PRIVILEGE

Having White Privilege Doesn’t Mean You Had An Easy Life

It does mean difficulties you faced weren’t because of your race

Woman with red hair sitting on the floor | Photo by Tati Alves via Pexels

Discussions about white privilege are often sabotaged by denial from those who claim it doesn’t exist. When confronted with the topic, some will argue they “worked hard” for what they have, and reject the claim that race played a role in shaping their experience. But two things can be true at once–someone can be hardworking in their personal life and still benefit from the social construct of whiteness. Defensiveness stymies constructive discourse, which in turn dampens support for policies designed to alleviate the harmful effects of white privilege. Thus, it’s essential to consider the dynamics underpinning opposition. The term “privilege” may evoke imagery of a life of comfort and luxury, but having racial privilege relative to others doesn’t mean someone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Indeed, White people experience poverty, illness, and misfortune in the same way as other groups. But some are missing a crucial caveat — the struggles White people face in America are not a result of their race.

The intangible quality of white privilege facilitates denial. You cannot hold it in your hand like a glass of water, a book, or a tablet. Yet, it’s a construct with…