PRIVILEGE
How White Privilege Disproves The Lie About a Merit-Based Society
In a merit-based society, white privilege wouldn't exist
Black Americans know all too well that this country has never been a merit-based society and that working hard is not enough to guarantee you access to the same opportunities extended to White people. This is a discussion many Black parents have with their children, not to discourage them from shooting for the stars but to prepare them for the challenges that await them. Letting a Black child know that some people, simply because of the color of their skin, will attempt to stop their shine isn't easy, but it's a meaningful conversation, given the circumstances. Black students and workers are often expected to be "twice as good" to receive equal treatment. It's not fair, but this is our reality.
"Work hard," Black Americans are told, and you will rise above it all, even when we know that's not how our society functions. For instance, the G.I. Bill, formally called the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, promised certain benefits to veterans, such as access to a "college education, unemployment insurance, and housing." Yet millions of Black veterans were denied access to these benefits despite serving their country just as White veterans had. While some were denied loans to…
