White Privilege

Today as I continued to read and ponder the thoughts of Tim Wise in his book White Like Me I came upon this excellent illustration for better understanding white privilege, especially for those of us who are thinking about it from the white perspective. In talking about denial and its role among white folks regarding white privilege Wise begins to lead on about how in many discussions whites do not see themselves as privileged and have a difficult time framing privilege. Wise follows with this excellent illustration that is a great question and test every white person should ask oneself and then think about the question of white privilege?

“Rather than ask whites how much compensation they would require to become black, I ask them: if they knew that there was a pill they could take, that when taken would cause those they don’t know already to perceive them as black, would they take it? To their friends, family, and all who knew them, they would still appear as they were, but to persons newly encountered, like police officers, bank officials, potential employers, or one’s teachers in the coming year, one would appear black.

Would they take that pill, perhaps before their next job interview? Would they take that pill the next time when they go to get a mortgage or business start-up loan? Would they take that pill before the first day of high school, or college, and every day thereafter, thereby allowing themselves to be seen by teachers as African-Americans? Would they take the pill the next time they went shopping, or had to drive a long distance?

I have asked the question several hundred times. I have not had one white person answer affirmatively. Not one.”

- (Wise, Tim. 2008, White Like Me. p.88)



I will spare the time and space and not give you a review of the book. But it is an excellent read on white privilege and antiracism regardless of where you stand, what you believe, what you will acknowledge, or who you are. A must read for white people and I know I will be buying a few of my friends copies. Also make sure to read the revised and updated version, which includes the epilogue that addresses white privilege and hurricane Katrina.



From the back of the book:

White Like Me is a personal examination of the way in which racial privilege shapes the lives of white Americans in every realm of daily life: employment, education, housing, criminal justice and elsewhere. Using stories from his own life, Tim Wise demonstrates the ways in which racism not only burdens people of color, but also benefits in relative terms, those who are “white like him.” Wise also discusses the ways in which racial privilege can harm whites in the long run and make progressive social change less likely. Using stories instead of stale statistics, Wise weaves a narrative that is at once readable and yet scholarly; analytical and yet accessible.