White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

"White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh directly attacks the issue of White Privilege in America. 

"Thinking through unacknowledged male privilege as a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there are most likely a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there was most likely a phenomenon of while privilege that was similarly denied and protected" - McIntosh

McIntosh describes White Privilege as a protected phenomenon, and I believe she is right. In the American education system we are taught of the issues of racism, starting at a young age we learn of slavery and how awful the realities of it were. Then we learn about the civil rights movement and the constant battle for equality during the 19th and 20th centuries. Even today there is still a constant struggle for equality because of the unaddressed white privilege in America. Recently the media has turned and attacked white privilege with the recent police shootings. The media claims that police are more likely to target African Americans, and are quicker to jump to violence in order to take care of situations. I have found an article that shows 20 examples of white privilege and the affect it has on law enforcement. http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/06/white-privilege-and-police/

""White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks" - McIntosh

McIntosh compares white privilege as this knapsack of special provisions, and I feel she couldn't be any more right about it. In this knapsack are special provisions, maps, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks. All these characteristics are the unrecognized advantages of being white. Being white in America gives you an automatic advantage in nearly every aspect of life. Just by being white you have access to more opportunity than the being a minority in America. And unfortunately most White Americans live their entire lives unknowing of the privilege they possess over the minorities in America. They have more access to education, and jobs, these are just some examples of the potential thousands that give White's an advantage in America. This can be connected back to Delpit, she says those in power are unaware, and the people who are not in power are aware of such differences. I think without explanation this is present in today's society. The media has been filled with race issues, the biggest, police brutality. The minorities are aware of the power issue, that is why they are addressing it in the media. 

"I can be pretty sure that my children's teachers and employers will tolerate them if they fit school and workplace norms; my chief worries about them do not concern others' attitudes toward their race." - McIntosh

This quote is taken from a list McIntosh titles "Daily affects of White Privilege". I chose this quote because it falls perfectly in place with Delpit's "SCWAAMP standard". And we elaborated this system of ideas in class. The society today and way of life and its norms, are extremely linear, it was created a long time ago by the white population of America. It was created in favor of the white, straight, Christian American citizen. Today America's population is no longer described in SCWAAMP. America historically has been described as the homogeneous mixture of culture, but it does not elaborate on these ideas by having such a oppressive standard of White Privilege. 

I was able to find a rap song that directly addresses White Privilege, and its written by a white rapper named Macklemore. I think in a way it can be fitting to the situations addressed above.