“I have come to
see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count
on cashing in each day, but about which I was ‘meant’ to remain oblivious”(McIntosh
1).
This quote
reminds me of something Dr. Bogad has said. Like McIntosh, Dr. Bogad believes
we all have different tools, depending on our experiences. McIntosh compares
being white to having a big set of tools, but pretending you do not notice that
you are given more than somebody else. She believes that this is just as bad as
acknowledging the privilege outright.
“When I am told
about our national heritage or about "civilization", I am shown that
people of my color made it what it is” (McIntosh 2).
McIntosh gives
a long list of things privileged people take for granted. The list brings up
many things that I personally take for granted at times. This item is
particularly important to me because one day I will be teaching the history of
all different kinds of religions, races and sexes. I think it will be important
to keep in mind how I present the information to my students in the future.
“Disapproving
of the system won't be enough to change them. I was taught to think that racism
could end if white individuals changed their attitude… Individual acts can palliate
but cannot end, these problems” (McIntosh 6).
This
quote sums up the idea that the way privileged people are taught to look at
race is not the most affective. In Allan Johnson’s Privilege, Power and Difference, he discusses the fact that you are
not doing anything wrong by being privileged or not. If a privileged group
ignores the fact that they are better off, it doesn’t change how they try to “help”.
By setting the standards of what is helpful to the standard of living they are
accustomed to proves the fact that they feel superior and better off.
It is true that we all have different "tools" based on our experiences. It is special when people use their "tools" or talents together. It leads to innovative ideas that eventually help or teach people. I like how you noted about the way a lesson is presented to students (after 2nd quote). Sometimes we are thinking a specific way, but the people we talk to are visualizing or interpretting the topic in a different way. This can also be effective because it leads to multiple perspectives. Still, it is important to understand that we must be aware of how we present information to other people. Clear communication is important in order to teach. :)
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