Over the past two weeks we have been reading and discussing many ideas about privilege. Most notably we read Peggy McIntosh's "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," which described White privilege and gave a number of examples that we discussed in class last week. The concept of privilege clearly can be applied to many areas beyond race, including gender, geography, and class, the main topic that we will start to address this week. Recently the topic of privilege has made the news based on the increasingly common use of the phrase: "Check your privilege." The use of this phrase and various reactions to it have spun into many different dialogues weaving their way through the blogosphere, social media, and cable television. For this week's blog I would like you to focus on the debate emanating from Princeton University centered on this phrase. First read the post that started much of the recent uproar written by a Princeton freshman here. Next read the public response to the first argument written by another Princeton student and printed in TIME Magazine here (you may also want to check out the I Too Am Princeton Tumblr here).
Much of the debate centers on whether there is, in fact privilege and whether this supports or disproves meritocracy. We started this discussion last week but I would like to hear your thoughts now after reading these arguments. Does meritocracy exist in America? Is it affected by race or class? What do you think about the use of the phrase "check your privilege," and other attempts by some to make privilege more visible?
Does privilege exist among a wide array of spectrums within our society? Absolutely. Does white privilege exist to a varying extent? Of course. Yet, is interesting to note that white males are seemingly incapable of understanding the struggles of others or the privileges bestowed upon them, but everyone else can understand white males. Certain privileges exist for virtually every person and certain groups do have more privileges than others in certain societal domains. Checking one’s privilege is not limited to white males, but for American society as a whole.
ReplyDeletePayton’s response to Fortgang’s article does reveal the limited scope in which Fortgang analyzes his life. Yet, Payton is pushing the idea that no bad can come from being a white male and that white males are incapable of experiencing “fear [of] racial profiling or employment discrimination” and “that society’s institutionalized racism and sexism isn’t aimed at white males.” Is Payton insinuating that there is very little or no discrimination against white males? So the phrases “honky,” “cracker,” and “white boy” are not racist terms? Yes, white males are privileged to an extent and realizing one’s privilege can help move our society forward. Yet, this is far from a “white man’s burden” (to use a looked down upon phrase), but rather a reality check that all of American society must undergo to get the discussion rolling.
On a side note, I found it interesting that many of Payton’s statements of how white males are privileged revolved around economic status rather than solely race. For example, “people on welfare who work just as hard as [Fortgang] does but don’t have the same opportunities.” Economic issue. “[Fortgang’s] African American counterpart in an underfunded, under-sourced school.” Economic issue.
Wow. Both of the articles were every passionate, and I can sympathize with both of the authors. On one hand, I am a white male, and I can understand the first articles opinion. The first time I read it, I completely agreed with many of his points. People can be discriminated against in a society on more than the color of their skin. Sexuality, religion, etc. have all been used to differentiate people, and put one group above another. I think that I have worked hard for what I have. I do my homework, get good grades, volunteer, and go to work. I definitely don’t see things being handed to me. But the second article points out that that is exactly the problem with white privilege. We don’t see it. We assume that all high schools are blue ribbon high schools that encourage us to take AP classes and plan trips to Europe. We don’t realize that inner city schools are extremely poor and that violence is a common occurrence there. While I do think that there are exceptions to everybody having white privilege, I agree that American society was built to favor white Europeans, and generally still does. But like the first article said, people are defined by more than just their race, and by saying “check your privilege” you are making an assumption about a person without actually knowing them. I think that making privilege in society more visible is a good thing, but I do not know what the best way to do that is.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the whole "check your privilege" idea should resonate with people, but not just whites. I have benefitted from being white, sure, but there are many factors beyond just white, black, brown, yellow, or whatever. If a white kid grows up in a poor neighborhood with a single parent he is less privileged than a wealthy black kid being raised by both parents. Race can be a factor, but it isn't necessarily the deciding factor.
ReplyDeleteWhether black/white or rich/poor I think "checking your privilege" can ultimately be a positive tool. If you're able to recognize the beneficial things in your life that others lack you can not only be humbled and more appreciative, but can also empathize with and respect those who are less fortunate. You don't necessarily have to feel guilty for your privilege or downplay the significance of your hard work. I just think it's important for some people to get off their high horse and realize that they don't necessarily work harder than everyone else. People need to be aware that life can inherently be tougher on others. Everything had to fall into place to be where you are now, wherever that may be. Everyone's journey is different. Sometimes there are more obstacles along the way.
Privilege in my perspective has always been a grey area that not a lot of people like to talk about. When you are talking to someone about what you have been given in life versus what someone else has been given you always run into grey areas because you can either be given more or less then someone else. But how do we dictate whether or not some of these are valid privileges and how do we spread some of these to a more wide based spectrum. Needless to say, both of these articles had a lot of passion in them. I can agree that there is meritocracy in the United States, this steams from the heavy capitalist culture that we live in. We are taught from a young age, do well and do it better then other people so we can get the jobs we want and live a comfortable lifestyle. While this premiss doesn't seem unreasonable it is unreasonable to think that we are all starting from the same point. Race, gender, and socioeconomic standards are heavily influenced when we talk about the idea of privilege. In my midterm paper I am focusing on the income inequality in the US. This idea of "privilege" is one of the key, and mostly forgotten, ideas when we reference this large gap in wealth. In my belief meritocracy should be based on the idea that we all start from the same point.
ReplyDeleteI think that meritocracy does exist in America, but race and class affect it to an extent. Clearly in the story that Tag presents there is trials and sufferings of sorts that his ancestors had to work hard to overcome and I do not think by saying he has privilege as a white male discredits any of what his family or he has accomplished. That being said I agree strongly with one of the comments from the other website that said Tag should not be ignorant of a “social hierarchy” that allows for white male dominance or in the case of our class white dominance.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that there is anyone to “blame” or be responsible for the way society is like Tag seems to suggest. I also do not think that there is a need for apologies for hard work or anything of the sort. That would be absurd. What I do think though is that people need to recognize that others do start off at a disadvantage for some things (education for example) and it will take society a long time to eliminate any inherit inequalities.
In other words, an example of this problem could be the city of Chicago. Many black or ethnic children are starting off at a disadvantage in schooling in some Chicago neighborhoods while others who are predominantly white are getting a great education just across town. If the white students succeed, then of course their hard work and amazing job will not be seen as an easy feat by any means. On the other hand a student from the poorer neighborhood who is black is introduced to poor schooling and does the best that they can to get themselves a good job and works just as hard as the white student. The problem with this is not the amount of hard work each student puts in or even the result of that hard work. What is important in terms of privilege is that the schools pose an inequality problem and thus, even if both students graduate with good grades, the credibility of one high school diploma still holds more value than the other just out of institutional prestige and value. Furthermore, meritocracy exists, but the value of hard work is not equally represented because of unequal institutional preference, which more often than not have to do with race and class.
After reading both of the articles I had to sit back for a moment and organize my thoughts. These two Princeton students are clearly both highly intelligent individuals but you can see why they hold such strong stances against each other. Each of these students are not only different racially, but also by gender. Although I found myself agreeing with both sides of the argument on certain aspects, I did end up leaning towards the rebuttal towards the end. In Peggy McIntosh's "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack", she had noted that white males are taught to look past their white male privilege. They are taught that if they work hard for something, they automatically deserve to receive benefits and privilege for that effort. What many don't understand is that one of a different race or gender could put the same amount of effort in and not see any type of privilege whatsoever. This is prevalent in this country but not the exact case for everyone. It is too much for me to tell someone to check their privilege no matter who they are. We can't group everyone together under one lump of privilege because there are some individuals in minority races that are better off and receive privileges for being born into a better off family. In this regard I have to agree with Fortgang. But I also don't believe it is Fortgang's right to write off racial privilege as if it doesn't exist, because it does. I do believe meritocracy exists in this country, but not as much as it should. Professional and college sports look purely at talent, admitting students or signing contracts to players not based off of race but based on athletic ability. We should take this example and use it in all areas of the work field. There is no reason that one should have an advantage over any other based on race or class, but there is also no reason that one should be struck down because of their hard work, even if they are white. Recognizing that white privilege exists is important. But whats more important is making efforts to change that privilege and make things equal opportunity for all.
ReplyDeleteI believe meritocracy in the U.S. is a myth. For example, 65% of people born in the bottom fifth of wealth stay in the bottom two-fifths. Also, those who are born in the bottom fifth of wealth have only an 8% chance to make it to the top fifth, while those born in the top fifth have a 62% chance to stay in the top two fifths. If meritocracy existed today, it would allow for a greater opportunity for mobility from the lower class to the middle and upper classes. That is unless you believe that the rest of the 92% of the bottom fifth just plainly do not work hard enough.
ReplyDeleteMaybe now the myth meritocracy is more affected by class than it used to be, however, I believe its foundations were affected more by race and sex. These foundations stem from America’s preference of white males.
Some people might say that privilege does not depend on race, that there are minorities that are more privileged than whites. This is true, however, I think in order to compare privilege in a sense it would have to be with people born in the same type of situations. For example, a person who is a minority could be born into a rich family and that would lead them to be more privileged than a white person in the lower class. However, if you compare a lower class white male to a lower class minority male, I think you would definitely see some privileges there.
I did not agree with Tal Fortgang’s article. He mostly describes the struggles his grandparents faced when they were in Poland in order to explain that his family never had any privileges. However, the term “white privilege” is one that is derived from American. Then he goes into describing the successes they had when the got to America, saying hard work helped them achieve these successes, not privileges. He states, “It was my privilege that my grandfather was blessed with resolve and an entrepreneurial spirit, and that he was lucky enough to come to the place where he could realize the dream of giving his children a better life than he had.” The thing about this statement is that if that we were to bet who would have had it easier to succeed during that time – his grandfather, a black man, or a women – all with an entrepreneurial spirit, you bet I would have placed my money on his grandfather.
While I believe whites do not need to apologize for privilege, I do believe that people need to check their privilege to have empathy for those who are at a disadvantage.
Grant Herrejon says: Well, hello there, emotionally charged words. It's been a while since I have seen you. And by a while, I mean possibly five minutes, because the media has a knack for inciting the fury of nearly everyone in one way or another. They certainly play a part in this privilege debate, but that can be a whole other discussion. My assumption is that Mr. Fortgang created his post because he was angry, or in the least, frustrated with the issue of privilege. He has the right to be - people have accused him of not truly earning what he has. Those that do not know him or his "story" as he partially described are judging him and suggesting he had a less strenuous path to take toward his accomplishments. He did not, as he aptly described. However, it seemed like he took it as a singular attack, when really, someone saying "Check your privilege" is referencing the role class, skin color, and all involved with privilege plays in the lives of many. That aspect was not addressed by Fortgang. If his piece functions to make the point that white males are not in the least bit more privileged, it more so fails in that regard. If the piece functions to get people to stop telling him and only him to "check his privilege", then it succeeds. It can be difficult to determine the role being a white male or having any sort of upper-handed privilege (male compared to female, born rich, born an elegant demigod of sex appeal like Emma Watson) plays in someone's life, because there's always the little things that go unnoticed or are subconsciously ignored. Hypothetical time: You are a white male. Yes, you did a ton of research for your interview, suited up nicely, and worked hard to put yourself in the position to get called, and you got the job... but what you never knew was that you were competing with was just as qualified and had worked just as hard as you, but was a Hispanic woman, and the boss was not racist, but could connect better with a white male because that's what he is. Or approachability, some for certain feel more comfortable with whites, or with asians, or with blacks, or whatever the dominant race was in the area they grew up in... and so when they are in positions of power, perhaps they offer opportunities, or help, or friendships and connections to people they are familiar with. Thus, the receiving party has benefitted as a result of their physical make-up, though they would have never known that it played a part. Damn, do I ramble. There's meritocracy in the United States, but there is discrimination as well, even if that discrimination isn't necessarily malicious. Tough topic, yo, tough topic, 'cause nobody can say for sure how much talent and ability factors in particular situation, and how much race and class did.
ReplyDeleteMeritocracy is a myth. If we were to live in a perfect world, this system would work, and I'm sure there are many people who like to believe that this system is widespread and totally how the world works. It's not. I, too, would ideally like to think that I will receive things based on the work that I do (and sometimes I still hope that I will be successful in because of how hard I work and that being a double minority will not work against me), but unfortunately I'm coming to terms with the fact that it won't always happen that way.
ReplyDeleteI think we also have to look at privilege a little more critically. It isn't just about black and white, man or woman, etc. I recognize that just as a heterosexual woman I have privileges. One is privileged based on other characteristics, such as being a Christian, heterosexual, and what gender they identify with. I'm linking to a BuzzFeed quiz which while isn't necessarily reliable it should help people realize that there is a much broader definition to having privilege than whether you're a white man or not.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/how-privileged-are-you
I think that all societies are going to be at least partially biased towards the dominant culture. But I don' think its fair to say that America doesn't make significant steps towards trying to balance that out. I also don't think its fair to say that there is a "white privilege". Its not fair because there are tens of millions of poor whites who are not getting on in this alleged privilege. Furthermore there are tens of millions of very successful Koreans, Indians, and Nigerians (all three groups are generally very well educated and successful in America) in the United States who don't appear to be suffering from this alleged "white privilege". But that doesn't mean there is not a bias in general society. For instance, an Italian shopkeeper is more likely to hire a fellow Italian immigrant than a someone else who is just as qualified. But that is not the same as "privilege" which basically alleges that the entire government and society is working to suppress others while elevating some.
ReplyDeleteIf someone attempted to discredit my heartfelt opinion by saying "check your privilege" it would not be pretty. I would be very likely to blow up on them to be honest. If someone said, on the other hand, "you need to have some perspective on this issue" or "you need to understand what its like in certain peoples shoes" then I would honestly listen. But I wouldn't tolerate such a hostile and bogus statement as "check your privilege" ever, because they have no idea who I am, my background, or where I come from.
I want to start off by saying that the response to the first argument was so sassy and I loved every bit of it. Theoretically much like communism, meritocracy works in an ideal society, however, in this world this is not the case. Judging others on merit or success is subjective. How do you define or measure success? If meritocracy does exist then why do we not see everyone benefiting from it on a daily basis? The simple fact is because meritocracy in America is a myth. There are so many other factors that play in meritocracy other than just being rewarded for ones talent, like race, class, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. Going off the articles we read, I believe that the phrase “check your privilege,” should be encompassed by everyone. In order to be more understanding of society and other cultures one needs to step back and understand what they have in order to empathize with others and remain grateful of what one does have.
ReplyDeleteI think the most powerful statement of Payton's response to Fortgang's claim that he should not have to "check his privilege" is the following statement, "Fortgang’s privilege is, in essence, the inability to not see these things as problematic because it doesn’t affect him". Fortgang has not had to think about how the color of his skin or his gender has affected his life. I think that his story of how his family came here and now he's at a great school is a good story. It's valid and his family did have to struggle. I don't take any of that away from him. However, I truly believe in what Payton said "checking his privilege is just acknowledging that the ground he tilled was more fertile than the ground others tilled". Checking one's privilege does not mean that one's family did not struggle or work hard for what they have, instead it is acknowledging that the playing field is not even. This is why meritocracy does not exist in full. While there are stories of people who come from nothing getting rich, there are not many stories like that. It is rare that a person from the bottom tier of the income bracket reaches the top tier. Maybe a person can rise a tier or two, but going from low class to the top 10% is not done very often. Race and class both play a huge role in the lack of social class mobility. People from lower economic classes and from minority groups do not have access to the same resources as white, upper class people do. The uneven playing field hurts lower class and minority groups from climbing the social ladder and being able to participate in meritocracy.
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea of privilege is something that a lot of people don't talk about. I think it's one of those things that people would rather just sweep under the rug as opposed to addressing it. So I think that the idea of "check your privilege" is something that people should acknowledge. I'm not saying that people consciously use privilege to their advantage, but it is something that is very prevalent in society; both in the past and in today's society. I just think it is important for people to realize that privilege is an important issue in today's society and that it should be addressed.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn Schweitzer
I do not believe that meritocracy is completely a myth, but I don’t believe for one minute that opportunities in this country are based solely on ability, what happens when two people are evenly matched for the same position then? Race and class have a large part in the opportunities provided to people. For example, in response to the first article the responding writer talks about how someone from a lower income neighborhood may not receive as great of an education, or experiences, or college prep that others may receive in more affluent neighborhoods. Meritocracy would be ideal, but no matter what I do not think there is a way to avoid the bias of others, right or wrong, the person doing the hiring for jobs will make the decision they see is best and a lot of times, because of preconceived personal biases race and class play a large role in how employers can potentially look at an applicant.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first article about checking one’s privilege, I enjoy that the responding writer spoke about understanding the true definition of privilege before dismissing the common used statement of checking one’s privilege as reverse racism. I also found it important that the responding writer made it a point to say that although he may not feel privilege at least his gender and ethnicity won’t ever be a hindrance. Not only that but the writer goes even further to dismiss other points: just because there is a law for equality that does not mean it’s enforced and just because you don’t see the effects or feel privileged does not mean that it doesn’t exist. However, I feel like the term ‘check your privilege’, as in the case of the first writer, can sometimes make people feel guilty when they aren’t really at fault for creating this privilege. I think the attempts to make privilege more visible is important as we move forward as a nation with growing diversity but exposure and education about this should leave people wanting to change it, knowing how they can keep from perpetuating the system and making this more visible should be done in a way that others don’t feel guilty about their privilege, just as the responding writer did.
After reading Peggy McIntosh's work, I view the concept of privilege differently. I have always associated privilege with the preference given to people in regards to consideration of their abilities for a certain task. After reading her work however, I feel that there is too much consideration given to people in regards to their status in life. I grew up in what most people would consider to be affluent circumstances. I have to admit I was one of those people whose family was a member of one of the local country clubs. Despite belonging to the country club, I did not really enjoy it very much because I felt as one of those people who was able to enjoy a luxury that most people cannot enjoy. In high school, I was considered one of the mroe "rich" people, due to diversity. Despite my being considered affluent, I believe it is wrong to judge the opportunities of people largely based on the color of their skin or their prfoession, as is often done these days.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Fortgang had made some creditable points, I sympathized with Payton’s article much more. I don’t think Fortgang took into account that although his Jewish ancestors had to struggle to climb to the top in American business, they still were able to become businessmen because their skin color gave them to privilege to do so. During this time period, African Americans were working blue-collar jobs under the authority of white men (many could argue that this hasn’t changed much). Clearly this privilege does not pertain to skin tone alone, as Payton suggested there is also sex, class, and religious privileges dominate in the states. Therefore, without a doubt meritocracy is a hoax. Fortgang may believe that he has worked hard to earn his spot at Princeton, which I cannot judge whether he had or not, but he definitely had a leg up due to his skin color.
ReplyDeleteDating a person of “color”, I have personally witnessed white privilege taking place here in the states, even in a diverse city such as Chicago so I don’t think Peggy McIntosh was too far-fetched with her article. I think the problem with race, sex, religious, etc. privileges is the fact that those who are given the benefactions do not realize that it is a rare occurrence. It is also hard to pinpoint those who abuse said privilege knowingly verse those who have no clue.
I think that meritocracy is not fair for anybody as a general standpoint. The American dream claims that everyone has a chance, but in reality this can't be true. It’s not possible for everyone to become better off. The many scholarships and government-funded programs can only attempt to make life better for the lower class, but there is only so much they can do. I believe that everyone has to face some obstacles. I would definitely say that this “meritocracy” affects race and class. Another idea of why race and class is affected by all this is because it also has to do with the people you know. I say that if you know the right people heck yeah you can get ahead of others but of course that’s not the ethical thing to do. I honestly l do not know how to feel about making privilege more visible. I do want to say that I think its great that their protesting about this in a manner in which no one is getting hurt. Some times words are stronger than actions
ReplyDeleteI think Americans are more privileged than other people around the world. I think Americans are privileged in different senses. I think people like to push the idea of privilege under the rug, because no know likes to talk about how they’re better than others. But I do think privilege plays a role in American society. For students like us, we are privileged with getting a higher education. I believe that in the past race used to play a bigger role but now I believe that class plays a bigger role. By being in a certain class you can either have better opportunities than someone in a lower class. I believe that lower classes have much more responsibility, many members of the lower class deal with family and financial responsibility. They have to sacrifice their future for their present and for their family. I don’t think privilege is something that is visible to everyone. I believe that if you want to make something of yourself you can, privilege plays a role but it’s a role that can be changed. In America we have so many rags to riches story and that proves that not having privilege doesn’t mean you can’t be successful.
ReplyDeleteThis is a difficult article to comment. First to express my opinion I would like to express in the right way without offending anybody. I start with that because in a world with diversity sometimes what is right for some people is wrong for others. We have to respect each other. I think meritocracy does not exist in America. If it exists a lot of people with the same opportunities to succeed will have the same opportunity to gain a specific position. We will find more diversity in big positions but the reality is not like that. It’s affected by class and race because sometimes people from those who are already privileged are favored. The phrase “check your privilege” I do not like it at all. In the article the writer feels proud of his background which is acceptable but what about him. What is the story that he will tell to his family? starting with his own history.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the way that Tal Fortgang wrote the article was kind of vain and pretentious, however, I can acknowledge that he made some good points. I completely agree with Robert in his post, I think the idea of “checking your privilege” should be something that is applied to all races, cultures, and classes. If everyone was more humble and did not act as entitled (as most do), we might have more acceptance and equality throughout races and classes. There is something to be said for the opportunities that certain people are handed or even born into but that does not mean that they work harder than those at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteI unfortunately do think that meritocracy exists in America. I do not think that it is right but I believe that it is mostly based on class. The idea of meritocracy is approved by most politicians and those already successful and in higher positions, which seems pretentious to me. There is a really great Ted Talk about the idea of meritocracy. Alain de Botton talks about how great the idea of meritocracy is for those who have talent and skills, which whom then they deserve to get to the top. But he also addresses the issue of by believing in meritocracy you are saying that those at the bottom deserve to be at the bottom and therefor should stay at the bottom. Which implies that people’s position in life is not accidental but merited and deserved. Now if this concept is not pretentious and self-righteous, I don’t know what is!
In case anyone was interested..
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtSE4rglxbY (skip to 6:00 min)
Meritocracy is a myth. Until we can say we fully can apply this concept to our society then i don't believe it exists. First of all my hat comes off to Payton. All that she said I completely agree with. Fortgang's opinion fully demonstrated exactly what white privilege is. His incapability of seeing his privilege proves that he is in fact just that, privileged. I agree with Alejandra that one of Payton's most powerful statements was "Fortgang’s privilege is, in essence, the inability to not see these things as problematic because it doesn’t affect him". Of course his family had to struggle most people struggle everyday with different things, but what he is unaware of are the privileges he receives without having to think about or know he is receiving them. The minorities of our society work to overcome the struggle not being awarded those privileges daily. I think the phrase "check your privilege" is great. We should be checking our privilege, as the young people of America we have the opportunity to change the way society works. In making people more aware of the privileges they are awarded maybe we can change how society works, and move towards meritocracy. We can only move towards meritocracy when we become fully aware of our "invisible knapsack" of privileges and can work to change the unfair advantage some have and many others don't have.
ReplyDeleteI would say that America is not entirely a meritocracy, but the country does make efforts to sculpt a network that grants opportunities to many Americans based on merit. However, the limitations of the system remain critical. I have to say that I agree entirely with Payton's response to Fortgang. He has a fundamental misunderstanding of what "check your privilege" means. It is not about the experiences your family has endured, it is about the systems of discrimination that exist currently and how a person individually, however subtly, benefits from these constructs. He said nothing of the fact that he can walk around campus without people assuming he was the product of affirmative action and not solely his merit. He doesn't mention that he may have been a part of an educational institution with an environment that was more encouraging and nurturing to male success and opportunity. Maybe none of that was true, but he failed to even assess any of the many possibilities for privilege. Every single person possesses a form of privilege and I think it is important not just for white males to participate in exploring these privileges, but persons of all races, ethnicities, and genders. This movement of "checking your privilege" is an essential step in recognizing the systems of discrimination that so many people are blind to, because they've never been forced to face these realities, which in itself is a privilege.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think meritocracy is a myth. It’s obvious that many people don’t obtain their positions in school and work solely based on their ability. In the first article, the guy made points and brought up his family, but was missing the point of why he was told to “check his privilege.” He doesn’t want to believe that his skin color played a role in how far he has gotten, but it has. It is definitely affected by class and race. Anyone in a higher class has a better opportunity than anyone in the lower classes because they have money and connections. In the second article, the girl made a comparison to an outstanding white male getting great opportunities out of high school because he’s from a better neighbor hood versus a black male in the same situation who’s from a less fortunate neighborhood. I think it’s a great phrase. We as Americans put so much emphasis on the color aspect of racism that we forget the other part of the equation, which is prejudice and classism. For example, the author of the Princeton article stated that his grandfather came to America and worked hard but he fails to mention the fact that his grandfather came by choice and not force. I think many times when races and classes are ridiculed for not being as educated or higher up in the tax bracket the fact that is most forgotten is the unleveled playing field. Yes, many minorities have climbed the socio-economical ladder but unfortunately that is not the case for the majority of minorities. We cannot move forward as a country when we cannot own our own history. I’m not asking that we make excuses for minorities but we as a country need to acknowledge their struggle. Privilege is something you are born into and in a lot of cases it opens doors that otherwise could not be opened. For anybody who believes they attained all of their success when from day one of their lives they were fed with a silver spoon is obviously an oblivious individual.
ReplyDeleteWhite privilege is something taken for granted, particularly because some are unaware they have it and unaware of the fact others do not have it. Therefore, they are inconsiderate. Reading this was cool because privilege is something people should be checked for and aware of to realize, on their part they shouldn’t exploit it but be thankful, in a way because they’re not on the other side being discriminated against. I am for meritocracy. However, it is impossible in this biased country filled with racism, marginalization, and subordination leading to institutional discrimination culminating into low social mobility for minorities or non-white groups. Sadly, I do not believe racial discrimination will ever go away, however, it can be improved little by little. So we’ll never leave in an ideal society where a meritocracy can be truly being justified in how a person truly gets ahead solely based on their success.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the Princeton article; I think it is clear through his historic examples he is proving that his family sacrificed and underwent many trying circumstances to provide the life he has today. White people have bee the predominate migrating race for much of the beginning of the nation, as the immigration rates continue to increase for minorities and those of color I believe we will hear more stories of grandparents who strived in order to have their great grand kids and children here in the states. It is something that is already in the status quo, the sacrifice for the American dream is written in a lot of family trees and should not be based solely on race anymore. All family’s go on some sort of struggle that has created sacrifice and hopefully resulted in a “privilege”, privilege of a better life.
ReplyDeleteDwelling on the current privilege such as being white, can decrease progress in creating equality. There is always going to be more privileged individuals than others but the US needs to work on creating equal opportunity for privilege to flourish. I agree it is important to recognize that white men received voting and land privileges first, women and those of color are frequently discriminated against but it essential to learn from our mistakes in history and not use it as an crush or an excuse of preventing progress. Endurance of the individual is what creates privilege for our grandkids. Many of our parents have sacrificed for our position in life today whether it be taking on two jobs or not buying new clothes and going on vacations. Humanity is constantly striving for greater perfection, that is done through assessing inadequacies that are part of nature and using ones power to alter them.
Nepotism and racism is still alive, but working to disprove those barriers one becomes stronger. At DePaul I see a lot of nepotism which makes me yes annoyed and jealous but motivates me to work harder to make connections and create my own network to establish my name in the world. I didn’t decided to be born in the class I was. Honestly, I am lucky enough to have made it to the states so I find it to be my burden despite my race, gender and socio-economic level to challenge the norms that wish to keep me down…and that is the end of my inspirational free time. Now I assume most of us will be finishing our essays :)
I do not think that meritocracy is a myth, though it is skewed in favor of certain individuals. While reading both articles, I was struck by how much both authors were right in their convictions. The first article depicted a very real application of merit based attainment and the most important component of his article was that he did work hard to get to Princeton. While being from a similar economic and white racial background, I did not work anywhere near hard enough in my life to get into an ivy league college. While some students at Princeton may have bought their way in through donations, that is certainly not the case of every student. There is opportunity for me to have worked hard enough to go, I simply did not. That said, I am very aware of my privilege to go to a university at all, and reasonably afford it, because of my families status. That is not to say I have not demonstrated enough merit to continue my education, simply that it was a viable option provided to me due to my economic situation. I think being lucidly aware of my privilege is hard as a white upper middle class student though. I constantly feel guilty that I am afforded opportunities others are not and I often question whether or not I really deserve to be where I am. It also is troubling because I know that others question where I am and it makes me feel the need to prove I deserve certain work related opportunities more than others. I find I am more sensitive to my class advantages than my race advantages most of the time.
ReplyDeleteIn my life I have been afforded many opportunities because of the individuals my father has worked with. I am able to go to Washington DC every year for NATCA at Washington and have met many future employers through these events simply for being his daughter. That is not to say I have not worked and volunteered countless hours to prove my worth, just that I had an “in.” Is it because I am white? I would not say that is always the case but it certainly has not hindered my efforts. I work with many very capable people of a wide variety of backgrounds and ethnicities who have been privileged in the same way through knowing the “right” types of people. I would say it also works both ways though. My mother works at Macy’s and is the only white individual in her department. She has been subjected to a lot of discrimination based on the color of her skin and not being part of the in-group of her work environment despite having more experience and capabilities than others who are favored for being in the demographic majority. It is as if in some ways, she is punished for her perceived privilege in the work place despite that not being the case.
Though I am white and a woman, I do think the phrase “check your privilege” can be a dangerous one. It implies that the recipient did not earn their place in society. While that can sometimes be the case, it is often not. The second article gives a very articulate and specific definition of what that phrase means. However, it negates to acknowledge that most people do not share her sentiments that it is ok to be privileged as long as you are aware of why and how it has benefitted you. I doubt that a majority of the times this phrase is used its intention is that forgiving. I think privilege is a very important thing to be aware of and efforts to raise awareness are even more important, however the phrase is misleading and unsavory.
Meritocracy most certainly is a myth. Statistically, certain races face far greater obstacles. Individuals face varying levels within their race as well. Tal Fortgang's article is a quintessential model of Peggy McIntosh's logic.
ReplyDeleteThe following quotes sum up McIntosh's theory well :
"Calling a white male “privileged” in a country with such a clear history and continuing pattern of preference for white males is about as wrong as calling a rich person “advantaged” in a capitalist society. The word privilege isn’t a negative judgment, but simply a recognition that our society’s institutionalized racism and sexism isn’t aimed at white males. And for that Fortgang is privileged."
"Is that clear? You. Are. Privileged. It is OK to admit that. You will not be struck down by lightning, I promise. You will not be forced to repent for your “patron saint of white maleness” or for accepting your state of whiteness and maleness."
As Gerardo Valle put it in his post, it is impossible to avoid such reality in this day in age. While I believe the phrase "check your privilege" is unfair, it is mirroring a similar stereotype minorities admitted into Ivy League universities face. In a sense, this may be a valid comeback and perhaps a step in the right direction as it now arms minorities with a ‘counter’ to many unwarranted and many times incorrect assumptions that a minority was admitted only because of affirmative action—similar to how nuclear deterrence works in international relations.
Does meritocracy exist in America? Is it affected by race or class? What do you think about the use of the phrase "check your privilege," and other attempts by some to make privilege more visible?
ReplyDeleteMeritocracy exists in a grey area in America. A lot of those in elite career positions are there due to merit, but most likely were given the introduction to that "career ladder" via close, personal sources. There are some who worked from the bottom and made it to the top, and there are some who excelled in their field and made it, but there are also some who were placed in positions and were able to hold down their job just by getting by, and
are a part of the elite due to their family situation.
It is absolutely affected by race and class, and as these have served as ways to legitimize people throughout time, whether or not there is merit to the basis of their stature. Upper-Class whites are much more likely to succeed, or at least get by comfortably due to their background, whereas an african american will have a much more difficult time excelling.
I'm not sure if you should "check your privilege" or continually wonder where you stand in the world due to your social demographic. There are obvious signs that you are more well off others in terms of class, economic background, or opportunities, but i don't think there is a need to constantly wonder where you stand, and if you should or should not be there. I think you should live your life under the pretense that no matter where you come from, it's hard work that creates your reputation and defines who you are.
Both privilege and meritocracy exist in the US. Privilege certainly affects the meritocracy here but to say meritocracy doesn't exist is to ignore the fact that there are plenty of white males living in poverty.
ReplyDeleteAfter having read both articles I still find the phrase "check your privilege" offensive. What if someone responded "check your affirmative action" or "check the quota you filled"? The problem with racism is not just that it exists but that neither side is willing to let it die and continue to fuel the fire of hate. With all the race debate currently going on in the country surrounding Sterling-gate I found myself scratching my head when black professional athletes had the nerve to attack Michael Sam for his celebratory kiss with his partner. I was even more shocked to learn that only one of those professional athletes were sanctioned over their actions and applaud the Miami Dolphins. This reminds me of the Martinez article we read. Its the "oppression olympics". Now I'm not a religious person but I find wisdom in the story about the man who thinks the cross he is carrying is too heavy, leaves and goes to trade it for another only to pick the same one he left in the other room. We all carry our own burdens, we're all human beings and inside we're all the same.
There are more things that make us similar than different. If we acknowledge that hate exists in the world and make every effort to educate eventually that hate will fade. I doubt that racism will every truly disappear but maybe that's a good thing. Maybe being able to recognize racism protects us. I only hope that those with racist beliefs don't have the ability to influence policy or hold authority over others.
The TIME article seems to suggest that the only forms of marginalization and/or privilege in this country are race and gender based, and that other ethnic minorities in this country - such as Jews, Roma, Irish, etc. - have had essentially a free pass because they happen to have a whiter skin complexion.
ReplyDeleteOn May 13, 1939, the German transatlantic liner St. Louis sailed from Hamburg, Germany, for Havana, Cuba. On the voyage were 938 passengers, one of whom was not a refugee. Almost all were Jews fleeing from the Third Reich. Most were German citizens, some were from Eastern Europe, and a few were officially "stateless."
Like the United States and the Americas in general, Cuba struggled with the Great Depression. Many Cubans resented the relatively large number of refugees (including 2,500 Jews), whom the government had already admitted into the country, because they appeared to be competitors for scarce jobs. Hostility toward immigrants fueled both antisemitism and xenophobia. Both agents of Nazi Germany and indigenous right-wing movements hyped the immigrant issue in their publications and demonstrations, claiming that incoming Jews were Communists. Two of the papers--Diario de la Marina, owned by the influential Rivero family, and Avance, owned by the Zayas family, had supported the Spanish fascist leader General Francisco Franco, who, after a three-year civil war, had just overthrown the Spanish Republic in the spring of 1939 with the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Reports about the impending voyage fueled a large antisemitic demonstration in Havana on May 8, five days before the St. Louis sailed from Hamburg. The rally, the largest antisemitic demonstration in Cuban history, had been sponsored by Grau San Martin, a former Cuban president. Grau spokesman Primitivo Rodriguez urged Cubans to "fight the Jews until the last one is driven out." The demonstration drew 40,000 spectators. Thousands more listened on the radio.
Sailing so close to Florida that they could see the lights of Miami, some passengers on the St. Louis cabled President Franklin D. Roosevelt asking for refuge. Roosevelt never responded. The State Department and the White House had decided not to take extraordinary measures to permit the refugees to enter the United States. A State Department telegram sent to a passenger stated that the passengers must "await their turns on the waiting list and qualify for and obtain immigration visas before they may be admissible into the United States." US diplomats in Havana intervened once more with the Cuban government to admit the passengers on a "humanitarian" basis, but without success. The ship was turned around and the passengers ended up perishing in the Holocaust.
To say that Tal Fortgang and his ancestors had a free pass just because the color of his skin happens to be white is dubious at best and myopic at worst. Historically speaking, African-Americans and people of color have had extraordinary barriers to entry in society, and socioeconomically speaking, continue to be disproportionately homeless and impoverished when compared to their white counterparts. In light of this historic injustice and marginalization, I do believe that Affirmative Action presents a viable means to achieving a more "meritocratic society", if such a thing is possible. But by denying the struggles of other historically marginalized peoples in the United States - particularly Jewish and Irish immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries - I believe Payton misses the mark. In order to truly acknowledge and confront the privilege that exists in this country, we must not just focus ourselves from the race, sex and class dichotomy, but also add other historically marginalized peoples to that list.