe that day was a reality check for all of us. It still saddens me that despite the accomplishments my people have overcame as a race, there are still barriers, (some more visible than others) that exist. Privilege at times seems like it’s granted rather than equally acquired. This assignment, made me realize all the privileges that I obtain in contrast to my ancestors past, yet, also made me realize that we as a country still have a long way to go. I believe that my people have lived with it for so long, that it can, and for the most part is used as a fuel that ignites’ us to work harder and go beyond average. This activity made me realized that though privilege is granted to some, I will not use mine frivolously.
ReplyDeleteJessica Turner