The White Privalege

In a class I took last semester our teacher assigned us a reading called "The White Privalege" even though it was not a class about race. I guess she wanted everyone to be aware that racial issues still exist and apparently the only people who are not aware of this still are white. The article listed "privaleges" that white people have over blacks. It was an unmarked theory. Unmarked meaning that white people are unmarked because they just are that,people. They are not pre-judged and are only expected to do something after a person gets to know who that individual white person is. 2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area, which I can
afford and in which I would want to live.
3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.
4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely
represented.
6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my
color made it what it is.
7. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their
race.
8. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privilege.
9. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket
and find the staple foods which fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser’s shop and find someone
who can cut my hair.
10. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the
appearance of my financial reliability.
11. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.
12. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute
these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.
13. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.
14. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.

The last one was interesting to me. It made me think. The author believes that white people are carefully taught to not know or understand the white privalege. The author also seems to think that because she is white that people will listen to what she has to say on this topic opposed to someone whos black speaking about white privalege. It is interesting to think about this topic still being a problem in this country but it is apparent that it is.