Guest Post: White Privilege by April Johnson and April Knutsen

Though Professor Peggy McIntosh wrote her seminal article "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" in 1989, the piece still resonates with students today. Here Women's Studies 101 students work to "unpack the invisible knapsack."

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McIntosh stated in the beginning that just how we acknowledge male privilege and its advantages because of a woman’s disadvantage, the same is applied to race. As an African American, I can point something out about someone else’s race and the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of that race but it’s more effective when someone of that own race realizes just how privileged individuals just so happen to be.

If I decide to start a conversation about white people then I am just saying the same thing that a lot of other races have said or are saying but when someone who is white and understands their privilege addresses the accuracy of the situation a light bulb goes off in the minds of other privileged white persons.

The list McIntosh made is accurate and it can go on to be much longer than that. White privilege has allowed security for those who belong in the category. White privilege is not even realizing that you have acquired these benefits in your life because no one has had to tell you differently. Cultures that are failed to be recognized have to take their own stand and initiatives to getting their voice to be heard. No one’s blaming anyone because you were born with these privileges but it’s important that you realize you have them and others may not.

Being white makes a statement that may be unbeknownst to its people that says, “Society gives me power, and with that power I have an advantage over others because of the color of my skin”. It’s amazing how such a small difference in individuals can determine the life you’ll lead. Being white means that if you and a black person are both in a store, both wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, it’s more likely that a black person will be closely watched more so than the white person even though they are both equally capable of acts of deviance or even acts of normality.

White privilege is being able to see products for your hair and skin and not think twice that it doesn’t apply to others. I don’t get to see commercials for women of color and products that will work best for me. White privilege has always been there. It will always be there. White privilege allows for your acquired safety in this society.

- April Johnson

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This article was very different but also very enjoyable to read. The author hits ... so many points that I have never thought about before, and ironically a point that was made was about how people don’t give the issue of “white privilege” enough consideration. I found it very important that throughout the article white privilege did not mean racism, although it didn’t mean anything very positive. The article is stating that a white privilege and unfair advantages exist in the world and people are actively doing nothing to reduce the issue.

While reading the list of conditions the author made I found myself in shock about how many that I saw familiarity in. Regarding number 5, I think this is a pretty significant issue because in the past few years I personally haven’t seen much positive coverage of any non-Caucasian people in the new, or media. I think it is a learned societal norm to accredit whites automatically even if something of equal or greater is happening elsewhere with one of a different race.

Number 20* was another point that stood out to me and I share a personal experience with it. White privilege applies to the lack of production of non- Caucasian toys or dolls, or posters with non-Caucasian people on them. When I was a child, about 8 or 9, my mom bought me the African-American “American Girl-Doll,” Addie. My friends all thought I was weird for having it and made fun of me for her, but I loved my doll. At that young age was the first time I was introduced to a racial discrimination. Another quick point that stuck out to me was number 26, about the Band-Aids and the flesh tone. I have never seen a darker colored Band-Aid and when this article brought it to my attention I was honestly kind of angry.

At the end of the article, specifically the last paragraph, made a very to the point conclusion. She in my words, she basically said: are we going to take what we’ve learned from this and use it in a positive way or just sit back and ignore that it happened. I think that that last couple sentences apply to many other popular issues including women’s rights.


- April Knutsen

*"I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race."

RU Students stand outside Martin Hall, Friday, November 13th to show solidarity with students in Missouri at #Radford4Mizzou