Weekly Assignment 1,"White Privilege"

Before I begin, here is the link to my Outside Blog response:

http://www.afroromance.com/blog/interracial-dating-is-america-a-true-melting-pot.htm


1. I am glad I have found this term called white privilege because I have always noticed it, but have never been able to pinpoint it without sounding as if I was whining. White Privilege is a compromise between the way I have always tried to assume that I didn't have an unfair advantage and the things that my older family members complain about. Things I have experienced in small dosages are equivalent to the things on the grand scheme that I have been missing. White Privilege, as Tim Wise described it is a natural advantage that whites have simply based on being born into the majority. I agree that it is something that whites don't notice as well. I have been in many debates with whites who say that I am always over analyzing situations, when quite honestly, I have been underestimating my ability to question the situations to begin with. White Privilege is an idea that gives me peace in knowing that there is actually a logical explanation for the situations that I feel like I face on a daily basis.

2. Every since I have learned about white privilege the simple things like shopping at the mall and walking to class are opportunities for me to experiment. I went to the mall the other day, and counted how long it took for me to be asked, "can I help you." The Buckle was the winner, with the jack-rabbit fast time of 1min., 28secs. Walking around campus, I have made an effort to make eye-contact with every person in my direct walking space. 1 out of 6 or 7 people will look back at me. Maybe I'll get a smile every now and then. I'm not saying that everyone should look at me just because I'm walking towards them, as people have things they may be busy doing, or may not be paying attention to what is around them. Let's just say I am very familiar with avoided eye-contact. Another immediate fruit of white privilege is the way my white friends have the ability to tell me that I overreact when I see things that make me uncomfortable. That in itself is the essence of white privilege. My white friends don't have a feel for the daily life of questioning everything.

3. I am in full agreement with every aspect of white privilege. All of the ideas Wise and McIntosh brought up are ideas that I, as a black man, have always felt strongly about. It felt good to hear someone prove the arguments that I could never prove. Being a black male has never been an easy task. It is a relief to know that there are actually whites in society who are aware of the disadvantages of being black. I do not look at this as an excuse to complain more loudly, just an avenue to inform my well-spoken white friends of what I have been trying to say for so long.