White Privilege: America’s Ugly Secret

White Privilege…

The events of Charlottesville have proven to be an incredible eye-opener.  Not only did it reveal the sheer number or racist factions, groups, and individuals existing directly under our noses, but it also reminded us of an extreme and ugly plight in America: white privilege.

Racism
White privilege and white supremacy are often confused with each other.  Although they are similar, they are not one in the same. White supremacy is usually the self-imposed belief that white people are superior to all other races (especially blacks) and that whites should eternally dominate society. White privilege is the treatment some whites either expect or have grown generally accustomed to that provides them with certain perks related to social, political, or economic circumstances that are not granted to other races.

According to anti-racism activist Peggy McIntosh, whites in Western society frequently enjoy certain benefits that non-whites do not, including “an invisible package of unearned assets.” Often, these are advantages that whites may or may not even realize they have, which is what distinguishes such privileges from the belief of white supremacy or general prejudice. These benefits may include cultural affirmations of one’s own worth, presumed greater social status, and the freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely in one’s society.

Michael Fay, an 18-year-old white male from Ohio, took his years of privileged beliefs to Singapore, where he “jokingly” vandalized cars.  In America, his white privilege would have protected him by doling out a mere slap on the wrist, but in Singapore, he was sentenced to 6 lashes from a rattan cane.

Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old white male also from Ohio, took his years of privileged beliefs to North Korea, where he committed what was referred to as a “college-style prank” by stealing propaganda posters from his hotel that belonged to the Kim Jong un-led government.  In America, his white privilege would have protected him by doling out a mere slap on the wrist, but in North Korea, it cost him his life.

Both males learned the hard way that their whiteness has geographical boundaries.

In the words of HuffPost writer La Sha:

That kind of reckless gall is an unfortunate side effect of being socialized first as a white boy, and then as a white man in this country. Every economic, academic, legal and social system in this country has for more than three centuries functioned with the implicit purpose of ensuring that white men are the primary benefactors of all privilege. The kind of arrogance bred by that kind of conditioning is pathogenic, causing its host to develop a subconscious yet no less obnoxious perception that the rules do not apply to him, or at least that their application is negotiable.

When you can watch a white man who entered a theatre and killed a dozen people come out unscathed, you start to believe you’re invincible. When you see a white man taken to Burger King in a bulletproof vest after he killed nine people in a church, you learn that the world will always protect you.

Interestingly, the basis of white privilege is seeing oneself as normal, while seeing others as “different.” It’s the ability to get away with an infraction because of one’s white skin, particularly when someone with black or brown skin could never get away with the identical infraction.

Racism
The case of Stanford University white male student Brock Turner is a prime example. After admitting to raping an unconscious woman, Turner spent only 3 months behind bars before walking out of a California jail scot-free.

The letter from this rapist’s mother to the judge begging for his mercy is the absolute epitome of white privilege:

Brock is a shattered and broken shell of the person he used to be. My once vibrant and happy boy is distraught, deeply depressed, terribly wounded, and filled with despair. His smile is gone forever-that beautiful grin is no more. When I look into his eyes I see fear and anguish. His voice is barely above a whisper and he keeps himself hunched over almost trying not to be noticed. He trembles uncontrollably. He is crushed that the jury ruled against him. He has lost so much weight because he barely eats anything. He is utterly terrified and traumatized by this. We are devastated beyond belief. My beautiful, happy family will never know happiness again.

So he, at the tender age of 20, now will have to register every 60 days for the rest of his life. He will live a lifetime of scrutiny, he lost 2 jobs just because he was accused of this, now he faces a lifetime of struggling for decent work. Can he be on a college campus. I don’t know. He WILL earn a college degree even if he had to do it 100% online. If he ever has children, he won’t be able to take them to a public park and push them on a swing, he won’t be able to volunteer at their school, he won’t be able to teach Sunday school, he won’t be able to be their Scout leader, he won’t be able to coach them, he won’t be able to chaperone a class field trip or help with a homeroom party……..this is his future life. I beg of you, please don’t send him to jail/prison. Look at him. He won’t survive it. He will be damaged forever and I fear he would be a major target. Stanford boy, college kid, college athlete- all the publicity……..this would be a death sentence for him. Having lost everything he has ever worked for his entire life and knowing the registry is a requirement for the rest of his life certainly is more than harsh. His dreams have been shattered by this. No NCAA Championships. No Stanford degree, No swimming in the Olympics (and I honestly know he would have made a future team), no medical school, no becoming an Orthopedic surgeon……..all gone.

Hmmm…

Brock Turner raped an unconscious woman against her will, yet HE was depicted as the “victim” whose hopes and dreams were shattered because of HIS OWN criminal actions???

White privilege!

Eric Garner is dead for selling loose cigarettes. Sandra Bland is dead because she failed to signal while changing lanes. Philando Castile is dead because he admitted to a police officer during a traffic stop that he was carrying a gun and had a legal permit to do so.  They were all black.  They were all without privilege.

It’s this constant, “Oh, it’s the white man. It’s the white supremacists. That’s the problem.” No, it isn’t… – Sebastian Gorka, White House adviser

The events of Charlottesville have proven to be an incredible eye-opener. These white supremacists, nationalists, and neo-Nazis were protesting because they believe THEY are being left behind. They believe THEY are being treated unfairly by society. Why? Because they see THEIR white privilege slowly slipping away and they don’t like it!

Until we, as a nation, deal with the universal concept of white privilege in America, we will forever be burdened with racism and prejudice in America.

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OK WASSUP! discusses racism:
White privilege: America’s ugly secret.