Analysis and Evaluation of "The Pathology of White Privilege" by Tim Wise
Little White Lies:
An Analysis and Evaluation of “The Pathology of White Privilege” by Tim Wise
Growing up in the United States, racism is an issue one cannot help but hear about at one point or another. Racial inequality and discrimination is a topic that comes up every February with Black History Month, and is often talked about in high school history classes around the country. But that is what it is considered to the majority of people: history. Most students are taught that, while there are still and will always be individual cases of racial discrimination and racism, nationally the problem ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. People of color, however, will often tell you differently. At least that is what they told Tim Wise, American writer and anti-race activist. In his lecture titled “The Pathology of White Privilege”, Wise uses this information to present the notion of white privilege in hopes of influencing other white people to open their eyes and take responsibility.
In “The Pathology of White Privilege”, Tim Wise presents the idea of white privilege, explains how it came about, and tries to enlighten others on the damage it can do not only to people of color, but to white people as well. Wise, a white man himself, begins the lecture by talking about the absence of race in politics and culture. He points out that political candidates in the United States will talk about many issues such as poverty and healthcare, but leave out any issue of race, racism, discrimination, racial oppression, or white privilege and the roles they might play in regard to the particular issues they do choose to talk about. He makes the argument that the ignoring of these issues makes them seem unimportant or nonexistent and simply “feeds the denial that is already far too prevalent among the white community.” He goes on to explain that white people are quick to admit that racial discrimination used to be a problem, yet only six percent believe it is a serious problem
An Analysis and Evaluation of “The Pathology of White Privilege” by Tim Wise
Growing up in the United States, racism is an issue one cannot help but hear about at one point or another. Racial inequality and discrimination is a topic that comes up every February with Black History Month, and is often talked about in high school history classes around the country. But that is what it is considered to the majority of people: history. Most students are taught that, while there are still and will always be individual cases of racial discrimination and racism, nationally the problem ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. People of color, however, will often tell you differently. At least that is what they told Tim Wise, American writer and anti-race activist. In his lecture titled “The Pathology of White Privilege”, Wise uses this information to present the notion of white privilege in hopes of influencing other white people to open their eyes and take responsibility.
In “The Pathology of White Privilege”, Tim Wise presents the idea of white privilege, explains how it came about, and tries to enlighten others on the damage it can do not only to people of color, but to white people as well. Wise, a white man himself, begins the lecture by talking about the absence of race in politics and culture. He points out that political candidates in the United States will talk about many issues such as poverty and healthcare, but leave out any issue of race, racism, discrimination, racial oppression, or white privilege and the roles they might play in regard to the particular issues they do choose to talk about. He makes the argument that the ignoring of these issues makes them seem unimportant or nonexistent and simply “feeds the denial that is already far too prevalent among the white community.” He goes on to explain that white people are quick to admit that racial discrimination used to be a problem, yet only six percent believe it is a serious problem
Cited: Wise, Tim. "The Pathology of White Privilege." Media Education Foundation. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. <http://www.mediaed.org/assets/products/137/transcript_137.pdf>.