"There is difference and there is power. And who holds the power decides the meaning of the difference." --June Jordan

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Recent Resources: White Privilege

I just read an excellent post from rachels about white privilege:

Why there is a BET and there isn't a WET
 
I wish there were more teachers who addressed privilege in this way.  Such instruction is desperately needed, especially in white country towns like the one in which I grew up.  I can't tell you how common it is for me to hear questions like, "Why is there a black history month when there's no white history month?"  Posts like this are extremely helpful in giving us the words to answer questions that come from complete ignorance of white privilege. 
 
(I also highly recommend reading Magniloquence's awesome Race Relations 101 series at Feline Formal Shorts, and listening to Carmen Van Kerckhove's great podcast Addicted to Race.)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't read the post yet, but I can tell you right now that there's no White History Month because EVERY MONTH IS WHITE HISTORY MONTH.

I'm guessing that it's the same thing for White Entertainment Television. Every fucking network is white entertainment. Or occasionally a bit of entertainment with black characters for the white people to laugh at.

In either case, it's pretty disturbing that full grown adults need to have this explained to them. And they do. Constantly.

Tracey said...

Cara: yeah, that's pretty much the sentiment of the article. I just love how she answers the ridiculous questions so rationally and clearly, in ways that must really get through to her students.

Kristin said...

That is a great post and just so timely for me. The other night I had to explain privilege to a rich, white, hetero male my age that had never even heard (or thought) of it before and it made me want to cry. This man had the most twisted perspective due to his privilege that I had ever encountered. I hope I got through to him, I tried to be rational and clear. I worry, however, that some are so far gone that they'll never get it. He seriously needs to read a thousand articles like this one.

Carmen Sognonvi said...

Hey thanks so much for the shout-out to Addicted to Race :) And thank you for listening.