White+Privilege;+Unpacking+the+Invisible+Backpack

Hearing all the “white privileges” that we have was most surprising. Like Peggy McIntosh, I’ve never been personally exposed to things like that. I’ve never noticed or paid really close attention to the points that she numbers off in the article. For example, I’ve never thought twice about getting nude color band aids (26) or being represented by members of my race during a meeting. (21) I completely agree with the statement she says in the paragraph following the list. “If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one’s life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own.” It’s true people of different races do get treated unequally. So how can we say that we are free when citizens of our country have to live in fear and worry about being discriminated against. As a person with a white skin ton, I do worry less about not having equal opportunity, because of all the reasons listed in this paper. I also agree with where Peggy says being white skinned has opened many more doors even if we don’t approve of the dominance. This essay has many strong points. Overall, I agree with the message it is trying to get across. (Kristin)

In reading the article White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack by Peggy McIntosh I have realized how many privilege’s white people have that are usually taken for granted. Many people think that being in America means that everyone is free and are treated equally. This is not always true in some cases. As a white person I am not faced with the fear of not being able to fit in or being judged and turned away. On the other hand, African-Americans still struggle to be treated the same way as white people. The many privileges that we receive are thought to be automatically applied. For some black people it is not that simple. For example, when I got into a music store, supermarket or hairdresser I can always find what I am looking for and find what fits my needs. For other races and cultures it is not easy to find specific items that are essential to their needs. Many hair places and music stores do not carry what these people need. It is sad to think that we still have not reached equality amongst everyone. This article has really opened my eyes to what it really means to be privileged and blessed with what I have. (Laura)

White privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack by Peggy McIntosh showed me that the white race is fortunate and lucky to not be treated different like African Americans. African Americans have a fear about his or her color, getting a job, having an opportunity to succed. White Americans are able to recive most things, one things that shocked me the most, that I belive is true is, " Whether I checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearence of financial reliability. These things are sad and I feel that people should be treated equally with respect but this article has really gave me a better understanding of what we have today and how lucky we are to have what we have. (Ivana)

After reading "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack" by Peggy McIntosh, I realized how fortunate the white race is, and how unfair other races, such as African Americans, are treated. It is not fair that these other cultures need to fear things as simple as going to school or getting a job. I never realized that just because I am white, I have so many more privileges than others around me. I do not have to be afraid of being judges or being turned down from a job, and all because I am white. This seems so unfair to me. Why should the color of our skin have anything to do with our lives. It seems so unfair to me that there is still so much racism in this country, and how we are still not all treated equally. I truly hope that one day, we can honestly become a better place where it will be true when we say that all people, regardless the color of their skin, are treated equally. (Rachel)

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After reading "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack" by Peggy McIntosh, I have come to the understanding that the white race is so fortunate for everything that we have. The African American race isnt so lucky, they have always had a hard time with being created equal. In the articlel; they said that " I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privileges, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege." I agree with this because people dont realize what they have until they see what other people dont have. As for the African Americans, they never had many things they were always at the bottom of the food chain if you will. Many people dont realzie that there is opression all around; even though there shouldn't be. I never realized how negatively people can think about other people; after reading this article and doing the "Opression Workshop" with Mrs. Ashley, it was deffinitiley an eye opener to understand what actually was going on. ( Kim

I found Peggy McIntosh's article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack" quite interesting. I agree with her view on discrimination - that white people recognize the disadvantages of other cultures but not the advantages of their own. I have never thought about the issue in such a way before. Whites overlook the privileges that they already have including a better chance at getting a job, ability to afford a house in an area they would want to live, and security in knowing their children are getting a solid education at a good school. An African American woman who mails in a resume with topnotch experience and qualifications will lose the job to an unqualified, experience-lacking white woman. I agree with Rachel in the sense that it's ridiculous that skin color basically determines a person's life blueprint. Seeing people discriminate against different cultures is heartbreaking and simply wrong. I, too, hope that one day the world we know now will become a happier, safer place to live and that equality can be a true statement for all. In the meantime, all anyone can do is be the best person they can be and treat others with respect. (Emeline)

Peggy McIntosh's article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack", was interestng. It is true that white people have many advantages over people of color that they do not see. Some of the things on her list were things that I already knew but many were things I had never realized until I had it pointed out to me. I had never thought of trying to get rid of white privelege like she pointed out though. I thought that was good idea and was suprised to never hear it descirbed that way. I think it is obvious that whites have advantages in life but i never thought of lessening those advanteges, only improving African Americans opportunities. People should always be treated equally, no matter the color of their skin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other reason. I think that giving whites awareness to their own priveleges can help solve that problem. (Viviana)

In the article "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack" by Peggy McIntosh, I saw a new perspective on discrimination and how it affects different people in society. Furthermore, the author displays how many people view discrimination as what many people do not have but rather there is a double standard and white people are discriminated against for the privileges that they do have. Moreover, McIntosh goes on to explain how one method that society could use to eliminate discrimination is the limit the advantages that white people have rather than soley giving advanges to other people. To me and some of the other girls in the class this thought is one that we have never thought of. I believe that most people think in terms of gaining as much as they can to succeed, this is why the thought of limiting the advanges that white people have is foreign to me because that goes against what many people think of to get ahead. Also, I agree with Kristin and Rachel in the belief that it is not fair that people a judged not by their actions and qualifications but rather by the color of their skin. Personally, I feel that everyone should be granted equal opportunity to succeed and that people need to be aware of the discrimination that occurs in the world everyday. (Jasmine)