On White Privilege
Until recently I thought the idea white privilege was a myth. I am white but I also come a working class background and work a blue collar job. Growing up in the GTA I saw people around me from all walks of life have more than me. I didn’t feel privileged as I had to work for everything I got and had very little handed to me. But I have realized that there are other factors to privilege besides economical background. While not a racist I never saw my skin note as making me privileged in society.
First, I am privileged in that my appearance doesn’t automatically put a target on my back. I don’t usually have to worry about police pulling me over or many people viewing me with suspicion. I can walk into a store and/or shopping center without people thinking I am automatically going to steal something or be followed around. I can walk walk around most areas without being harassed.
Second, my name on a resume is less likely to disqualify me from a job or a profession.Unfortunately there is systemic racism in many professions and jobs whether we care to admit to or not. I have never really worry about my skin colour and name costing me a job or chance at a profession. I still have advantages in society in spite of me not being wealthy that isn’t shared by others. My qualifications are often looked at over anything else.
There is also life expectancy which is above average in my demographic compared to other racial groups in Сananda. I am not written off because of my ethnicity (although I am I a high risk of cancer but that is a whole different topic) I grew up in the suburbs where I never to worry about crime or faced any real danger growing up. I realize that are many who grow up in areas in North America that the opposite is true.
Until recently I never realized how dangerous it is to be a black man in North America and while civil rights as bridged the gap there is a long way to go. I write this just to realize that there is systemic racism in our society and that denying or debating it doesn’t make it any less true.
First, I am privileged in that my appearance doesn’t automatically put a target on my back. I don’t usually have to worry about police pulling me over or many people viewing me with suspicion. I can walk into a store and/or shopping center without people thinking I am automatically going to steal something or be followed around. I can walk walk around most areas without being harassed.
Second, my name on a resume is less likely to disqualify me from a job or a profession.Unfortunately there is systemic racism in many professions and jobs whether we care to admit to or not. I have never really worry about my skin colour and name costing me a job or chance at a profession. I still have advantages in society in spite of me not being wealthy that isn’t shared by others. My qualifications are often looked at over anything else.
There is also life expectancy which is above average in my demographic compared to other racial groups in Сananda. I am not written off because of my ethnicity (although I am I a high risk of cancer but that is a whole different topic) I grew up in the suburbs where I never to worry about crime or faced any real danger growing up. I realize that are many who grow up in areas in North America that the opposite is true.
Until recently I never realized how dangerous it is to be a black man in North America and while civil rights as bridged the gap there is a long way to go. I write this just to realize that there is systemic racism in our society and that denying or debating it doesn’t make it any less true.
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