Education helps build awareness of white privilege
As a member of the Diversity Action Team, I was compelled to respond to two recent letters in The Gazette concerning “white privilege.” I sincerely believe both letter writers gave honest appraisals of their understanding of white privilege. I also believe both are misinformed on this topic.
My first experience with the term white privilege came when I was invited to the White Privilege Conference at Central College in Pella, Iowa, about six years ago. I knew the conference founder but was a bit taken back by the term. I own S&J Consulting, a diversity, human relations and anti-racist business; am a retired educator from the Janesville School District; and did diversity work with the district staff. So I have been doing diversity, anti-racism, and human relations work since the 1970s, yet I had never run across this term.
As I learned about white privilege, I initially felt guilty, awkward and quite uncomfortable being white. I also realized the concept wasn’t designed to make me feel this way at all. After all, it’s not my fault I was born white. Why should I feel guilty?
As I did more reading, attended workshops and incorporated this concept into my own diversity training, I realized the concept came after hundreds of years of the practice. The bottom line is, as a white person I have numerous privileges or unearned advantages that my colleagues of color don’t have. Examples of these privileges include:
n Being able to travel without concern of being pulled over for a “routine” check.
n Having teachers who look like me and are my role models.
n Learning about how my race contributes to society.
White privilege also means I’m not a spokesman for my entire race, I don’t get followed in a store for no apparent reason, and I don’t worry about what neighbors will think and if the property will be devalued when I move to a new neighborhood.
The fact that white males made the rules and to this day still try to stay on top will help all of us realize the subtleness of white privilege. Even now with the knowledge I have of white privilege, I still wake up each morning as a white man not having to think about my color. That alone is a white privilege.
Historically we have touted our privileges and only recently have engaged in conversations to build bridges for sharing white privileges. I would encourage you to google Peggy McIntosh’s article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” or check out a book on white privilege by Tim Wise, Frances Kendall, or Alan Johnson. I would also encourage you to attend the Diversity Action Team’s spring workshop in Janesville. It will focus on white privilege. Details about this workshop will be coming later.
I am also delighted to inform you that this year’s White Privilege Conference will be in Seattle, Wash., and next year’s conference will be here in Madison. Go to whiteprivilegeconference.com for details.
Santo Carfora is a private diversity consultant and can be contacted at scarfora@sbcglobal.net.
May 13, 2013 at 5:59 a.m.
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In my view there are many inequalities in this country as there are in other countries. While I'm no authority on other countries I'd guess that a white male living in Japan, China, Nigeria etc. would be whispered about and stereotyped.
It is also my view that most of the privilege in this country is reserved for the economically advantaged. Recently there has been a spate of articles about the challenges that the economically disadvantaged place on our educational system......my guess is that the majority of these children are white. Am I to believe that a white child living in poverty has 'white privilege'? How about those in poverty who have alcoholic or drug abusing moms/dads etc., are underfed, and not cared for at home? Do they have the security of 'white privilege'? It takes money to bestow privilege in this country.
I'm not saying that different ethnic groups in this country don't face challenges in our society because of their ethnicity. However, I also abhor painting whites with the broad brush of 'privilege'......it makes the plight of the impoverished white seem somehow less urgent.
Jan 30, 2013 at 1:05 p.m.
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First, I have to say I am greatly disappointed that an educated person like the author of this article would embrace anything so racist as the derrogatory term .. white priviledge.
The term is clearly intended to insult and degrade hose in the white race.
The white race doesn't owe anyone an apology for being white. There were bad people, through slavery, who were whites and YES even Africans (blacks,) who exploited the lives of mainly Africans - and certainly white women, as well - early in our nation's short history.
Frankly I am so tired of hearing about how bad whites are today, just because they are white. Or just because they may oppose, or hold a view that differs from, President Obama.
Where have the leaders and the males been for the past 40 years in the african community? Martin Luther King fought and died for the opportunity for
those in african race to get a fair and equal chance in the American society. That's all he asked for from society. Not pity or special treatments.
Many blacks took advantage of the great work MLK did for them, and they have become successfull, prosperous and influential. President Obama, a black, man has even been elected to the office of President of the USA .... TWICE!
But far too many mindless blacks - with their hands out - have set terrible examples for generations and generations of their fatherless black children. These kids have been taught it is OK to fail in school, join gangs, do drugs, and speak a slang only they can understand. Many take lives, often others in their own race, without shame or guilt.
I cannot for the life of me pass blame for the result of generations of failed leadership by the blacks (men for not being there, and women for having too many fatherless kids, or birthing crack babies) in the african American community upon 'privledeged whites.' That'd be dishonest and unfair to the blacks.
Responsibility and personal accountability begins with the family. The priviledge the writer of this letter speaks so ignorantly about is truly earned in black families, white families, latino families, asian families, native American families, gay and lesbian families, et al. No one (except the indepedently wealthy which transcends race) .. whites, asians, blacks, latinos, native Americans just come into this world with a priviledge over others in this world.
Label whatever make you feel good. But nthe fcat is, 99% of the time success has to be earned. Learning how to earn that success is what education is all about. Those who choose to waste their chance for education loose whatever priviledges they had to become successful.
Jan 29, 2013 at 1:39 p.m.
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Certain privileges are NOT earned, they are granted simply due to ones appearance. And Mr. Carfora was not claiming "white privilege" was only an American phenomenon. IMO, Mr. Carfora was only pointing out the total lack of awareness many Caucasians have concerning the privileges they enjoy simply because they are white. It's difficult to empathize with feelings some individuals experience when every time they enter a public place heads turn their way, glances are exchanged, inaudible murmurs replace friendly chatter. I've seen it happen on numerous occasions. It would be the same reaction if a male entered a female dominated gathering or visa-verse. To feel out of place at that moment is fleeting but for those who are not white, it's a constant. It's not necessarily about racism or blaming others. Non-whites living in a white dominated locale are viewed differently - which can mean many things - but very few of those who are white ever experience the "difference". Mr. Carfora is simply pointing out what few of us ever consider - but should.
Jan 25, 2013 at 5:29 p.m.
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Interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QbZ0HmiX...
Jan 25, 2013 at 5:20 p.m.
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"A retired educator". Pretty much explains why todays kids are all screwed up.
Priviliges are earned, not birth rights. When individuals chose to not go to school,
have multiple kids by different sperm donors, take drugs, rob,assault, rape, and
commit other crimes at a percentile of race greater than any other race or color, what are they to expect.
Maybe some day there will be a minority that will stand up and say: ENOUGH we only have ourself to blame. Instead of a leader(President) that is doing all he can to facilitate welfare forever if you vote for me or my Party.
What happened to: Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For, But What You Can Do For Country"
As a minority, I am tired of my people blaming others for what THEY have done to ensure there fruits/privileges will be govt handouts.
One Big Reservation
Jan 25, 2013 at 8:03 a.m.
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"The bottom line is, as a white person I have numerous privileges or unearned advantages that my colleagues of color don’t have."
There is much to agree with Mr Carfora's statement regarding unearned advantages. However, rather than "white" substitute male, tall, thin, educated, wealthy, married and compare this to woman, fat, short, uneducated, uneducated, poor, and divorced and those numerous privileges and unearned advantages remain. White privilege is not a US phenomena - if you are Chinese in Malaysia or are from Japanese decent in Brazil-"unearned advantages" remain.
I have a deep respect for Mr Carfora-as he was one of the many great teachers I had while matriculating through the JSD. I would suggest that while reading Tim Wise-you also read Shelby Steele and Thomas Sowell.
Jan 25, 2013 at 6:41 a.m.
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What about black privileges, being able to get into a university just because your black,even though your grade point from HS is lower than others denied entrance into such school ? What about the black privilege that allows you a job just because your considered a minority and a company has to have a certain percentage of such ?
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