HSP 455 Self reflection 2: White Privilege

Reading our text, White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack Race, class, and
gender in the United States (Rothenberg & Mayhew , 2014,p 175-179). The idea of white
privilege and male privilege stood out to me. But reading the authors list of the privilege that
they had; I had to disagree with some of what they said was a privilege. Number 12
"I can swear, or dress in secondhand clothes, or not answer letters, without having
people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race
(Rothenberg & Mayhew , 2014,p 177)."
Today swearing may not be seen as a reason of race. But it will be seen as bad morals, or
poverty. People see these types of things as rude, uneducated and as someone who will end up in
a bad spot in society. Second hand clothing will also not be seen as a bad thing depending on
what kind of second hand it is. People will judge it as "Poor". I have grown up in an area where
there are many poor people that were whites and others. Race was not even thought about when
labeling the individual; they were just poor.
Reading the text pages 33-37 I had to think of what white is. White is not skin color
white is someone who speaks the English language as their first language. Being "White" does
not give you any special privileges unless you do not let them know that you are an immigrant.
That in my opinion is "White Privilege". On page 178 the author talks about white race being not
used against you in court. But that all depends on the case and what you are in court for. If it is
for discrimination that can be used against you because of how big discrimination is and how
wrong it is today. White skin may give more advantage for the "Whites" but in today's time and
age I think that doors open more for those from a different race because all companies are trying
to show the world that they are diverse. That the company does not discriminate against race or
skin color or gender. Today people want to be politically correct and show how open they are to
everything. In my personal opinion this is why people will not judge based on race or gender
they are also afraid to be seen as an outsider. People are afraid to be seen as politically incorrect
because it is the big thing now. Today white privilege is more of human privilege; still existing
but in different cases in different ways.
In today's time and age the action that might assist me in greater personal growth in this
area would be to recognize the doors that are opening to all. Being white does not make me
better over someone of different color. Today I need to realize that to get what I need and should
have as a right I need to fight for it and try to stand up for myself. Laws should not only benefit
one race or religion or anything. Laws should protect the right of all the people not only against
discrimination but also the right that are constitutional.




Reference
Rothenberg, P. S. (2014). Race, class, and gender in the United States. New York: Worth
Publishers.