Post #1 White Privilege by Peggy McIntosh

QUOTES

As I read "White Privilege" by Peggy Mcintosh, I picked out a few quotes that seemed either powerful or meaningful.


"I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks."
This quote explains what McIntosh believes is white privilege. In my opinion, she is saying that we do not deserve to be privileged because she said "unearned assets". McIntosh says that we have all of these privileges everyday and can always count on them. But we are not supposed to know about this privilege though. But with this privilege comes money and the possibility of travel.
Everything that she had listed is a means of wealth and ability to do almost everything. She has listed money, documents to travel anywhere, clothing that some people do not have much of, and other items that would help those people who are so privileged to have.


"For me white privilege has turned out to be an elusive and fugitive subject. The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own."
This quote shows the difficulty in opposing and ignoring the white privilege. She also says that "many doors are open for certain people." This means that some people still are not allowed or expected to do certain things in this country. McIntosh also says that if there is a pressure is great, then this country is not as free as one would think.
There is still discriminations against different people when there should be none. There is supposed to be no discrimation against anyone in this country but yet if there is against blacks and white are vauled higher then we need to rethink what this country's foundation is based off of.


"Whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence, which I was being subtly trained to visit, in turn, upon people of color."
McIntosh was discussing how her race can have privileges in this society. She can usually safely walk down the street during the day without being harassed. She is able to go the the work place without being degraded by all. McIntosh realised that although she is able to do all of this, she was taught that this is not how all people "should" be treated.
I see all of this in our society. We had a talk in class during one of our first weeks about how there is the typical scene where a young white child and a young black child are playing together and the white child's mother tugs him away saying he cannot be friends with the black child. I've always seen these instances where the black or the female is discriminated against, even if it is not in a direct, harsh way.
McIntosh also feels that she can discriminate against whites as much as she wants because she is white. She goes on to say that whites are not exactly better than blacks, we just over empower them. In this country, there are many more whites overall than any other races. It would be odd if others didn't feel out of place at some point in their life.

In the reading, there was a list of 26 things people should be able to do without fear of harassment or any other issues. On this site, there is the full list, a list of 50. http://www.mdcbowen.org/p2/rm/mcintosh1.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAjja0vi2M This is a video that helps show there is white privilege in our society.