How did you feel as you read Jennifer Holloday's thoughts on the "perks" of being white? Did it make you angry? Did it make you think differently about being white? Do you agree or disagree with her? Is there another side to this story? Please post your thoughts here and be sure to give room for varied outlooks on this very sensitive topic as you respond to others' posts.
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Comments
article reaction
I agree completely with the article. I believe that I have absolutely NO idea of the number of "perks" I've experienced in my life simply because of my skin color. I am also aware of the fact that even though I am accutely aware (or attempt to be) of my own personal biases toward people based on race....that I have unknowingly done things which contribute to a culture that is steeped in racism.
For me, the other side to the story has to be "what can I do to be a part of the solution, not part of the problem?"
response to thoughts
As I read Jennifer Holloday’s thoughts on the “perks” of being white, I think it opened my eyes to what I take for granted. I do not feel that I was angry, just amazed at the little things I have not ever thought about. I, also, felt that she was probably right about how I would respond if some of the things she talked about changing, such as the shampoo at the hotel, did change. I have never thought of myself as a racist person, but this made me think about the things that make me look that way to other people. Honestly, I feel a little naïve after reading her thoughts.
Melissa, Don't feel bad, I
Melissa,
Don't feel bad, I felt a little naive after reading the article. I can not believe that I have never even thought about those things, I felt really selfish! And really those are just the tip of the iceberg! I remember when taking a sign language course in college we read an article that is similar to this one. It was about a deaf couple staying the night at a motel. The man went outside and then forgot which room was his. So he honked the car horn as many times as he could until every light in the motel went on but his. Then he knew that his wife would not have heard the horn honking and would not have turned on the light, so he located his room. All of the other people at the motel were upset with him for waking them up, but for him it was all about finding his room. It is all about perspective!
trista
On White Privilege
Before reading this article, I honestly
thought about the perks I notice of being white. I could explain almost
everything I thought of away because of our ever-changing society. Then
when reading the article and imagining my own feeling of checking into a hotel
with the wrong shampoo or buying a new pair of "nude" pantyhose, my
eyes were opened. I was not necessarily angry with the article but I was
a little hurt with myself for not even noticing these so-called “perks.” In my own naïve state, I thought these
superior/inferior race lines had been broken.
I do see the hint of racism in daily lives but my life, my family, and
my career reside amongst many diverse cultures.
I do see what the author says is real and happens in our mixed up view
of racism. However, I do feel that our
world has changed over the years to incorporate the many different races and I
feel that we will continue to see the “little things” spoken of in this article
change. If only I had enough money to
set it in motion. :-) I know this may seem silly but I wonder if hotels have a variety of
toiletries to offer? Could it be that
these products are only given if asked for?
I know I am opening a whole new can of worms, but I do wonder….
Cynthia
jheri curl
Cynthia,
I enjoyed the shampoo example because one of the first things I heard a black commentator remark (somewhat excitedly) after Obama's election was something like "this will be the first time the private quarters at the white house will be stocked with Jheri Curl". In fact, hair texture is a pretty HUGE ordeal for African Americans....black women battle it constantly in their efforts to maintain more "white" looking hairstyles. It's just one of the many things we take for granted. I've had some black friends enlighten me about it in the past.
In my teaching about civil rights just this school year...I found that one of the biggest problems our white kids have is in just getting comfortable even talking about these things. They had this sort of innate fear that I had to dispell....so they can truly get past race....or at least begin to. For instance, in the initial research my students did for their timeline of the civil rights movement....maybe 3 out of 100 kids actually mentioned that the person or event they were writing about was black or involved black people. It's as if they were afraid to write it.
If any of you have the chance to read, "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963" I HIGHLY reccomend it. It would work well as a read-aloud for your younger students.
Watsons go to Birmingham
Pam,
I have read The Watson's go to Birmgham-1963. I took an "Ethnic Literature" class and it was one on the list to read. I did enjoy the book and I am glad that you read it to Anna's class, otherwise she would never have read it on her own. Way to go teacher!
trista
Reply to Pam
I do see more so now that students seem to be afraid of reading books in front of others about kids of different race. My little Kindergarteners are afraid using words that refer to people by their skin tone because they think the words are bad. They either don't want to get in trouble, or they don't want to hurt someones feelings.
I have heard of the book "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963", but I havn't got to read it. The book I read in my Ethnics class was "Fire in Beulah". Its a really good story about the Tulsa Race Rite of 1921. It is more suited for older students, not elementary age students.
~Rebekah
White Perks
This article allowed me to see another side of privilege. I had never really thought about it that way. I guess I have a new way to look at those issues. Not that I am not sensitive to the issue, but had never really looked at it that way. I do have a daughter that is left handed and and can see with just something as small as that, it seems the whole world caters to righthanded people. Until you are in someone else's shoes you never really know! America is changing and white skin will be the minority someday. There is no doubt if we were to be of colored skin for one day we would definetly be more aware of "white privilages"!
reply to Trista
I understand about the right hand--left hand situation. It does seem that everything is geared toward the majority which is right handed people. I noticed that even all the computer mouses in our lab at school is for right handed people. I have a student who is confused about which hand she is suppose to use because of this reason. We need to make accomidations for these students; so they feel comfortable learnig.
~Rebekah
Trista, You made a very valid
Trista, You made a very valid point that America is changing and white skin will be the minority someday. As I was reading your post I thought about my husband's cousin that lives in Mississippi. She taught at a private school and sends her boys to a private school so they can be around white children. She is by no means a racist person, but felt like colored children do here in Sulphur a minority. So, I was wondering, because I have never asked her, are the stores there different? Is the jheri curl the first thing you find on the shelves and have to look for our types of hair products? Do whites see the privileges there as much as we do? Just a thought! I think I might have to ask her. Melissa
Reply to Dr. McClanahan
I was very angry as I read the whole article. I am not angry at the author at all, but angry at our society and myself. I am mad at myself for being so ignorant and not ever realizing how true these perks are just because of my skin tone. Holloday's article is very true.
I don't understand why our society has to be racial. Is there anything we can do to help fix this problem? How hard would it be to start making travel size shampoo for different hair types or bandaids to match different skin tones. I personally use the cheapest ones out there, but I like the colorful bandaids.
I also feel that there should not be different months to teach about differnt cultures. It is all part of history, and what has created us to be the nation we are today. In my class we teach according to themes. The next two weeks are about community helpers. My posters and books show people of all ethnics being doctors, teachers, lawers, nurses, custodians, builders, police officers, and firefighters. I want my students to know that no matter what ethnic group they belong to; they can be anything they want to be as long as they work for they dreams. When we teach about famous Americans; we cover people of all different cultures who did great things to help change this nation.
~Rebekah
Response to Rebekah
Good for you, Rebekah! I'm glad you are sensitive to the need for children to have role models that match their ethnicities. I also hate "special weeks" to highlight cultures or history that differs from the dominant culture or point of view. Our history should be a history of all people who have contributed to make this country what it is. Reading books that have minority main characters and reflect varied cultures as "normal" rather than "different" should be the norm in our classrooms rather than the exception. To do that, however, we have to think about it and plan for it. Left to our natural inclinations, we are not likely to do that, I'm afraid.
Barbara
Response to Rebekah and Dr. McClanahan
Rebekah and Dr. McClanahan,
I understand where the both of you are coming from in speaking about the special weeks or months for different cultures. I, on the other hand, enjoy "spotlighting" the different cultures in my teaching. I used to do a child of the week in which each student would be in the spotlight for a week so that each student was showcased. I use the different cultural months in much the same way. Culture is a part of us and I feel that we should showcase all cultures at some point during the year because it helps children to become aware of how special we all are. I feel that teaching this way, in my classroom at least, gives us all unity. I introduce many different influential patrons of various cultures so that we cover a plethora of history as well. I do see that using these cultural months could be seen as a division of the races though. Thanks to you both for making me self-reflect. :-)
Cynthia
Response to Rebekah
Rebekah,
I like what you said and agree with the fact that there should not be certain months to teach about certain cultures. I do not think we should have to have a black history month to study about influential black Americans, etc. History should be taught and those who shaped our country should be discussed regardless of color or culture at any time during the year.
Teaching Culture
If you are a teacher, you will know that having a month's focus on a particular subject is a part of an educational plan that extends well beyond "History of Women or History of Civil Rights." All of it is interconnected and worth class time discussion to gain a bigger picture of the human experience.
Reaction to article
After reading Holladay's article, I do see the perks of having a white skin color, but I have never really thought about these perks. Unfortunatley, I guess it is something I completely take for granted. But, like the article says, if the tables were turned we would be very upset and think it unfair to be treated this way. So, why is it that more white people are not upset that those with black skin do not have these same perks? I do not think of myself as a racist person, but if I am just sitting by not doing anything to help these problems instead of helping to find a solution, am I, or should I be considered racist?!
Response to LeAnn's Question
LeAnn. I think that's exactly the question we should all be asking. And sometimes we don't like the answer we suspect is correct. Perhaps we can't help our "natural" inclinations to enjoy our perks and ignore the fact that as white people in this culture we have privileges that others do not have, but having a level of awareness about it is definitely the first step, don't you think?
Barbara
Dr. McClanahan, I do think
Dr. McClanahan,
I do think having awareness of this is a great first step. It can be a touchy subject though...when we begin to explore these topics and questions within ourselves and possibly are not comfortable with the answers we get!?
Response to LeAnn
LeAnn,
You pose a very valid question! I, too, thought that if I am not a part of the solution then am I contributing to the problem. It is hard to even think how I would feel if the tables were turned. Do African Americans really think about this? Or has it been so customary for so long that a thought is not even wasted? I have had many questions running through my mind after reading this article. I was ashamed of myself for not even noticing these perks at all throughout my life, but then I also have to wonder where is the place to start a change? Once a change begins, whose culture would take precedence? It seems that part of changing could hurt others while trying to do right. Thank you for your post because i feel much the same as you. :-)
Cynthia
Being White
Yes, there are perks to being white in America. There are perks to being black in America. My husband, a fabulous Blues musician told me he wished he was a black man so that he would be accepted more into the Blues community. His statement was not about money, but race. Racial acceptance is a two way street. A white man can play the Blues, and a black woman can be the president of the United States.
Even projects managers who
Even projects managers who think they know everything learn a thing or two when they study for the PMP certification