McIntosh / Muwakkil

White Privilege:
Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Peggy McIntosh

In this article McIntosh argues that “white people have unearned advantages in society due to skin color” and that most of them are not aware of white privilege. McIntosh also states that people are taught about racism and not about privilege. Besides giving her point of view towards “white privilege”, she explains how men are aware of women’s disadvantage and don’t recognize their male privilege, and want to make the effort to improve women’s position but not lessen their own.
There are a few quotes from this article that really got my attention and made me think about the way privilege can pass-through unaware.
•“People benefit from privilege even if they aren’t individually racist or sexist.”
•“Power from unearned privilege can look like strength when it is, in fact, permission to escape or dominate.”
•“Being white and being male involve privilege”
These three quotes make clear how most of the time white people or males don’t need to be racist or sexist to get advantage from white privilege. Furthermore, those who have this kind of privilege and are acknowledged may perhaps confuse it with strength, not realizing that what can open many doors for them actually close many doors for others.
McIntosh seems understand the concept of linking oppression. That’s how gender, ability, age, race, and class status all relate to a person’s oppression.
I found this article really interesting. I like the way the author clearly expressed her points and that makes it easy to understand. And also like the fact that it was written by a white person because it gives me the impression that American society is preparing itself for a big change.


Data show racial bias persists in America
Salim Muwakkil

Muwakkil argues that many white Americans still believe that racism is not part of our society anymore. They think it is finally over and seems not to stop to contemplate the way racism is destroying the lives of many of us.
Muwakkil basically explains how white privilege affects people of color up a great level. The data in this article mention that the biggest percent of people who are in jail because of illegal drugs are black. This doesn’t means people of color are most likely to use drugs, but it shows how white privilege keeps white people from getting in trouble even when they have committed a felony. The data shown in this article are shocking. The way whites get better jobs just because they are whites and people of color don’t, even when they are more prepared, because of their dark skin, make me think of how unjust is our society. I don’t want to offense anyone but it is really sad that still in the 21th century we are dealing with ‘white privilege” which in some way leads to oppression. It’s time to change!!!!