Essay On White Privilege

In the simplest definition, white privilege is the set of benefits, opportunities, and advantages that one can receive simply because they are perceived as white. This set can include everything from social to economic to legal advantages. It is deeply ingrained in many societies and manifests in multiple ways large and small. It is a significant problem for minorities and allows for the perpetuation of racist attitudes and practices. This essay will look at some of the ways in which white privilege manifests in the United States, what social constructs and ideas protect it, and how it can be combated.
White privilege comes in many forms. It is a combination of racist ideas and unconscious compliance with the system. It appears in many forms;
“When Whites think about the ways that they are privileged, two rather distinct responses are plausible: either increased or decreased racism” (Branscombe, Schmitt, and Schiffhauer 2007:204). While confronting one’s privilege may force recognition of inequality and encourage activism, on the other hand, it may be perceived as an attack on one’s identify and result in attempts to justify the racial status quo. Pointing out white privilege most often elicits a negative reaction; this is due in part to internalized feelings of guilt and a natural defensive response. No one wants to feel like the ‘bad guy’ but when benefitting from an institutionalized, racially-based system, it is hard to feel like the hero. Those who chose to ignore or explain away white privilege are the foundation of it. By using anything other than white privilege to explain why people are given preferential treatment solely because of their skin color, they allow systematic problems to seem like individual problems. By claiming that a racially centered problem is the fault of the individual or individuals if affects, it diminishes the problem of racism of a society wide basis, and makes it a lesser priority for