White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
McIntosh argues that white people will admit that those of a different race are at a disadvantage, however they are unaware that as a result they are at an advantage in society. When white people say they will work to lessen the disadvantage of those of a different color they are implying that they will make them more like them. They never admit nor see the advantage they have over others and will not offer to lessen their advantages or give up power that they are accustomed to to end the unfairness.
1. “As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.”
This quote really made me think about the meaning of racism. What does the term “racism” really mean? I do believe that it puts others at a disadvantage, that one race is seen as inferior to another. That there were and are things that they cannot do that other races can, and they are seen in a different view. However, as I was defining racism I came to realize that I did not believe that racism had put me at an advantage and privileged in any way. I always thought of being “ privileged” as having something others did not have. I had judged privilege as a reward or some type of luxury. I considered it something that had either been earned or given to by birth or just having luck. For example, being born into a rich family, automatically gives one opportunities that others may not have. I never thought that being white was an advantage or a privilege for me. White people are taught that they are just normal in society. That they are given certain advantages or disadvantages for being white. I believe that McIntosh really shows readers and opens up the eyes of white people to their advantages.
2. “White are taught to think of their lives as neutral, normative, and average and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work that will allow them to be more like us.”
McIntosh explains that white people see themselves as just normal, and average in society we don’t see ourselves as higher or better than those of a different race. So what we(white people) mean by equal is getting those who are of a different race on our level which means having to be more like us. This relates to the woman in Delpit who on page 29 said “ my kids know how to be black- you all teach them how to be successful in a white man’s world.” I believe that both Delpit, and McIntosh are trying to explain that those of other races must learn to do and be more like the dominant race. Thus, this means to follow the rules of those of the dominant culture (white people) who made them, to be successful those of other races to need to fit in and make contacts with those who have power to advance in the world. It’s all about power.
3. “In proportion as my racial group was being made confident, comfortable, and oblivious, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated.”
This quote made me question being confident or having something good happen in ones life. Does good for someone always mean bad for someone else? For example, in sports when one team wins that always mean that another team had to lose. Are there always going to be winners and losers in the world? Can’t everyone win in society?
I was really interested in this article. I found it really easy to read and easy to follow along with McIntosh's ideas and points. I really understood what she was trying to say. In comparison to Delpits article I believe that McIntosh said what she needed to say and made specific points to prove her arguments without all the "fluff" as we mentioned in class. It might have been a bit biased in the fact that she is coming a white woman in society however I feel that her comparison to male privilege fit perfectly here. It is true that in society men do have an advantage over women but there is no way as women we can get them to give up the power they have now. In the same way, as whites many of us are oblivious to the power that we have and we are accustomed to the way everything is now. If things were to change for us (white people), than we (white people) would think that we were being treated unfairily.
Data show racial bias persists in America
Muwakkil argues that a majority white people believe that racism is over, and that people of color are treated and have the same opportunites as white people do in society. However, through different studies Muwakkil proves that racism does indeed exist in our society and that those who believe that we have become a "colorblind" society are denying themselves from reality.
1. “Do you feel that racial minorities in this country have equal job opportunities as whites, or not? Fifty-five percent of whites polled yes."
I think that the quote above is implying that most white people believe that racism is over in America today and that the job opportunities are the same for both races. However, in a society whose government is solely based on democracy and set of ideas and principles about freedom and equal opportunity. If the dominant race (white people) admit that racism still exists than they are proposing that there are facts of inequality in America. Therefore, if racism does indeed exist which by the many reasons and perceptions Muwakkil argues in his article, it does then is the idea of Democracy and Equality in America just an idea? Unfortunately, according to Delpit, McIntosh, and Muwakkil there isn’t equal opportunity for everyone, many of us are privileged. Thus, racism does continue in our society today. No one (whites/dominant culture) wants to admit that equality opportunity does not exist in America and that our respectable ideas of democracy can be diminished by our failure to solve racism in our country. Therefore because racism doesn’t really affect whites because they are not people of color and “whiteness is not seen as an identity” (McIntosh) than we become unaware of the restrictions and the failures of equal job opportunity that we (white people) are giving to people of color.
2. "The researchers sent fictitious resumes in response to help wanted ads; each randomly assigned either a white-sounding name (Emily Walsh, Brendan Baker) or a very black sounding name (Lakisha Washington, Jamal Jones). The study found that applicants with white sounding names were 50 percent more likely to get called for an initial interview than applicants with black sounding names."
I really couldn't believe this. I thought we had come so far in racism and in the law that discrimination such as the simplest thing as the way someone names sounds was illegal. However, I have come to realize how would a person of color really know if they didn't get a job, or a call back because of their color? I suppose they could assume but everytime they walk into an interview, or meet someone do they have to assume every little thing might be because of there color? I think that Muwakkil is trying to prove that this really does happen, even though many of us think it does not. This relates back to McIntosh's article when she said that "If a traffic cop pulls me over, I can be sure that I haven't been singled out because of my race." Do people of color always have to suspect that there race will work against them? Apparently, because if they didn't get the job simply because they weren't prepared or experienced enough, there had to be another reason.
3. "Those who assert we've arrived at a colorblind society are blinding themselves to reality."
I believe that this quote not only sums up Muwakkil's ideas but many of the articles we have read so far. I think that those who do believe that racism is over, and that we live in a colorblind society are really not facing reality. Its all around us(white people) just because we (white people) are not disadavantaged or affected by it doesn't mean its not there. We tend to look as our privileges as normal, we are who we are but what about those who are black, hispanic, latino they are just who they are. What makes them not normal? If its nothing then why are there certain restrictions? Why do whites get higher paying jobs? Why do whites get more power in society? I believe that once whites can answer those questions and many like them they can realize that its not over and that by sympathy we cannot get rid of it. Its the real deal, its all around us and by giving up some of our privleges, maybe just maybe we will arrive in a society where we are "colorblind" meaning that no matter what color we are we are all equal. Not equal meaning more like the mainstream(white) in society but all equal no matter what color we are. Meaning that Lakisha and Emily are looked at as normal human beings, just a resume of a human being, not a girls resume not a black or white persons.
This article wasn't that difficult to understand. I felt as if I was reading it out of a newspaper and that it was just listing and showing me different studies that have been conducted recently to prove that racism clearly does exist in our society today.
