Skip to main content

Utilization of white privilege

A few days ago I happened to stumble upon this video from Upworthy's Facebook page:
Upworthy on utilization of white privilege

The reason why I think this video is important is because it highlights ways of using white privilege. There are three main points that I got from this video and I would like to share those with you.

The first thing I think is important to keep in mind when discussing the topic of white privilege is that sometimes it seems that the general idea is that one can only be an ally through huge gestures. This video and this women's story shows us that's not the case. What is important to realize, in my opinion, is that in order for one to become an advocate on behalf of someone, the realization of the presence of  inequality in society today is crucial.

Before I go on to my next point, I would like to give you the text book definition white privilege is;
"White privilege is a set of advantages and/or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others. White privilege can exist without white people's conscious knowledge of its presence and it helps to maintain the racial hierarchy in this country." With that in mind I think that realizing your privilege in society is important. As humans we tend to sometimes to not pay attention to the things that happen around us. When something is not our reality, we tend to not pay it any attention. Sometimes because we are not aware or because of the lack of willingness to acknowledge the presence of something. By realizing that you have a privilege and that it does benefit you in ways not accessible to other people in society, you can better understand what is going on. And with that you can be a better ally.

A third point of view to take form this video is the importance of using your voice. Being an advocate means to provide support both privately and publicly. So speak up and use what you have for the greater good.
This story is important because, no matter how small the action seemed to be, the impact of it was large and it effected multiple people.

White privilege is a reality and what you do with it is your own chose. The important thing is to realize that what you do with that given privilege can effect the reality of many others.

- Yannet Urgessa
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thank You DJS Leaders

Rosario Jesús Treviño Yoson is a 2nd year majoring in Economics. They identify as a mixed queer transmasculine person using he/they pronouns. He plans to use their degree to address food insecurity. You can find him in the Diversity Center, the library, or the student radio station in the Neeb building. Dear DJS Student Leaders,      It has been an honor to organize your stories this year. When I started, I was a little lost. I hadn’t attempted something like this before. What I uncovered became larger than the website. In conversations I had with each of the writers, I sought to go deeper into their motivations, why they are committed to the work they do towards anti-racism; outside of school and sometimes unpaid. It is the right thing to do, but these students stepped farther, they took initiative and leadership in their own communities, rather than waiting for direction.       I was encouraged after hearing from a few writers “this conversation help...
Post a Comment
Read more

#WeAreOrlando

Devastated about what happened in Orlando last night. We are lucky to live in a country where we finally have equal legal rights, but the fight for acceptance and equality did not end with the Supreme Court decision last year. Homophobia continues to be a harmful and dangerous ideology that is taught - yes, taught - and passed on from one generation to the next. It is espoused by politicians in power, it is preached from the pulpit, and it's passed from parents to their children any time they tell them homosexuality is wrong, or think that depictions of gay couples in books or movies are inappropriate for children, or when they teach their kids to "love the sinner but hate the sin." This disguised insult perpetuates the idea that our families are wrong, dirty, and shameful. All for something we had no choice in and for loving someone of the same sex.
Post a Comment
Read more

Upholding Community Guidelines

Community guidelines, agreements, or tenants are used far and wide in social justice education settings.   Creating, stating, and agreeing upon community guidelines is typically at the top of the agendas of workshops, institutes, and new community meetings.   Lately I have noticed myself being disingenuous about the idea of establishing community standards over and over again.   What’s the point of spending time creating a list of agreements - ways in which we would like to hold each other accountable as a community, ways to create a community of learners and leaders, and ways to create a brave space that acknowledges conflict and difference exists and welcomes diverse perspectives and a range of learners – if too often we do not hold each other accountable for upholding them?   What I have notice is when time goes on, and communities have long since upheld and or revisited their commitments and guidelines, people begin side stepping around each other and issues, bl...
Post a Comment
Read more