“Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread, and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal.”
― Shirley Chisholm
I can not blame white people, for not knowing they are an active part of a racist system, because they are so used to getting everything they want. They are not shown on the other side of the picture that people of colour have to work extremely hard to get things which white people get easily. It is not visible to them as nobody teaches or talks about it and they seem to avail it without even being aware of having that privilege. The story of the two friends in chapter nine was such a great example of how the lives of two people with the same start had such different ends.
This class has opened so many doors in my mind. I came to know that It is so hard to point out racism because it’s deep-rooted. Even common people of colour can not realize the full extent of what they face. It’s like trying to swim against the waves and then thinking it’s normal that the waves are pushing you back. They feel that defeat is the word, they don’t even think that they should have the same privileges as white people. Either in a job interview or any other opportunity. The same job requires a person of colour with a perfect GPA, lots of experience, volunteer work, and proven leadership, will accept a white person far more readily with lesser qualifications, often only due to their white sounding name.
It was an interesting article to read. What great words spoken by Dr. DiAngelo, “as cards are dealt in the hand of life, white is a good one to get”. Well, I disagree, it’s not a good one to get, it’s a great one to get. It’s the passport that no one can disrespect you. It is a presumption of innocence and given opportunities without having to fight for each thing. It does not make your life perfect or ensures that you have no changes. However, it does guarantee not having to face a certain set of changes that have been so ingrained in the lives of every coloured person. Being white is giving you a presumption of innocence not afforded to those with coloured skin. The privilege lies in feeling safe in a routine traffic stop, getting callbacks for interviews and even not being watched in a store. These normal things are often not true for people of colour, wherein lies the essence and systemic foundations of white privilege.
Common rebuttal “White privilege” ironically is not accepted and avoided to be talked about. Dr. DiAngelo has a term for that avoidance, too. “White fragility,” she says, is the inability to cope with conversations about race that don’t protect individual white people’s sense of innocence. By the inability to even recognize their ingrained privileges, white people close the door to any real discussion about the systemic racism which it perpetuates. While uncomfortable to accept, it is important to understand that white privilege does not make one a bad person. Nor is it an advantage that white people create or ask for, it is the social result of years of a shared superiority complex. This privilege is supported and carried on by the “bad apple” theory, where when a certain group of people believed in their superiority and have thus created a society which as a whole has rotted due to the “bad apple” to believe and benefit from the superiority of the colour of their skin.
The solution to white fragility, she says, is to build up stamina; just as with exercise, that involves doing the painful task over and over again until you get better. So try it. Say “white.” Say it to white people. Anyhow, I don’t see it happening anytime soon, to change the thinking process of people. Only light of hope is that when whites are educating white youth about it, and in turn, if the youth in the education field, try to change the next generation’s mind, then we can see small changes gradually. The recognition is a primary step to the eradication of systemic racism which can only begin to form into a discussion when people begin to recognize its existence and prevalence in our society. Do you think making people aware of their privileges will make a change??
“The world does not need white people to civilize others. The real White People’s Burden is to civilize ourselves.”
― Robert Jensen, The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism, and White Privilege
ECS110 
Hi Iram, thank you for this passionate and powerful piece.
I really liked the idea you brought up about trying to swim against the waves and thinking that it’s normal to be “pushed back” by them. I had never thought about it to this extent. While white people have gotten so used to having this “passport where no one can disrespect you,” people of colour have began to get used to this feeling of “defeat.” This is both upsetting, and dangerous. To instill in a certain group of people these inappropriate values to the point where “they don’t even think that they should have the same privileges as white people,” is so wrong. What do you think can be done to reverse this? This is a deeper issue that now has a psychological aspect, as it’s effecting the way people of colour think about themselves and what they truly deserve in life. We’ve carried on these patterns of white superiority so long that it’s done serious damage. While education about racism and discrimination can do some, it’s clearly not doing enough.
In regards to your final question, I have mixed feelings about how to respond. Ideally, making white people aware of their privileges in comparison to other should spark a change. But realistically, I don’t think it will. It’s kind of like asking the most rich man to give away his money, because other people are poor. Although extremely wrong, it’s very hard for that “top guy” to step down from where he is, and re-evaluate the severity of the situation. Recognizing his privilege only makes it clear that he is superior, so what are the chances he gives it up so that we can make a greater change in our world? I’d like to think that everyone would recognize that this is wrong. However like we’ve said in class, it’s very easy to say “oh I’m not racist,” but it actually means nothing unless we prove it. Words mean nothing without action. Making white people aware of their privileges only gives them more power. The power to stay quiet and continue discriminatory chains, or the power to make a change.
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This comment was made by Karley. Sorry, I’m not sure why it showed up as anonymous.
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Hi Karley, Thank you so much for your awesome reply. Thank you for thinking to reverse the damage .
I believe that we are going in right direction, doing what should be done, at least at the extent we can do it. I think that conversations which are going on in class are very important as young minds are being changed in right direction. As far as we as a person start thinking in right direction, we should be ok. Whenever I meet a young person, I feel more welcomed , than when I meet elderly people That means that conversations in educational institutions are working.
A journey of thousand miles starts with a singe step. Lets go hand in hand .
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Iram,
What a thoughtful response. I have truly appreciated your perspective in this class, where most of us are white, in hearing from you firsthand about the ways in which you have experienced racism. It has helped challenge my own perspective on how prevalent racism is in our society. One line from your post has really stuck with me: “[people of colour] feel that defeat is the word, they don’t even think that they should have the same privileges as white people.” I can’t imagine what it would be like to feel this way on a daily basis. I get so angered about issues I have faced myself, such as gender discrimination, but I haven’t been nearly angry enough about issues I don’t face myself, such as racism. It is important to have these conversations with white people; make us uncomfortable! Only when we feel uncomfortable with racism and the idea of our own privilege, and angered enough, will we even attempt to create change. It starts with discussion, and with education.
Your last paragraph has some great thoughts. As educators, it is in part up to us to add more discussion on racism in the classroom. The courageous conversations we are trying to open up in this university class are something many of us are experiencing for the first time, when we should have been learning this all along. Sure, young students are taught about what racism is, but they aren’t always taught that it is systemic and not an individual act. How much easier and faster would it be to end racism if only we had everyone on board? And as it is so difficult to change someone’s mind who has been thinking a certain way throughout their whole life, why not start this education process with children? Only when everybody is made aware of the ways in which certain people are privileged and others are oppressed can begin to undo some of the damage that has been systemically done throughout Canada (and elsewhere).
Thank you for sharing.
Kristin
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Thank you so much Kirstin! It really means a lot hearing from you as I have counted you as a person with mature thoughts. Its great that we are on board for understanding and trying to reverse the damage. I believe that if we keep on understanding and passing these thoughts to future generations, a day will come that if not all will change, still there will be places where people will be able to breath .Its a journey of thousand miles ,but we can take a step together .
“The future can be brighter, its up to me …..and you!!”
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Hi Iram, great work on talking about racism as I think you had made several very strong points that I had to read a couple times because they are so true. About how you say racism is so deep rooted, it is very hard to get out of racism, and like you said it is very deep, it effects people in more ways than just their skin colour, and as you said racism is like trying to swim against the waves. I completely agree with your comments as they are 100% true. Racism is still a big part of our future today and it is never going to stop until we all come together and realize we have to work together to stop it. Not just trying to push it away or avoid it but actually taking initiative to change it.
I also agree with your point on white supremacy, I think white people get a lot more of the opportunities to have the best lifestyles compared to other racial skin colours. White people can get away with anything a lot of the time while as if someone with a different skin colour did something they are immediately punished or criticized. White people are granted the best jobs, the most opportunities and always are categorized as the best people when that’s not true at all. Everyone deserves to be treated equal and everyone has to make a stand for that.
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