Read Uprooting Racism by Paul Kivel & make a “Jaime’s Knapsack” list based on “Unpacking the Knapsack of White Privilege”, an article by Peggy McIntosh
»» Katie Sosin
The main difference you’ll find between my list & Peggy McIntosh’s is my disregard for how “my family” or “my children” will be treated on account of their race. At 24, children are just not a part my personal picture & thus not a part of my “knapsack”. I tried to keep myself from repeating too many of McIntosh’s original points, though I feel many of her points of privilege do apply to me. I did, however, lift McIntosh’s point #46 as my own #12 because, really, what a huge little thing.
- I can live where I choose without being seen as a danger to my community.
- I can safely assume that cosmetics of my skin tone are widely available.
- When carrying a child of my race it is not assumed that the child is my own.
- My attending college was not considered remarkable or a unique achievement because of my race.
- I can by holiday decorations & cards which represent my race.
- I can easily find many products marketed to fit my white female lifestyle.
- My race will never polarize me as a ‘radical’ when I express disfavor for my nation’s politics.
- My shabby clothing – or wearing the same clothing for multiple days – will not be regarded as indicative of my race’s wealth or my racial upbringing.
- Should I wish to explore my cultural heritage, I can easily find it in many books at any reading level.
- If I do not understand another person’s accent it will probably not count against my race.
- It is not assumed that I will vote for any particular candidate because of their skin color.
- I can easily cover my wounds with bandages that generally match my skin tone.
- I can find numerable persons of my race who have won the Nobel Prize, have been listed in the Western literary canon, and who have been awarded one or more Oscars.
- As I child, it was easy to find dolls & other toys I could ethnically identify with.
- I can take part in a satirical website about what people of my race like without fear of discriminating.
I will continue to add to this as further ‘Privileges’ occur to me.
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