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Episode 2 Transcript- What's the Deal With White Privilege?

  • Writer: Veronica Franco
    Veronica Franco
  • Sep 3, 2022
  • 6 min read

Updated: Sep 18, 2022

Examining White Privilege



Introduction

Hello and welcome back to episode 2 of Breakdown, the show that helps our listeners to break topics down through easy-to-understand conversations. I am your host, Veronica Franco. In today’s episode, we will discuss what white privilege is, how white privilege influences my life, and how to become advocates for equity based on our research.

Where Do We Begin?

Participating in discussions about race and white privilege is challenging due to its controversial nature. Most people tend to feel discomfort during these conversations based on fear of being called racist or leaving with a sense of unresolvedness (Singleton, 2015). Glenn Singleton described four agreements necessary for courageous racial conversations to flourish: staying engaged, experiencing discomfort, expecting to accept non-closure, and speaking your truth (2015). As we start this conversation, I ask you to accept these words as my truth based on my experiences and research. These ideas might make specific people uncomfortable, which is natural; however, we hope everyone will join us on this journey to understand white privilege.

What Is White Privilege?

White privilege refers to the daily "advantages that White people receive simply by virtue of their appearance and, to a lesser degree, the privilege lighter-skinned people of color and indigenous people garner as compared to darker members of the same or different non-White racial groups" (Singleton, 2015, p.189). Unfortunately, most people remain oblivious to how they cash in their white privilege (Singleton, 2015), let alone realize that it results from the old belief that white people are superior to all other races (Broems & Jackson, 2020). Most people who have never experienced racial prejudice or reverse racism are unaware that they receive major and minor advantages based solely on the color of their skin (Tatum, 2017). White people have fewer chances of being followed around while shopping, confronted by the police, or turned down for financial support by banking agencies (Tatum, 2017). However, most people take for granted some minor advantages of white privilege, like finding suitable hair products and makeup or fearlessly stating an opinion without fear of being characterized as a racial opinion (Tatum, 2017). Whether intentional or not, white privilege persists in our society because people tend to ignore, deny, or dismiss the benefits they receive and the detrimental effects of white privilege on others (Broems & Jackson, 2020).

Does White Privilege Influence My Daily Life?

To recognize white privilege, this researcher took the National Civil Rights Museum Privilege Aptitude Test. This test asks twelve questions describing daily activities people take for granted to see what rights some individuals may freely exercise over others (National Civil Rights Museum, 2022). Essentially, the higher the score, the more privileges one has. As a white female Montessori teacher and new mother, the results from the test were unsurprising; a perfect score of 12 points. I am fully aware that my skin color positively impacts my daily life and instills a sense of security, knowing there is no fear of racial profiling, stereotyping, and discrimination. There are many minor benefits that I cash in daily, such as constantly finding positive role models that look like me in all academic fields. However, the epiphany of my white privilege did not occur overnight.

The idea that racism occurs everywhere came to me when I was part of the minority in an organization predominately filled with people of color. Before taking this job, racial identity was inconsequential. Believing myself to be accepting and tolerant of others, race, and ethnic backgrounds was insignificant compared to a person's personality. During this experience, I was discriminated against by other staff members and the community we served because of my racial identity. It was an awful experience that expanded my understanding of how detrimental prejudice is to others and brought immediate awareness to my privilege. At work, people treated me as an outsider who was automatically racist due to other people's prejudice and bias. However, as soon as I left work, everything returned to "normal" for me. Everywhere else I went, people listened, acknowledged, and valued my creativity. Only upon self-reflection did I realize I was interacting with others in a society dominated by a mythical normal American who was white, heterosexual, Christian, and financially secure (Tatum, 2017).

How Does White Privilege Impact Others?

When not used to advocate for others, white privilege is a negative side effect of white culture that leads to the oppression of people of various ethnicities. Most white people are incapable of defining what it means to be white or the undeserved privileges that come with it; however, most people of color and varying ethnicities can identify those privileges quickly because societal forces constantly deny those liberties (Singleton, 2015). Many facets of white culture value individual achievement and expression over collective achievement and group consensuses, as seen in many other cultures (Singleton, 2015). Individualism, universal perspectives that all people encounter daily life in the same manner, and the exertion of white behavioral norms on people from other cultures lead many people of color to hide their unique culture from others’ scrutiny (Singleton, 2015). The white-dominated culture in the United States forces the assimilation of people of varying ethnicities, which can effectively “whitewash” and consume their unique cultural identity if they cannot balance white expectations with their cultural beliefs (Singleton, 2015, p.197).

Reflecting upon the National Civil Rights Museum Privilege Aptitude Test, other individual colleagues who are not white would not get a perfect score as I did. Whether it is going to the bathroom, an opinion, or speech etiquette, I will not be asked or prejudicially judged by it based on my racial identity (National Civil Rights Museum, 2022). Awareness of white privilege does not lessen the hardships that all individuals face. Recognizing white privilege is also not blaming any person or accusing any person of racial insensitivities. Instead, it is recognizing that people of color and people of varying ethnicities, unfortunately, have an extra layer of worries simply because their skin has more melanin than other specific individuals (Singleton, 2015). By recognizing the impact of marginalization on others, we can empathize and begin advocating for the equitable exchange of specific rights for some to equal rights for all.

How Can I Become an Advocate for Others?

In a recent study by Broems & Jackson, many participants recognized that counteracting white privilege requires action (2020). Individuals must engage in honest conversations, unite in collective action, and bravely speak out against the scarring effects of white supremacy within our culture (Broems & Jackson, 2020). Goodson et al. described how the University of California’s Library Community Collective created a safe space for individuals to discuss challenging topics encompassing racial issues to encourage a deeper understanding of one another (2022). For individuals to become mediums of change, they must exercise passion, practice, and persistence (Singleton, 2015). Each individual must passionately engage in innovative practices that promote equity and persistently fight against non-inclusive practices at every level (Singleton, 2015). Individuals must utilize their power, privilege, and influence to engage in courageous conversations with others. They must also participate in equitable inclusionary training sessions and utilize culturally intelligent practices to improve open communication across racial lines while promoting equitable policy changes that positively impact everyone.

What Can We Do Moving Forward?

Awareness of white privilege and its effects on others is essential for antiracism activism. "Educating ourselves and others is an essential step in the process of change" (Tatum, 2017, p.340). However, the greatest obstacle to advocacy is the lack of awareness white individuals have about the “significance of their racial identity” (Tatum, 2017, p.188). Many white individuals believe they are part of the racial norm due to the predominantly white educational and occupational institutions (Tatum, 2017). These individuals also have been miseducated about the social injustices regarding people of color (Tatum, 2017). They cannot critically find solutions to this pervasive issue due to their lack of understanding and practice (Tatum, 2017). To understand others thoroughly, we must research historical events from a multicultural perspective to shift our prejudicial paradigms (Tatum, 2017) and engage in open dialogues to discuss the world through a new lens (Singleton, 2015). As a white woman who is aware of her privilege, I plan on engaging in courageous conversations in the hopes of understanding the world through others' eyes. The real question left to ask now is how you will use your newfound awareness and influence to achieve equity.


Outro

We want to give a special thanks to our favorite music creator, Diego Franco, for permitting us to use his song, "Voice.”

Thank you for joining us today on Breakdown, the show that helps our listeners to break topics down through easy-to-understand conversations. If you enjoyed this episode, please check out our previous episode, “Essential Tips for Aspiring Inclusive Business Leaders.” During that episode, our special guest Amelia Harrison, an inclusive finance manager, enlightened us with the knowledge she gained from over 20 years of managerial experience.

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and subscribe to notifications by clicking the link below. You can also subscribe via our website at https://veronicaaf0824.wixsite.com/breakdownpodcast. Remember to tune in every Sunday on Soundcloud & Google Podcasts for new episodes on various topics you request us to break down.


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