I think it finally hit me, White culture is hard to pin point and explain because its the default. It's the norm. We don' think about it, we just do. Just like the speaker said, I've found myself in moments where I chose to not pay attention or challenge myself with the uncomfortable moments because I could. Thankfully, I'm choosing to learn now.
I think that is a good way to look at what we have. I also find that the more I have listened in the uncomfortable conversations with friends of color the more I recognize my own privileged. The hard part is once you understand the aspects of the problem is knowing that you then have to be a part of the solution which forces you into more uncomfortable conversations with other whites who have the privileged. There is so much anger that comes out of those conversations. That is what I need to get better at doing.
I couldn't agree more. The anger and defensiveness about the idea of right privilege is alarming to me.
I feel the same. I was talking with a colleague this morning about this. My family never truly celebrated our culture in a worldly sense, we just have things we do that are unique to our family. The most we celebrated were the stereotypes of the irish culture, it makes me want to really dig in and learn more about all of my cultural heritage. Watching the other videos, and hearing some of the perspectives I have not had as much exposure to... have really opened my eyes to areas I need to continue to develop and grow. Working with college students, I usually deter to calling students by their chosen names-- but I want to work harder to learn their culturally significant names than I have done before.
When I think of white culture , I think of entitlement and how it clouds people from seeing the struggles of others. An example of this for me is when I think about Black Lives matter. No one said no other lives matter, but instead are trying to convey to those that have privilege and power that black lives are important too. For those in while culture who want to feel good, they can say all lives matter and do so without experiencing racial injustice and seeing disproportionate numbers of their own race being wrongly discriminated against. Because they are not aware of their privilege they can do that.
Great point!
White privilege is not something I've given enough thought to, to be honest. Because I am not a member of a marginalized group, I don't encounter the struggles that a person of color might live with every day.
I am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of advocating for others who are the victims of racism. If we don't say anything, our silence will speak volumes and render us complicit in perpetuating prejudice.
I think the phrase that hit me was "assume the white culture as the default." Sort of like when I moved to the American South after living in New England for twenty years. People said, "you've got a funny accent." I said "I dont' have an accent." It's like that , but more toxic because they stopped there rather than saying "you've got a funny accent and it's probably because you're weird/stupid/not like me/etc." We don't see out own complicity in the lie that we are the default. And the default is the right thing, not a flawed conclusion. How have we been so blind? Because it's more comfortable. Time for discomfort...
Becoming aware of my own white privilege almost causes feelings of guilt, as though I have something to be ashamed about. There are the thoughts I carry in my head that come to mind when I meet a person of color and think about my privilege and their lack of the same inalienable rights. I think in my head ways to say, "I am Sorry you do not have equal rights." My new true response is to say "Hello." My default is to get to know them and to treat them as though without the barrier of skin color or race.