Understanding White Privledges

Understanding White Privileges

Have you ever sat back and thought about how the color of your skin affects you and the people around you? Personally, I haven't given this question much thought, that is until I read the essay "Understanding White Privileges" by Frances E. Kendall, Ph.D. She presses the reader to see real examples of how having a skin color other than white has caused them to be treated differently in comparison to white people. Though this essay did raise many good points, race will always be something that will causes controversy, being something that brings up so many different opinions. In the essay, there were some things I completely agreed with but at the same time, I thought that Kendall over analyzed some of the subjects she discussed.

Kendall begins her essay with a definition of privilege. She states, "Privilege, particularly white or male privilege, is hard to see for those of us who were born with access to power and resources. It is very visible for those to whom privilege was not granted" (1). She continues to say how white people just don't ever think about it because they think they are "normal" (1). The author then makes an intriguing and insightful comparison with birds and fish; saying that fish don't ever think about air and birds don't think about water because they never have to come in contact with it. (1) She continues to elaborate, by explaining how white people think of themselves as an individual whereas colored people don't have that privilege. According to her, they have to think of themselves as a race. She continues to give examples of how white privilege is largely represented in our everyday life. An example was that white children are, pretty much, guaranteed to learn about their history whereas American Indian's know that their children won't learn as much about their culture's background and history. Kendall continues by giving statistics of colored versus white people in the job field and financial states. She gives some very interesting information like, 95% of senior management positions are held by white males. Also dealing with middle management, 40% of those jobs are held by white women and 5% by Black women and only 4% to Black men. (1) She concludes this section by discussing how our (white people) privileges have nothing to do with whether a person is good or not, it is just something everyone has to deal with and work to overcome.

The next segment of this essay really touched me, realizing how naпve I was to racism. I had never really given the subject much in-depth thought so it made me feel like I was the bird, discussing water since I didn't have much interaction or knowledge about it. After reading the things Kendall wrote about I was really upset. I felt like a horrible person, simply because my race was the cause of so many problems. I realize how fortunate I am, due to something I had no personal control over. I feel like if I were to change the color of my skin I would loose some of the things I have become accustomed to and, selfishly, would not want to go through the hardships that colored people face on a daily basis.

After reading the statistics that Kendall used in her essay it really did show the difference the color of a person's skin could make. It's just crazy how uneven the statistics are between different races and genders. I do understand how they are that way though. If you think about it, a long time ago, while white people were working ahead and progressing in the career field, blacks weren't. But I do think that a person of another color is completely capable of great accomplishments. I am not disagreeing with the fact that they may have to work harder in the long run, but I do feel that anyone, no matter their skin color, sex, age, or even size can do anything that they put their mind too.

Also, after reading this part in the essay, I began to question something else. Is it always about race or is it a person's financial state? If someone would look at statistics like Kendall did, most of the middle-class consists of white people, therefore making them look more privileged. I had never really thought about it until I moved for college into the southern part of Ohio. In this area, there are some very underprivileged white people and, in some areas, there are very wealthy black people. I feel that a lot of times people look at the financial state of a person first and then, somehow, link their race to it.

Kendall continues the essay by giving the reader a brief history of white privileges. She says how a lot of times, white people don't even think about themselves as "white people". They just go on about their day and think nothing of the color of their skin. Whereas, people of another race are constantly reminded of it. The author also discusses about how white people have been making decisions based on their race all through history. They don't think about how it will affect the other races in America. Kendall also shows us many examples of how that is the case. She explains slavery briefly and explains how white people broke up black families. Also how white people in schools wouldn't allow black people to learn to read and write because white people didn't want them to be able to tell their story. Kendall makes a very good point though. She states, "For me, the confusion and pain of this knowledge is somewhat eased by reminding myself that this system is not based on each individual white person's intention to harm but on our racial group's determination to preserve what we believe is rightly ours" (3). She then said how in Georgia, there was a large group of Mexicans who owned stores and restaurants, but had to change their names because English speaking fire fighters didn't understand them. The author completes this section by stating even though we try and change this, it still happened.

I believe that Kendall does have a lot of very good points in this segment of the essay. After reading this section, it really makes you question your own race. Just the fact hat the color of my skin is the group that is hurting other races. I did like the quote though that Kendall used in saying that it is not the entire group of white people that did this. It is more of an individual thing. I really feel strongly about this comment because that is the case. I think that there will always be someone in society that will continue to be racist or constantly try and make it more difficult for people of another color. I know that there are many things that happen that I don't agree with and never will, but really what can I do as one person? It is something I would love to be able to snap my fingers and change, but I can't. Firstly, no