Got privilege?

White Privilege is a difficult subject for me. Its something that I don’t have so I feel like I have to work more just to prove myself.  I could relate to multiple subjects in Tim’s Wises workshop shown in class. As a minority at work, I feel that I am given the least responsibility but the most work. White males that were hired months after me received access to programs in their first week at the job. Yet, I had to work and prove myself for several months to receive access to the same programs.  There are many incidents that bother me in the office but I choose not to speak up in hopes to avoid conflict.

 There have been plenty of times when I walk into a store where the employees won’t even acknowledge the fact that I have even enter the store. Yet a white individual could walk in right after me welcomed with warm greetings. I’m appreciative to have the freedom to shop where I please but receiving equal treatment is what I lack now. I don’t want to be viewed as ghetto, poor and ignorant just because my skin is not white. The following link provides a checklist of white privileges based on race.

 

http://www.unh.edu/residential-life/diversity/aw_article17.pdf

 

I found number 16 and 17 interesting on the checklist because it is something that hits home at an early age. As a minority child, its not easy find your skin colors in dolls, books, toys etc. Minority children grow up envying the white race at an early age because of Barbie’s and characters in movies that are made to resemble the white people. I feel as minorities develop into adults, the privileges gained by whites are more evident. Even though, the privileges might not be as clear to the person receiving the benefits.

 

I envy the privileges that I might never experience. Privileges based on social class are possibly obtainable in my future. I would be perceived differently with wealth and maybe even given certain opportunities as some whites. I believe that white privileges will trickle down to future generations if the media continues to broadcast whites as the superior race.