Overview
This lecture discusses the concept of white privilege, its history in the United States, how it manifests in daily life, and common responses to recognizing privilege.
Understanding White Privilege
- White privilege refers to unearned rights and advantages granted to white individuals due to systemic societal structures.
- Many people react to the concept with denial, anger, or acknowledgment; white individuals may not feel they benefit personally.
- Systematic privileges have existed historically, such as during the Jim Crow era (1890-1964), which enforced racial segregation and inequality.
Historical Context and Lasting Effects
- Jim Crow laws created "separate but equal" facilities, but non-white facilities were consistently inferior.
- Redlining, a housing practice, denied loans to inner-city areas with many African-American residents, affecting wealth and opportunities.
- These systems shaped social perceptions and access to resources, with effects still present today.
Peggy McIntosh and the Invisible Knapsack
- Scholar Peggy McIntosh popularized the term "white privilege" in academia with her 1988 article.
- She described white privilege as an "invisible knapsack" of unearned assets, such as access, comfort, and security others lack.
- Examples include not being seen as a representative of one’s race or always finding products suitable for one’s skin and hair.
Responses and Research
- Many white individuals may struggle to recognize privilege, focusing on personal hardships instead.
- Research shows some people maintain self-image by denying their privilege while still benefiting materially from it.
- Recognizing white privilege involves understanding that individual hardships are not compounded by systemic racial barriers.
Discussion Questions
- How do you respond to the idea of white privilege based on your identity?
- Are there societal structures that continue to benefit or harm people due to skin color?
- What are the ongoing effects of historically intentional discrimination?
Key Terms & Definitions
- White Privilege — unearned advantages and rights given to white people due to racial systems.
- Jim Crow Laws — laws enforcing racial segregation and inequality from 1890 to 1964 in the U.S.
- Redlining — discriminatory practice of denying loans to residents in areas based on racial composition.
- Invisible Knapsack — metaphor for the unrecognized daily benefits of white privilege.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on your own response to the concept of white privilege.
- Consider examples of systemic privilege or disadvantage in your community or daily life.