White Privilege
White Privilege 2
WHITE PRIVILEGE: Founded in Racial Preference
What is white privilege? It is important that white privilege be defined because
the majority of whites want to deny that it exists at all, especially in response to
assertions of people of color that it exists unjustly and should be dismantled. The denial
of its existence by whites is racialized. People of color say white people enjoy white
privilege while white people deny, as often as possible, that they have it and that such a
privilege exists. White privilege is defined (Clark, 2005), as (1a) a right, advantage, or
immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all
others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities. (b) A
special advantage or benefit of white persons; with reference to divine dispensations,
natural advantages, gifts of fortune, genetic endowments, social relations, etc. (2a) A
privileged position; the possession of an advantage white persons enjoy over non-white
persons. (3a) The special right or immunity attaching to white persons as a social
relation; prerogative. (b) Display of white privilege, a social expression of a white person
or persons demanding to be treated as a member or members of the socially privileged
class. (4a) To authorize or license of white person or persons what is forbidden or wrong
for non-whites; to justify, excuse. (b) To give white persons special freedom or immunity
from some liability or burden to which non-white persons are subject; to exempt.
While many whites seem to think and believe that the notion of racial preference
originated with affirmative action programs, intended to expand opportunities for
historically marginalized people of color, racial preference has had a very long and very
White Privilege 3
white history. Even if most whites were willing to acknowledge the existence
WHITE PRIVILEGE: Founded in Racial Preference
What is white privilege? It is important that white privilege be defined because
the majority of whites want to deny that it exists at all, especially in response to
assertions of people of color that it exists unjustly and should be dismantled. The denial
of its existence by whites is racialized. People of color say white people enjoy white
privilege while white people deny, as often as possible, that they have it and that such a
privilege exists. White privilege is defined (Clark, 2005), as (1a) a right, advantage, or
immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all
others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities. (b) A
special advantage or benefit of white persons; with reference to divine dispensations,
natural advantages, gifts of fortune, genetic endowments, social relations, etc. (2a) A
privileged position; the possession of an advantage white persons enjoy over non-white
persons. (3a) The special right or immunity attaching to white persons as a social
relation; prerogative. (b) Display of white privilege, a social expression of a white person
or persons demanding to be treated as a member or members of the socially privileged
class. (4a) To authorize or license of white person or persons what is forbidden or wrong
for non-whites; to justify, excuse. (b) To give white persons special freedom or immunity
from some liability or burden to which non-white persons are subject; to exempt.
While many whites seem to think and believe that the notion of racial preference
originated with affirmative action programs, intended to expand opportunities for
historically marginalized people of color, racial preference has had a very long and very
White Privilege 3
white history. Even if most whites were willing to acknowledge the existence