Article 1:
Citation:
Kottak, Conrad Phillip and Kayhryn Kozaitis 2012 On Being Different, Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream, 4th edition, McGraw Hill Press, New York: Chapter 8. (textbook)
Central Theme:
The Central Theme of chapter Eight from On Being Different is about people looking different on the outside, from the way someone looks we develop an idea of what we believe they are like.
What was the article about?:
Races are separated into categories, some are of higher standings then others, and some are believed to be better than others. The idea of race is believed to be something that has been made up by our culture in order to help separate people and to be able to separate them from others. This is done
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"White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming To See Correspondences through Work in Women’s Studies" (1988), by Peggy McIntosh. Macintosh.pdf
Central Theme:
The central theme of “White Privilege Knapsack” is about how white people actually see themselves and how they view the concept of being racist.
What was the article about?:
Some people have more advantages than others, while the rest are left with disadvantages and struggles. Peggy McIntosh mentions that as she was growing up, as a white person, she was taught about racism in a way that would make other individuals are at a disadvantage. White people had certain privileges that others did not.
These advantages are accepted without the knowledge of these white people, this is just how they were brought up as they got older. They are bought up this way and that is how they believe that everyone else is living their life
These advantages are not realized until you actually sit down and think about situations and that about how others deal with being put in the same situation. Some races are higher in power than others, and this allows for the advantages that they are
1. The "invisible knapsack" is an analogy for a set of invisible and not widely talked about privileges that white people possess in the society. In her article, Peggy McIntosh compares the "white privilege" to an invisible set of unearned rewards and benefits that white people utilize in their lives unconsciously on a daily basis. The privileges that white people often take for granted include, amongst others, being able to get a well-paid job, being able to afford to live in a desired neighborhood, or being able to speak their mind without being judged based on their race. Unfortunately, neither schools nor society teaches the white people to see themselves as oppressors, leading them to unconsciously and unknowingly oppress the people of color. White people are seen as oppressive even if they do not perceive themselves to be that way.
Privilege is defined as “a special advantage or authority possessed by a particular person or group” in the Cambridge Dictionary. Globally, white individuals are often granted privileges than minority groups do not receive. While white privilege often goes unnoticed by white individuals, it causes many disadvantages for people of color and effects how they see themselves. Furthermore, Affirmative Action attempts to equal the playing field for minorities but is faced with contention by many white people.
Prior to beginning my readings on white racial identity, I did not pay much attention to my white race. If someone had asked me to describe my appearance I would have said short blond hair, blue eyes, average stature, etc. One of the last things I would have noted was the color of my skin. Growing up in overwhelmingly white communities, I never thought to use the color of my skin to differentiate myself from others. Over the course of this dialogue I have learned that my white racial identity is one of the most defining aspects of my appearance in this society. There is a certain level of privilege that I am afforded based solely on the color of my skin. According to Peggy McIntosh, “White privilege is like an invisible weightless
Wise then goes on to describe just how much of a burden race can be on a person of color, saying that white people do not have racial stereotypes working against them when people of color have to constantly worry about activating a series of negative stereotypes and whether or not they will be able to overcome them. He says that having one less thing to worry about can be the one thing that separates success from failure. Wise then goes on to describe how racial inequalities came to exist in this country’s founding colonies simply as a ploy to hide class.
In “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh argues that racism can be found imbedded into the culture of society; conferring and denying certain privileges on some rather than all. This is a dangerous cultivation; endowing a strong expectation that white privileges are naturally deserving. Furthermore, making the cornerstone of McIntosh’s main argument; that white privilege is just a less aggressive synonym for dominance. When you receive privileges for looking a certain type of way, the recipient becomes immune; often not being able to acknowledge their advantages. As a result, this creates a cultural divide, between racial groups.
Peddy McIntosh highlighted various unearned white privileges in her autobiographical article “White Privilege, Color and Crime: A Personal Account.” She illustrated the white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that one white person could count on cashing in each day. White people have these privileges given to them by the society in which they live in. The same society taught them to be ignorant and unawareness of these privileges. This system of unearned privileges established by white individuals made people of color feel oppressed. In this system being white is a norm and dominant power. Caucasians, who benefit most from the white privilege system in the United States, are more likely to
At its core, white privilege is described to be an “invisible package of unearned assets” (McIntosh, 2002, p. 33) for white people. There are many layers explaining the manifestation of white privilege and even more explanations pertaining to its dominant presence in today’s world.
Wise’s examination of the inconspicuous character of racism 2.0 dovetails fittingly with our course’s recurring theme of institutionalized racism. In class lectures we have defined institutionalized racism as the discriminatory practices that have become regularized and routinized by state agencies, organizations, industries, or anywhere else in society. Although such practices might not be intentionally racist, they end up being racist nevertheless as consequence of the systematized and unspoken biases that have become increasingly convoluted and entrenched within society over time. It also doesn’t help white people to recognize these discriminatory practices considering they have been unconsciously tailored to be consistent with white perspective and mentality. In her article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Peggy McIntosh examines not only how white folks often consider themselves to be a normative figure within society, but also how they are carefully taught not to recognize the advantages they gain from the disadvantages that impair people of color. In the article, McIntosh acknowledges the reality of her own white privilege and expresses, “In my class and place, I did not see myself as a racist because I was taught to recognize racism only in individual acts of meanness by members of my group, never in invisible systems conferring unsought racial dominance on my group from birth” (McIntosh 4). In fact, even if white folks do not believe themselves to
In Peggy McIntosh’s, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” she introduces the topic of privilege from the point of view of a women in a world designed to favor men. She sees that men acknowledge the fact that women are disadvantaged but are unable to admit that they themselves have higher power. This denial of power is what creates the gap between men and women and is a clear stepping stone to her primary point of white privilege. The problem does not lie in the existence of white privilege but more so in the validation that is given to it. To be oblivious to this privilege is what gives it power to aid the white population, while simultaneously crippling other minority groups. She goes on to state that realizing there is hierarchy is the first step to systematically taking it down. This however has to start by finding where the problem originates.
At a daily rate the disadvantage falls upon the Hispanics/ Latinos on other hand white people tend to prevail daily. It is a constant thing that makes white people naïve; an excuse the superior race chose to normalize. Take for example, the author of White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondence through work in Women’s Studies (1988), Peggy McIntosh notes she was thought to be unconscious of white privilege and believes it is an unearned benefit that other white people avoid to recognize it. McIntosh adds that “White privilege is like an invisible knapsack of special provisions, assurances, tools, maps, guides… passports, visas…” and the most important of all the light skin color, have prevented white people to experience any necessity every Hispanic/ Latino has faced. In other words, the lighter your skin the more privileges you enjoy, such as avoiding discrimination and stereotypical
The first benefit Paul Kivel discusses is that Caucasian can count on police protection rather than harassment. Tim Wise states, “For most whites, police are the helpful folks who get your cat out of the tree, or take you around in their patrol car for fun.” Another benefit Paul Kivel acknowledged that Caucasian received is that nothing that they do qualified, limited, discredited or acclaimed simply because of their racial background. African-American and Latino males according to the Justice system are three times more likely than white males to have their vehicle stopped and searched. This is due to racial profiling of people who commit criminal activity. Caucasian had the advantage of leadership programs while in school that African- American did not receive. African-American and Latino students are about half as likely as whites to be placed in advance or honor classes in school. African-American where not denied these benefits because they were incapable of being in the leadership program. African-American was denied leadership programs benefits due to racism. Paul Kivel states, “I don’t need to think about race and racism every day. I can choose when and where I want to respond to
Being Privilege is something many of us do not realize we have on an everyday basis. Privilege is something you can get over time, but others are born with the natural ability to be privileged. Anybody who is “white” descent is born with what is known as white privilege. Many of us do not recognize this the privilege that comes with being white in society. We go on everyday taking advantage of other races by being white without even knowing it. Whether it is housing, education, jobs, the list goes on and on. Just like Tim Wise states in his video, is the idea we as white Americans are blind to the fact and in denial we have an advantage compared to any of race. We look at ourselves as everyone else and have zero privileges like everyone else. The family, the education system, the political system and many other influences in daily life, do not teach that the white race is privileged, but that the white race is the norm, not advantaged, just normal.
By associating the potential existence of racism with consumption, a form of rationalization is that we now live in society that does not recognize and reward race, but merit. In turn, whites do not inherently realize the privileges that they are born with. Peggy McIntosh actually used the terms unearned entitlement and unearned advantage to describe disproportionate lead that whites have over blacks (McIntosh, 103). The fact of the matter is that most white people are in denial that they have been born with unearned entitlements that minorities do not have and according to McIntosh this is because they have been taught not to recognize it. As much as white people have been taught not to recognize that they have been given white privilege, blacks and minorities recognize that they do. Although many believe that the playing field is now level, is apparent that there is an uphill struggle for people of color. But how should one first recognize this struggle?
1. To be quite honest, I am shocked by the article's hyperbolization of the concept of "white male privilege". Make no mistake about it, in general, certain groups absolutely do have it easier than others. However, we've all been dealt a hand, so to speak, and as a result everyone has a discrete set of privileges AND disadvantages.
The two themes that I have chosen from the story are, to love you as yourself, and everyone is different. My first theme, "To love you as yourself," ties to the main character. She starts off in a new "environment." Bernice is visiting her cousin and is spending time in her town. During this time, she has trouble talking to people because her customs were different. She overhears a conversation between her cousin and aunt and is hurt by the some things that were said. She then confronts her cousin and wants to know what she can do to fit in with the popular people, but little does she know that her cousin sets her up for failure. My second theme, "Everyone is different," applies to Marjorie and the people of the town. Marjorie and her so-called