QUOTES: McIntosh, "White Priveledge"

1. "As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage."


Almost any racism or diversity class or discussion from grade school to grad school will focus on the minority having a disadvantage in life. Of course this is 100% true, but they never seem to touch on how the majority, the white middle class male, has the complete opposite, an advantage, throughout his entire life. I feel as though it's an extremely awkward subject to touch, to say that someone has it easier in the world than someone else. Especially when schooling, and jobs are being played as well. The only way, as McIntosh goes on to say, to get rid of the disadvantage, is to get of the advantage. And in reality, that's never going to happen.


2. "As far as I can tell, my African American coworkers, friends, and acquaintances with whom I come into daily or frequent contact in this particular time, place and line of work cannot count on most of these conditions." 


McIntosh's 'privileged conditions' are all examples of simple day to day tasks that make life easier for the privileged, or simply, white folk. She mentions things as little as purchasing bandages, and how you will mainly find them labeled as "flesh", which is more or less white skinned. As a white, middle class civilian, it's absolutely true; I never seemed to realized how almost everything in our country is made to fit my needs, and people like me. 


3. "If these things are true, this is not such a free country; ones' life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own." 

Again, McIntosh argues that some people just simply have it easier. One person could fight for a high education to get an amazing job, while another could simply float on through, barely lifting a finger and get just as good of, or an even better job due to their skin color, wealth, or relatives. Frankly, life just isn't fair.

The point i would most likely discuss in class is McIntosh's main argument, the focus in racism and diversity is on the underprivileged minority being the biggest problem. When the privileged ones and the world being suited to fit their lives seems to be the bigger problem when all aspects of life are put into consideration.