A C C E S S I B L E A L L Y S H I P
Definition of the Week
White Privilege
“White privilege is not a curse word. It is not a way to blame or shame anyone. It is a lens to understand how race works in this country.”
- Brittany Packnett, Activist, Educator, Writer
We can't talk about systemic racism without talking about white privilege. They are two sides of the same coin. Throughout most of our life, we have never had to be conscious of our own race. In fact, to this day when someone says the word "race" often times a person of color pops into our minds, rather than a fellow white person. White people are not forced to confront their race because they belong to the race that society has normalized as the "default" person.
White privilege is a set of unearned benefits given to white people from birth in multiple areas including housing, education, safety, employment, and wealth. We will dive deeper into statistics and figures that show the contrast between white people and people of color in each of these areas in coming weeks. But for now, this week is about acknowledging our own white privilege.
Acknowledgement of one's white privilege is not the denial that white people have hardships in life.
Acknowledgement of one's white privilege is not the minimization of a white person's accomplishments.
Acknowledgement of one's white privilege is not to guilt or shame a white person.
It is recognizing that your whiteness has allowed you resources and opportunities that are not provided to people of color.
It is recognizing that your whiteness has provided vast and positive representation in media, in government, in every space imaginable.
It is recognizing that your whiteness has not been an added weight to the hardships you have endured in life.
It is recognizing that your whiteness has provided and a sense of safety and comfort throughout your life.
We can book a hotel room or walk into any drugstore knowing that the shampoo and conditioner that works for our hair will be inside. We can watch TV and see ourselves in any story line, any ad, every channel. We can look at the government and see ourselves occupying each position of leadership. We can get pulled over by the police for speeding and know that the worst that could happen is we do in fact get a ticket for speeding.
This is not the reality for people of color.
I know these are uncomfortable realizations. Sit with them this week. Read this section again later if you need to. Internalize it. Let it be uncomfortable. Once again, acknowledging white privilege is not to make anyone feel guilty or ashamed. Growth is uncomfortable so take your discomfort as a sign that you are already leaning in toward becoming a more effective ally and repeat after me, "My white skin comes with privilege I did not earn."
Challenge of the Week
Share this captivating slam poem by 14 year-old Royce Mann as he talks about his own privilege, share our poignant weekly reading by LaMonica Richard, or share this piece by Brittany Packnett on How to Spend Your Privilege.
Pick one and share however you choose to whether it be posting links to social media accounts, showing the video to a friend over lunch, leaving a copy of the article in your break room, or discussing over dinner with your family.
Awareness is the greatest agent for change. Let us start raising it in our own circles today.
Weekly Reading:
Read this powerful piece that will enlighten you on the experience of a black woman in America.
Weekly Quote:
“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”
― Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Weekly Reflection:
What is one thing you learned about a black woman's experience in America from this week's reading?