Reflection-

White Privileged: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack 

Author: Peggy McIntosh 

       In this article McIntosh explains that there is actually a "white privilege" and we as a society have to acknowledge this, as well as learn how to change it. I can not say I agree with this or disagree with this point, simply because we all know that there is white power, most of us acknowledge it, however this is something that can not be changed over night. It may be something that can not be changed at all. This is my opinion because we as a society can not change how people are brought into this world. If you are born into this world with a "sliver spoon in your mouth" then you are going to be brought up that way.
       However I do disagree with McIntosh when she states, "I think white are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege as males are taught not to recognize male privilege"(pg. 1). Its not that they are "taught" to be white privileged or a male but its the way they are, its there way of life. Men have no power of picking whether or not they are a man. Also you can not be "taught" on how to be privileged, because if that was the case everyone would be privileged, it just happens. The ideal "privileged family" usually has a background of already being apart of the high-class, or there parents graduating from college becoming a doctor or lawyer. Kids are usually not "taught" to become a doctor it just happens because of what they were influenced by. They want what there parents want. Furthermore you can not blame someone for not recognizing that they are privileged when it’s apart of there everyday life.
       As I kept reading this article I felt like I just kept disagreeing more and more with McIntosh. On page 4 McIntosh quotes, "one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own." In my opinion life is what you make it. Everyone has the opportunity to create a bright future for themselves, privileged or not. I personally did not come from “privileged family” both of my parents never graduated from college, my father never finish high school and just got his GED. Sometimes my parents lived from pay check to pay check. I may have moved multiple times in my life when I was younger because my parents were not able to pay rent. However did not set myself back because of my parent’s issues. I made it to college and I have the goal to graduate college. I chose to go in the right direction; I made my life what it is today. All my doors where closed but I opened them for a better life. So I think life is what you make it, regardless of the situation.
       I think people that are not white do go through issues but you can not blame the privileged white. However we can create some type of motion to help the white privilege acknowledge them as well as the type of power they have and help them help others. We can not just say they do not recognize it when being privileged is apart of there everyday life.
Talking Point: Why should we blame whites for something that is part of their everyday life?