White Privileges: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
In the article, White Privileges: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Peggy McIntosh explores the power of white privilege. White privilege, as McIntosh puts it, is an advantage enjoyed by white people beyond the common advantage of other races. The article begins with the author reflecting upon male privilege,, and then transitions into her own reflection on privileges involving race. To prove this, she lists the effect of white privilege in daily life. For instance, McIntosh is sure that she can easily take a job anywhere without being racially profiled, move anywhere with the expectation that people of her own races will live in the surroundings and even find bandages that are “flesh” toned that actually match her own skin color. Each of her points proves the reality of white privilege.
McIntosh puts forth the idea that there are unearned privileges and recourses and they are meant to be unseen. She states that white privilege are not equally shared with other races, and how every white person acquires these privileges without even realizing it. Even though we choose to ignore racism, the author is aware of its existence. She states that dominance, the mental control over other
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Everyone has and equal chances at earned power, conferred privilege; however, is only available to certain groups of people. McIntosh points out that whites have conferred privilege and they refuse to acknowledge it. Other races, mainly African Americans, are not free. She suggests that for any of this to change, whites have to acknowledge their unearned power and be willing to give it up so that minorities groups can enjoy freedom, and suggest that the answer to solving all of this lies in education. She wants everyone to know what is happening and wants people to spread awareness. Once everyone understands what white privilege is the issues can be