Much has been written about White Privilege–so much that I was hesitant to add yet another article on the topic. But current events made a compelling case to revisit it, which I tried to do through my latest Everyday Feminism article.
Take privilege #7: I Have the Privilege of Escaping Violent Stereotypes Associated with My Race
While writing about this privilege, I couldn’t keep up with current events, as stories of violent White men overwhelmed my news feed. First, White men terrorized Black students at the University of Missouri. Then White men in Virginia were arrested for plotting to blow up Black churches and synagogues. Then White men in Minneapolis were taken into custody for shooting five protestors demanding justice for Jamar Clark, a Black man reportedly unarmed and handcuffed when killed by the police. Then a White man shot up a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado–and is taken alive!
(Educator Jackson Katz shows how the media hide maleness here, but Whiteness seems even more hidden by mainstream media’s headlines–even when the crimes are racially motivated. Talk about White Privilege.)
No, the concept of White Privilege is not new, but until more White people better understand White Privilege–and then work relentlessly to dismantle this unfair system of privilege–we need another article. And a lot more.
Please share this one if you find it useful!
10 Examples That Prove White Privilege Protects White People in Every Aspect Imaginable
On another note, Sunday, November 29th, marks the year anniversary of this website. Thank you so much for joining me here!
Your writing resonates. I am also a teacher steeped in privilege that I try to acknowledge and work against, probably not nearly often enough. I am in Canada, and I thought that a stereotypically Canadian story might be of interest. (I wish that I could laugh).
The school that I teach at, in an effort to increase enrollment, has just announced the opening of a ‘hockey academy’ program for Grade 7 and 8s. Only theoretically open to “boys or girls” (no mention of any other gender possibilities, of course), the players will be dropped of at a local, private rink in the morning, then bussed back to the school for 11 am. The school (or approximately 600 students) will re-arrange its entire schedule to accommodate the 24 (I’d love to say ‘players here, but realistically, “boys” fits better). They will complete their ‘academic’ work during the 3 periods that remain in the day.
Their families will be charged approximately $1500.00 to partake in this ‘free public education’ program, which will cover ice time and bussing. They have to, by the way, already be part of existing club teams (at a cost exceeding $3000.00, annually).
This all, of course, while many of our other students arrive in the morning from foster homes, group homes, situations of poverty and abuse.
But, hey, those boys will undoubtedly get better at hockey.