Weapons of privilege are armor in both a figurative and literal sense. For one, Europeans had literal weapons that gave them privilege; they had guns, while Native Americans didn't. More recently, this phrase has been used to describe the privilege there is to being male, white, and/or heterosexual, These are qualities you're born with, and they arm you for life with something that is just as important as guns in a war.
It is statistically proven that two people with almost identical resumes will be looked at for something more: their color, sex, or sexual orientation. It is more likely that a white man will get the job over an equally qualified man of of a different ethnicity. It is more likely that a man will get the job over an equally qualified woman. Since there was a law voted on last year on whether it's okay to not hire a gay person because they're gay, I'd say that sexual orientation is also a factor.
What does this all mean to me? I know it makes me sick to think about thinking about whether it's more beneficial to be white. IT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A THOUGHT IN MY HEAD! I don't want to be thankful I'm white because I can't morally do so, but I think I am on a subconscious level. It's disgusting.
What makes me feel a little better is knowing that there may be something I can do. If I use my white benefit to be a voice for the less privileged, I might be able to be something besides sickening. I want to do something, an dyet here I am sitting on my butt doing nothing but worrying about the quarter closing. I am worried about a C in math when there's so much more important things, bigger things, life changing things to do.
I too have a dream, but right now it's only a dream. I will make it reality.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Just a little too politically correct?
I competed for drama this weekend, and the competition was held in Skowhegan Area High School. Their mascot is the Indians. No, they don't mean people from India. Okay, I didn't like it. But hey, I am always too PC, right? That's what I get told, so that's what I was thinking. I guess it shouldn't have bothered me.
At the end of day two, we went to the gym for some "fun" games. They were pretty lame, so I walked across the gym to talk to some of my friends. Then I saw the mascot painted on the wall: there was a Native American man in a loincloth with a spear. Like, are you kidding me? Cavemen wear loincloths. White men killed more people than any Native American people ever did. So why, then, was this picture of the INDIANS a simple, half naked, belligerent fool?
You tell me.
At the end of day two, we went to the gym for some "fun" games. They were pretty lame, so I walked across the gym to talk to some of my friends. Then I saw the mascot painted on the wall: there was a Native American man in a loincloth with a spear. Like, are you kidding me? Cavemen wear loincloths. White men killed more people than any Native American people ever did. So why, then, was this picture of the INDIANS a simple, half naked, belligerent fool?
You tell me.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
White America? II
I felt that I needed to write this post not to recant what I said in the last one, but to modify it slightly.
In class, we talked about the "privilege" of being white. I didn't understand this, though; I mean, I had been in situations where white was what you'd call the "minority", but I never felt better in life about being white. I thought everyone was just a person. If everyone thought like that, maybe this would be alright to think...
I didn't understand the "privilege" of being a certain race until I could put myself in the "unprivileged"'s shoes. I, as a female, feel that there is a certain privilege to be male. When I think about that, I can easily see the same privilege of being white. I had a discussion recently with a white male, and he didn't think the white/male privilege existed. It's so much harder, I realize, to notice the wrong that goes on until it is you that is wronged.
I am still not sure where I stand on scholarships only for certain races. As a competitor in the flat world, I would prefer that I had a better chance of getting into the program I wanted. Even so, the moral battle is more important. I don't know what's okay in this situation. It is important to know someone's history. Maybe greatness means not relying on your history to get what you want out of life. Maybe it means embracing it. What I know for certain is that I simply don't know.
In class, we talked about the "privilege" of being white. I didn't understand this, though; I mean, I had been in situations where white was what you'd call the "minority", but I never felt better in life about being white. I thought everyone was just a person. If everyone thought like that, maybe this would be alright to think...
I didn't understand the "privilege" of being a certain race until I could put myself in the "unprivileged"'s shoes. I, as a female, feel that there is a certain privilege to be male. When I think about that, I can easily see the same privilege of being white. I had a discussion recently with a white male, and he didn't think the white/male privilege existed. It's so much harder, I realize, to notice the wrong that goes on until it is you that is wronged.
I am still not sure where I stand on scholarships only for certain races. As a competitor in the flat world, I would prefer that I had a better chance of getting into the program I wanted. Even so, the moral battle is more important. I don't know what's okay in this situation. It is important to know someone's history. Maybe greatness means not relying on your history to get what you want out of life. Maybe it means embracing it. What I know for certain is that I simply don't know.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
White America?
Mr. Viles made a point: your history does make whom you become. There's no way anyone can disagree with that. Where we disagree is on is whether your history is you.
Take Oprah, for example. To know how great her success is, you have to realize that it was exceptionally difficult to be African American and be successful in her field. You have to realize that she came from poverty, and that part of her success is her ability to empathize with those in that situation. The fact of the matter is, Oprah's former situation is less common today. You don't have to be a minority to be poor and you don't have to be poor to be a minority. There are those who aren't necessarily a minority, but are in poverty. There are minorities who are middle class or wealthy. There is a more level playing field. There should be no credit given to a certain race. Last time I checked, that was prejudicial.
I thought the goal of our country was equality, not apologies by those who've done nothing for something that happened in the past. How are we, as a nation, supposed to find equality if there are distinct separations between races. Our system isn't a melting pot; it's too divided to be considered as such. I don't want to lose a spot that I am more qualified for so that a college can get it's quota of minorities. If that's selfish, I'm sorry. Not too sound too white America, but it's not my fault that I was born white, just as it's not someone else's fault that they were born into the race they are. I can't stop racism. There are some minorities who are turned down for a job or scholarship I'm sure, but it's hidden because it's a crime to discriminate against someone for their race. What isn't a crime is to have a scholarship for only blacks. Is that fair?
All in all, I think for equality's sake that people shouldn't take advantage of the fact that some races have had a harder history. It's true. It's terrible. It can't be erased. I'm sorry it happened. I shouldn't be paying for what my awful ancestors did with my education. Others shouldn't be benefiting from what happened to their ancestors. People should realize it's not what's on the outside that counts, and even if your outside reveals that your history has been harder for you than mine was for me, it's time to think in the now and not rely on the past to get what you want.
On another note, this conversation wouldn't be happening if we lived almost anywhere else. I think the fact that our school is 99% Caucasian makes this discussion much easier to have. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Take Oprah, for example. To know how great her success is, you have to realize that it was exceptionally difficult to be African American and be successful in her field. You have to realize that she came from poverty, and that part of her success is her ability to empathize with those in that situation. The fact of the matter is, Oprah's former situation is less common today. You don't have to be a minority to be poor and you don't have to be poor to be a minority. There are those who aren't necessarily a minority, but are in poverty. There are minorities who are middle class or wealthy. There is a more level playing field. There should be no credit given to a certain race. Last time I checked, that was prejudicial.
I thought the goal of our country was equality, not apologies by those who've done nothing for something that happened in the past. How are we, as a nation, supposed to find equality if there are distinct separations between races. Our system isn't a melting pot; it's too divided to be considered as such. I don't want to lose a spot that I am more qualified for so that a college can get it's quota of minorities. If that's selfish, I'm sorry. Not too sound too white America, but it's not my fault that I was born white, just as it's not someone else's fault that they were born into the race they are. I can't stop racism. There are some minorities who are turned down for a job or scholarship I'm sure, but it's hidden because it's a crime to discriminate against someone for their race. What isn't a crime is to have a scholarship for only blacks. Is that fair?
All in all, I think for equality's sake that people shouldn't take advantage of the fact that some races have had a harder history. It's true. It's terrible. It can't be erased. I'm sorry it happened. I shouldn't be paying for what my awful ancestors did with my education. Others shouldn't be benefiting from what happened to their ancestors. People should realize it's not what's on the outside that counts, and even if your outside reveals that your history has been harder for you than mine was for me, it's time to think in the now and not rely on the past to get what you want.
On another note, this conversation wouldn't be happening if we lived almost anywhere else. I think the fact that our school is 99% Caucasian makes this discussion much easier to have. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.
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