"White Privlege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh

White people do not realize the advantages they have. Peggy McIntosh mentions in her article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," "I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage" (1). White people receive these unearned advantages and more opportunities due to their skin color. I always noticed the unfairness between blacks and whites, however I did not once think about how nude undergarments and bandages are "flesh" tones that match pale skin (4). While reading the daily effects of white privilege in McIntosh's examples, the first thing that came to mind was Allen G. Johnson's book, Privilege, Power, and Difference. In these two writings, McIntosh and Johnson include examples of benefits white people have. For instance, one of McIntosh's examples is, "I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed" (2). Johnson agrees with this by saying in his article, "Whites can assume that when they go shopping, they'll be treated as serious customers, not as potential shoplifters or people without the money to make a purchase" (29). White privilege is acknowledged yet not recognized. People do not suspect that white people would shoplift therefore employers do not feel the need to have to follow them to make sure they won't steal. McIntosh provided many examples to prove being white gives much more of an advantage in the world. Not only is there a disadvantage for when black people shop, there is also a disadvantage for them for job employment. Because of the white privilege, white people get more opportunities, especially for employment. Salim Muwakkil relates to this in his article, "Data show racial bias persist in America," "when white and black job seekers had the appropriate qualifications and experiences for the position, whites were far more likely to be called back than blacks" (1). Unfortunately, black people are judged and stereotyped even before the job interview! Any white person can agree with McIntosh when she says, "I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race" (3). McIntosh describes white privilege as an "invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and black checks" (1). Within this knapsack is everything a person needs to succeed and white people do not realize they are wearing it. This article was very eye opening and interesting to think of these simple skin-color privileges that are not recognizable.