In The Classroom The Perils Of Associating ‘White’ With ‘Privilege’
White privilege – the social advantage that benefits white people over others simply on account of skin color – has become a racial justice catchphrase.
Peggy McIntosh, an academic who originated the term in 1989, described it like this: “An invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was meant to remain oblivious.”
As examples, she highlighted the appearance of being financially reliable, shopping alone without being harassed and seeing representation of her race in history books and the media.
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, an increasing number of white Americans agree that white privilege exists. That includes a growing number of Republicans.
Despite the term’s pervasive use, little attention has focused on how it affects vic...
