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had an epiphany last night thanks to NPR re: white privilege
i was listening to Tell Me More last night and they were discussing Travon Martin. someone has written in and said that they were sick of people referring to Zimmerman as a white man of Latino descent while President Obama is called black. they were interviewing a professor of sociology. it was a long piece that kind of went around and around (a lot about the "1 drop of blood" sentiment from back in the day.) but here's where it ended up:
the professor said that she lives in NYC. she is white (this was established earlier in the piece). they live in a predominately black neighborhood. her teenaged son walks around in a hoodie and feels perfectly safe. he can go into a white neighborhood, wearing the same hoodie, and still feel perfectly safe. it has never occurred to her that she should worry about his safety. it's this last part that is white privilege. it's not that white people get better things but that we have the luxury of not worrying about our safety.
i'm not saying that i "get" being black because i know i never ever will. what i did "get" last night is how exactly i have it better. it's not that i thought that white privilege was a myth but when it was discussed it seemed like more of a societal concept to me rather that something that actually impacted my life. i have always lived in predominately white areas simply because this was where both DH and i were raised and we want to stay close to our families. i've never been exposed day-to-day with economic realities outside of my own. i've always tried to learn about other people but i can't really know while i live where i live, which isn't changing any time soon. i have to rely on learning from an internet board. sad, isn't it?
so thanks, guys, for teaching whitey a little bit. 
Re: had an epiphany last night thanks to NPR re: white privilege
We do get better things, though. Better treatment, the benefit of the doubt.
I didnt know much about white privilege before watching Tim Wise but since then, I think its really started to open my eyes about things that were always available to me and I dont see because Im not black. It might sound weird but I am really interested in this and how I can possibly make things better for others. Dont think that racism is going to die out; it never will unless there's an active movement against it.
When I shop and dont buy anything, the sales people dont give me grief. If I ask to see something expensive, they dont roll their eyes.
I can buy tons of makeup that matches my skin. I dont have any problem buying "nude" bras that blend in.
No one has ever asked to touch my hair or skin.
Guys dont say Im pretty cute, you know, for a white girl.
When I have had panel interviews, the majority of the people were also white.
I can order what I want when eating at work dinners without worrying about stereotypes.
It goes on and on and it is stuff that everyone faces everyday. Its probably annoying to black people that my eyes are finally being opened to a small portion of what they have known and faced all their lives but hopefully people like us learning and trying to make things different can matter.
I'm glad for this experience. Sometimes it is the little things that you never really pay attention to, like Chi listed. I feel really blessed to be bi-racial because I do have a bit more opportunity to grasp what if feels like on both sides. I tend to get the chance to observe people in their every day without thinking I'm black. People's behavior and conversations are so much different when they're around black people. It's mind boggling, and sometimes very annoying.
I'm also happy you listened to/watched Tim Wise, Chi. He is very good about laying it out in a way for people understand.
I really hope that people start to feel comfortable discussing race. I know it is sensitive, but we can help lessen the gap by talking about it.
Zuma Zoom
It totally sounds corny, but I'm so grateful that we are having this conversation on a regular basis here. Like a lot of other upper middle class caucasians who have lived in pretty homogenous areas, I know that at 37 I still have a lot to learn about how different my experience has been compared to others. I think since Sam is staring to really become a little person with his own thoughts and feelings, the weight of my responsibility in doing all I can to raise an empathetic, sensitive, and compassionate is becoming apparent. This all is so valuable.
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
In efforts not to be corny back, but I'm so glad that you're grateful. I'm hugely grateful for the awesome responses and willingness to continue the dialogue.
Concerning the discomfort of talking about race, I think a lot of black people or minorities will stay quiet about certain subjects to they're not seen as 'pulling the race card'. It can seem like fighting a losing battle. I try to get over that, but sometimes I sit quietly about things too.
Zuma Zoom
It was at your suggestion that I looked him up so thank you!
Your other post mentioned something about not wanting to pull the race card too often but the way I view that has really changed for me. When someone says something is racist, I really try to give them the benefit of the doubt knowing that they probably have experience in why it is and I cant see it yet.
I dont really bring up discussions about race IRL (although I would welcome participating!) but I will never tolerate people making racist comments in my presence again.
I'll post it again. http://www.isr.umich.edu/home/diversity/resources/white-privilege.pdf
lauren, have you read the list yet? It's what really opened my eyes, just thinking about all the things I don't think about. Yes, many seem really petty on the surface, but not having to even be aware of it is the privilege.
the bolded part was what i was trying to get to in my original post.
i haven't read the list yet but i will later. thanks!
That was very interesting and good to read.
So, now the question is what do we do about it? I am white. My children, being of a french/italian mother and a german/norwegian father, are even whiter than i am. What do we do about having this privilege?
I'm having trouble understanding this. All of you are really agreeing that you've never felt unsafe? I have a hard time imagining how this can be. Even if you live in very well off areas, I assume you leave your houses sometimes? Never taken the subway late at night or walked down a dark street?