The White Privilage Package

In that post supreme court decision conversation with the libertarian, I neglected to mention to you all that his homie was there.

In fact, he is our mutual colleague.

During our conversation I mentioned my Why are N*ggas so Homophobic post? I explained how at the end of the day, Black Male sexuality and swag are tied to their notions of masculinity, so to have that taken/threatened by the idea of or via actual homosexual sex is a horrific violation of their masculinity.


Then the issue of Black Male Invisibility came up.

My colleague then asked , "Why do Black men feel invisible?"

I thought about it and was like, man, do I really wanna go INTO THIS SH*T. But I was like M, be responsive and responsible and answer the man's question.

I responded explaining how, by and large in this culture, Black Male representation in News, Television, movies and news papers typically turns on one or two stereotypes involving sex and violence. These would leave anyone feeling invisible because it fails to address the nuances of being a f*cking human being.

In turn.

I tripped off how good it must feel for him to THINK ABOUT ABSTRACTLY, what it must feel like to be Black.

And I immediately thought of white privilage and how the fact that this is some sh*t
that is abstract in his head is indicative of said privilege.


Then I found this online.

Peggy McIntosh breaks down the White Privilege Package:

I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks.

Some examples of said white privilege she lists are:

5. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

6. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

8. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.

10. I can be pretty sure of having my voice heard in a group in which I am the only member of my race.

15. I do not have to educate my children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection.

21. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.

25. If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven't been singled out because of my race.

35. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having my co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of my race.

AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE
20. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.


=======
=======

This post had me thinking?

Are there Black privileges?

Should I start corporate gender and race training workshops. Tie gender/racial understanding to the bottom line:)

=======
=======