Tuesday, January 21, 2014

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invinsible Knapsack

               Race is only looked at as an act of meanness and not in invisible systems conferring dominance to the white race according to Peggy McIntosh.   In the article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," Journalist Peggy McIntosh claims that because she's white she has more daily privileges than any other race. McIntosh states a list of 50 things that she observed why she has more privileges than any other race. However, McIntosh's statements are opinions and a prejudice point of view.
               One of McIntosh's statements says that " I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time (McIntosh)." That statement is untrue because depending on what job position you have you can be around the people of your race. For instance, there are many black bosses in companies that black men get hired to and are around their race. The company you're around depends on where you are not who you are. McIntosh's claim would have been valid before the Civil Rights Act but not in this modern day and time.
               Another false claim that McIntosh has is "I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race (McIntosh)." If that was so then white people would only know about their race and no other race at all. Furthermore, other ethnic groups are given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race as well. For example, as an African American, going to a predominately black middle school, I was taught mostly African American history. McIntosh's claim is a privilege to his race and to other races as well.

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