When you hear the word privileges it immediately tells you about inclusion, class, favors... It does not tell you the disadvantages incurred for whom the word is used or the advantages that accrue to the one for whom it is not used.
When Peggy McIntosh, the associate director of the Wellesley College Center for Women spoke on Monday, April 15, 2008 to a fully packed ballroom in Baker Center she went beyond the unspoken minds of millions to talk about privileges that come as a result of being 'white' and the loss of privileges to 'blacks'.
Even though I don't like the term 'white' or 'black' - no one is truly as black as charcoal or as white as snow - one thing I commend is the way Dr. McIntoch drew attention to the advantages that come as a result of exclusion and disadvantages that come as a result of inclusion in her lecture titled "White Privileges".
A handsome, young white male offered me a seat in the Catcab, whether he did it because I'm female - the weaker gender should not be allowed to stand lest her fragile frame goes out of shape - or because I'm colored - you can choose your mix of primary or secondary colors - or because I'm older - younger is stronger - I do not know, but one thing I know is that the seat I occupied through the length of the trip was a privilege that came along gender, color or race lines and I accepted the offer without query.
If we raise our daily consciousness on the perquisites of being light-skinned. What will we do with such knowledge? As we know from watching men, it is an open question whether we will choose to use unearned advantage, and whether we will use any of our arbitrarily awarded power to try to reconstruct power systems on a broader base.
I walked by the front desk in Ping Center and was almost through before I realized I did not show my identity card. Why did the lady not call me back? Was she afraid I would feel she decided to embarrass me because I'm colored? White it was my fault - it skipped my mind, not hers - the trivial experience left me feeling 'black'.
When I'm behind the wheels, I notice 'whites' will often make eye contact before dashing into the road at pedestrian crossing. It feels good when I am in a hurry but most times it screams "the black ignorant female is behind the wheels, watch out!"
But do I enjoy the compliments that trickle down when my feathers appear flustered like the peacock, sure I do and so does Nneka Agwuegbo who enjoys the attention she gets and the patience with which people respond to her when she cruises around town in her automatic wheel chair and the Caucasians who gets endless attention from 'immigrants' even if only for the security he is able to provide on paper.
The horrible downsides which includes stopping me from giving blood because I may have slept with an African, forcing a wry smile on me just to show you aren't racist or having me write TOEFL when colonialism has forced the English language on me for well over 30 years is sickening but the up side of an assistantship responding to my color, doors opening for my gender, and endless ovations for my status are simply great.
What do you think?
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