2008 Woodie Awards
Bringing an end to white privilege is an uphill battle
By: Conrad Pritscher
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Forum
Imagine a football field on the side of a steep hill. One team plays going up the hill while the other plays going down it.
Things have improved over the years, but in our society white people continue to play downhill against people of color who are playing uphill.
What would happen if whites talked to members of their own race about the topic of racism? Research appearing in psychological literature reveals whites often subtly agree with the common attitudes of white society at large - attitudes that discreetly imply whites are better.
These racial attitudes are changing and have changed noticeably within the last 40 years. But white attitudes about people of color, particularly blacks, are still often unfairly prejudicial with highly negative consequences.
I recently heard a television commentator talk about a poll which concluded that 30 percent of whites are racist. Some non-racist whites often think, "well if the percentage was higher not long ago, things must be getting better."
But if whites were serious about noticeably reducing racism, we would not tolerate that 30 percent. We would also consider making the playing field even and paying for the harm done as a result of the centuries of unfairness.
Many whites contributed to racism by refraining to do anything about racism, partly because racism was so widespread and we accepted the white acculturation of "that is just the way things are." As Martin Luther King said, "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Most whites have been trained to think somebody else will do something about racism.
Because of whites' habits, some of your white friends will probably not be interested in discussing racism. Whites in our society have often been taught they are not racist even though they benefit from our society's institutionalized racism which gives unfair advantage to whites.
My experience in teaching a cultural diversity course is the majority of whites do not acknowledge the privileges they have as a result of their whiteness.
Things have improved over the years, but in our society white people continue to play downhill against people of color who are playing uphill.
What would happen if whites talked to members of their own race about the topic of racism? Research appearing in psychological literature reveals whites often subtly agree with the common attitudes of white society at large - attitudes that discreetly imply whites are better.
These racial attitudes are changing and have changed noticeably within the last 40 years. But white attitudes about people of color, particularly blacks, are still often unfairly prejudicial with highly negative consequences.
I recently heard a television commentator talk about a poll which concluded that 30 percent of whites are racist. Some non-racist whites often think, "well if the percentage was higher not long ago, things must be getting better."
But if whites were serious about noticeably reducing racism, we would not tolerate that 30 percent. We would also consider making the playing field even and paying for the harm done as a result of the centuries of unfairness.
Many whites contributed to racism by refraining to do anything about racism, partly because racism was so widespread and we accepted the white acculturation of "that is just the way things are." As Martin Luther King said, "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Most whites have been trained to think somebody else will do something about racism.
Because of whites' habits, some of your white friends will probably not be interested in discussing racism. Whites in our society have often been taught they are not racist even though they benefit from our society's institutionalized racism which gives unfair advantage to whites.
My experience in teaching a cultural diversity course is the majority of whites do not acknowledge the privileges they have as a result of their whiteness.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 80
Gary Lahman
posted 8/27/08 @ 11:05 PM EST
I would like to thank Conrad for his article regarding white privledge and racism in America.
Only by facing this issue and expanding the discussion can we (all of us) move forward. (Continued…)
Jake
posted 8/27/08 @ 11:30 PM EST
I'm sick of people constantly accusing white people of being racist simply because they are white.
Examples of BS in this story:
"We would also consider making the playing field even and paying for the harm done as a result of the centuries of unfairness. (Continued…)
John
posted 8/28/08 @ 12:24 AM EST
"When was the last time one of your white friends did something to reduce racism? When was the last time you did?" This is a good question to bring up. (Continued…)
annoyed
posted 8/29/08 @ 3:31 PM EST
These types of columns are well, old. I'm sick and tired of reading about how it's my fault for what happened in the past. all of you racially driven people need to get over yourself. (Continued…)
Ian Lee
posted 8/29/08 @ 7:04 PM EST
CMAI has had people that offer training in the National Coalition-Building Institute prejudice reduction workshops here for as long as I have been at BGSU and this is my fourth year here. (Continued…)
Racists are right here
posted 8/29/08 @ 9:01 PM EST
Racism is a chronic disease,even here at BGSU where we have a new crop of administrators who are racist and bigoted. The days of the minorities in this campus are counted. (Continued…)
MichelleOsama
posted 8/30/08 @ 6:13 AM EST
Conrad, why don't you make sure to email this out to all of the freshmen's parents so that they can know what their sons or daughters face in the classroom and upon the campus for the next few years? I felt SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO embarrassed for the university when the BGNEWS elected to print similar columns that you wrote during the summer time when kids were coming in with their parents to register for classes and get acquainted with the campus. (Continued…)
Come on Ian Lee
posted 8/30/08 @ 8:10 AM EST
You are the windiest person so far!
Please limit your confusibng diatribe to 10 pages.
Thank you Conrad
posted 8/30/08 @ 8:15 AM EST
It is very obvious that your columns have struck a nerve among white people. the ones who pretend to be
open minded, the ones who actually are not agreeing with you since they obviously are guilt stricken!
But Conrad my brother your columns are on targat!
Conrad P. Pritscher
posted 8/30/08 @ 4:53 PM EST
I thank everyone for their comments. I don't have all the answers. I see racism as mostly whiteand a continuing very serious problem. I have another column written for Wed. (Continued…)
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