I feel as through I have lived in a “bubble” (small town Rhode Island) for the last 20 years. I have lived in the same house and neighborhood, went through school ( K-12) and even some college with the same group of people, and I was hesitant to explore places outside my comfort zone. The articles presented to us in this class so far have opened my mind in a way that high school and the Community College of Rhode Island never came close to achieving. Spitting back facts to teachers is one thing but reading material about a world you live in while experiencing discrimination without even realizing it is another.
In the article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, the author Peggy McIntosh, discusses the advantages of “white privilege”. My initial reaction to this article was best described through her quote, “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 that white privilege puts me at an advantage.” In some ways I feel that this quote could be used by certain people as an excuse to be oblivious to what is going on in the world around them.
I found the 26 examples of white privilege described in the article helped me connect my personal experiences with white privilege. For example number 26, “I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color that more or less matches my skin.” Two weeks ago in class when we where discussing S.C.W.A.A.M.P and Dr Bogad said that the ideal white female has blond hair and blue eyes I was instantly uncomfortable. I have always had a hard time understanding why humans have to have boundaries, labels and high expectations in order to be successful in life. What I did not realize before reading this article is that white privilege is setting the stage for society.
It brings me great sadness that discrimination and racism is still going on around us. I am grateful that the United States no longer promotes slavery or abuses our “help”. As demonenstrated through the best selling Book and hit movie The Help we have come along way from discriminating and abusing those we hire to help us. But as a country we are far from being free from ourselves. It is articles like this that create awareness and once the knowledge is out there it is up to the public to decide what to do with their newly found “power”.
Thinking Points: When we discussed S.C.W.A.A.M.P in class did any of the 26 examples the author introduced make you as the reader feel uncomfortable or self conscious?
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