4-A-3+Group+A

=Home > Activity 4-A-3: White Privilege > Group A=

Instructions:

 * 1) Click the **Edit** tab in the upper-right corner.
 * 2) Use the Summary area below to collaborate with your group to create your summary of the connections between white privilege, the colorblind perspective, and social dominance theory.
 * 3) Press **Save** on the Editor bar.


 * Note:** You don't need to sign your work or indicate which sections you contributed; your facilitator can see your contributions in the history of the page. Your group summary should demonstrate your collaboration rather than being a collection of unconnected individual ideas. When your group decides that the summary is finished, have one group member remove "(Draft)" below so your facilitator will know that it is ready for review.

Summary
The five privileges that stand out from Peggy McIntosh’s list are:


 * 1) **I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.**
 * 2) **I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge,” I will be facing a person of my race.**
 * 3) I can easily buy posters, post-cards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.
 * 4) **I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my race will not work against me.**
 * 5) **I can choose blemish cover of bandages in “flesh” color and have them more or less match my skin.**

These stand out because we would never have to explain our whiteness to anyone, it is understood what being white means. When you ask to speak to someone in charge, you usually need help. If the person you are facing is from a different race, he or she may not understand your circumstance. Buying things featuring my race also stood out. I remember trying to find and angel for the top of my Christmas tree, I could only find blonde ones. I decided to get a star. I know that I would not be denied help due to my race. It would never be assumed I could not pay for it. The final item that stood out was the makeup and bandages. I don’t know where to find brown bandages even. I have seen clear though.

I can see the relationship between McIntosh’s points and Howard’s theory. Her points emphasize specific points that confirm his theory.

Five privileges that stand out from Peggy McIntosh’s list:


 * 1) If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and to which I would want to live.
 * 2) **I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race**.
 * 3) When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
 * 4) **I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge” I will be facing a person of my race.**
 * 5) **I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my race will not work against me.**

These stand out to me because I would never have to explain my whiteness in these situations. When buying or renting a home, I have more choices of where I can live. I am rewarded for working on a challenging situation. It is my work ethic and not my race that is given credit. Most material doesn’t give the minorities’ perspectives and how they contributed to civilization. I experience this in teaching. When asking for help I know that I will get the help because of my Whiteness. Last on the list is if I need legal or medical help my race will not work against me. I would never be denied medical or legal help because it would be assumed that I had insurance or money to pay for it.

White privileges support Howard's theory. Through white privileges, social dominance and color blindness are evident.


 * Summary (Final)**

The five privileges that stood out are:

1. Never asked to speak for all people of my racial group.

I know that when speaking about my opinions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions about certain topics, represent me and only me. To speak your mind on a topic and have the words represent the entire race of people is overwhelming.

2. I can choose blemish cover of bandages in "flesh" color and have them more or less match my skin.

As whites we think nothing about bandages being clear or flesh color. In a white dominant society is the norm. Those with darker skin tones are made to feel inferior because their flesh color is not that of the bandages made to blend in with your skin. Make up is hard to find in the right color. It seems like such a small thing, but the way the world generalizes can be hurtful.

3. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me.

Being white will not work against me when I need legal or medical help. I would never be denied medical or legal help because it would be assumed that I had insurance or money to pay for it.

4. I can be pretty sure if I ask to talk to a "person in charge" I will be facing a person of my race.

We never have to explain our whiteness in this situation. It is understood what being white means. When you ask to speak to someone in charge you usually need help. If the person you are facing is from a different race, he or she may not understand your circumstances.

5. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.

Being white and being able to do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to one's race connect with the colorblind perspective. My achievements done well or not so well are judged by myself or by my family. They are not judged by an entire race.

Privilege and power are often seen as things given rather than earned. I believe that everyone regardless of race is entitled to a sense of both privilege and power. After reading the article I find that it is much more complicated for people of color to gain acknowledgement of their identity in the same sense that white people have that acknowledgement. In her article McIntosh points out that white people are taught to ignore the fact that they enjoy social privileges that black people do not because we live in a society of white dominance. Basically she shows that racism is a part of everyday life even though we more often than not ignore it.

The concepts of colorblindness, social dominance theory, and white privileges are easily connected. Knowingly or unknowingly over the years McIntosh’s list of white privileges have benefitted the dominant group. The color blind perspective has been the dominant group’s unselfish concern, but a very misguided answer to correct the problem.

Over the years we as a society are making gradual progress at changing the current social dominance of the white society.