Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

This is a great activity to stimulate self-reflection related to multicultural

education and relationship-building. This activity was developed by Nancy
Gallavan (2005), based upon the works of Peggy McIntosh (1989), and was
designed for use in an teacher pre-service multicultural education course.
This activity allows participants to get a better understanding of the implicit
privilege associated with being white, or a member of a racially or ethnically
dominant group. It also allows one to reflect on identity categories of persons
different from themselves.

Steps for use as an individual self-reflection activity:

1. Read the Invisible Knapsack, afterwards fill in the answer to each

question on the cultural identity form for yourself and post your
answers. Complete Part I (per the directions on the handout) from the
perspective of your own cultural identity.

2. For Part II, fill out the chart a second time, only this time from the lens or
perspective of a cultural group different than your own. If you identify with
the dominant cultural group, choose a non-dominant cultural group from
your list above. If you identify with a non-dominant cultural group, choose
another cultural group from your list (dominant or non-dominant). Try to
fully immerse yourself into this characteristic to view the world through this
new lens.

3. Reflect upon your answers considering the differences between the way
you completed the chart for Part I and Part II?

4. Respond to the postings of at least one of your classmates by

doing the following:

 Discuss a similarity between your responses and theirs.

 Discuss how this activity made you feel and ask them how it
made them feel.

 Discuss how your answers differed when you were a person

with a different racial or ethnic identity.
 McIntosh’s Privileges (Revised by Gallavan)
Part I: Based upon your own personal cultural identity:

1. Rate each item as: Y for “Yes I can do this (almost) whenever I want and
wherever I am, N for “No I cannot (or can rarely) do this whenever I want and
wherever I am, or NA if you feel this does not apply to you.
2. Rank each item from 1 (most convenient) to 5 (least convenient). You may use
the same ranking for many items.
3. Write any additional comments or thoughts you may have related to this
statement.

McIntosh’s Privileges (revised)

Cultural Characteristics: Yes/No/NA Rank: 1-5
1. I can live where I want to live. N 1
Comments: In America, not a lot of
landlords wanted to accept my family to
rent their place since we were
“international students with no income”.

2. I can worship where I want to worship & near where I live. Y 3

Comments: Yes, I am a Christian and there are quite a lot of
choices of churches to choose from, and there’s even one just
a few bus stops away.
3. I can shop where I will not be followed or harassed & my N 3
form of payment is accepted.
Comments: No, people of color are likely targets of these kind
of actions where we can be violated against our rights without
us realizing. My form of payments are usually accepted.

4. I can find my preferred kinds of food, clothing, hair solons, Y 3

hair products, music, etc.
Comments: Finding preferred items are always expensive,
especially food and clothing. Almost all music being promoted
here are western music, so there are not a lot of choices.
5. I can find people like me portrayed positively on television, Y 3
in the movies, in songs, etc.
Comments: People like me are all the time portrayed using
stereotypes (colored hair, smart) and while these features are
all positive, it implies the limitations of being POC.

6. I can find posters, toys, dolls, greeting cards, etc., that show Y 3
people like me.
Comments: Yes, sometimes, but not a lot. Most of them are
online.
7. I can find people like me portrayed positively in books, etc., Y 3
about our nation & history.
Comments: Yes, some books do tell the story about my nation
and history, and some are sold here in America.
8. I can find people like me in most textbooks & teaching Y 3
materials.
Comments: Sometimes.
9. I can say what I want about people & be accepted by the N 1
people around me.
Comments: No, this action will disregarded and considered to
be a rude comment which will not be respected,
10. I can be with people like me. Y 2
Comments: Only since I feel intimidated by
the dominant group and people like me feel
the same, we can be together.
 McIntosh’s Privileges (Revised by Gallavan)
Part II: Based upon a cultural identity other than your own:

4. Rate each item as: Y for “Yes I can do this (almost) whenever I want and
wherever I am, N for “No I cannot (or can rarely) do this whenever I want and
wherever I am, or NA if you feel this does not apply to you.
5. Rank each item from 1 (most convenient) to 5 (least convenient). You may use
the same ranking for many items.
6. Write any additional comments or thoughts you may have related to this
statement.

McIntosh’s Privileges (revised)

Cultural Characteristics: Yes/No/NA Rank: 1-5
1. I can live where I want to live. Y 5
Comments: White people are free to
choose in their own land.
2. I can worship where I want to worship & near where I live. Y 5
Comments: Yes, most even have cars for easier transportation.

3. I can shop where I will not be followed or harassed & my Y 4

form of payment is accepted.
Comments: Yes, they know that the media and people will be
on their side and believe them.
4. I can find my preferred kinds of food, clothing, hair solons, Y 5
hair products, music, etc.
Comments: Able to shop freely without having to think about
other concerns.
5. I can find people like me portrayed positively on television, Y 5
in the movies, in songs, etc.
Comments: Yes, many movies

6. I can find posters, toys, dolls, greeting cards, etc., that show Y 5
people like me.
Comments: Yes there are many in paper shops.

7. I can find people like me portrayed positively in books, etc., Y 4

about our nation & history.
Comments: There are a lot of US History textbooks, many
versions of them
8. I can find people like me in most textbooks & teaching Y 4
materials.
Comments: Many textbook shows pictures of white people.

9. I can say what I want about people & be accepted by the Y 4

people around me.
Comments: Yes because no one will question it as it is the
dominant group and it won’t be seen as a representation of the
whole cultural group and be blamed for it.
10. I can be with people like me. Y 4
Comments: Yes because it is the majority