Some would say even asking that question proves one is a racist. But how can examining something to discern whether or not it is true ever be a bad thing? Socrates said that “the life which is unexamined is not worth living.” Likewise, the Apostle Paul said, “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” So let’s go ahead and examine both the phrase and the concept “white privilege.”
Since “white” is self-evident, we’ll start with the word “privilege.” “Privilege” means a special favored status. So the phrase “white privilege” suggests people with white skin receive special favored treatment simply because they have white skin. But is this true?
Let’s consider a classroom where every student is graded justly. That is, all of their grades accurately reflect the quality of the assignments that are turned in. This is what we expect.
Now imagine that the teacher of this classroom decides for some reason to give left-handed students lower grades than they deserve while grading everyone else fairly.
Now, some might argue that since the left-handed students are now being treated unfairly, the right-handed students are now receiving special favored treatment.
Let’s examine this argument. We can all agree that the left-handed students are not be treated justly, but notice the right-handed students are still be treated justly and receiving the grades they should rightly expect to receive. Neither the method nor the criteria used to grade their assignments changed. They are not receiving unfair preferential treatment.
But the difference in grading now gives the right-handed students an advantage!!!
Of course it does, and this is the language we should be using. The conversation needs to shift to one of “advantages” because advantages do not imply some must be receiving special favor if others are treated unjustly.
Making some people feel guilty for being treated respectfully and justly in order to draw attention to the fact that some people are not treated respectfully and justly is a misguided strategy that will never achieve the goal we should all be aiming for.
The concept of “white privilege” comes from the extremely destructive and divisive critical race theory and shuts down honest dialogue preventing us from finding solutions to real problems. Instead of settling for easy scapegoats, let’s ask the hard questions such as…
Why do the rich experience advantages the poor do not?
Why do men experience advantages women do not?
Why do white people experience advantages black people do not?
Why do physically attractive people experience advantages other people do not?
Etc.
Once we are willing to admit certain groups have relative advantages, we can start working toward creating a more just society.
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Notes:
1. Advantages are both relative and contextual: A group can have an advantage in one context while being at a disadvantage in a different context.
2. Some might say, “This is just semantics,” but that misses the bigger point: Unless we consider denotations and connotations to ensure we are using the most appropriate language, we can sabotage a meaningful cause.
WiggleFlump 