Unawareness

In Peggy McIntosh’s paper, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, she stresses the unawareness of white privilege. McIntosh creates a list of things she was previously unaware of regarding white privilege. As a women’s studies professor, she has a special skill in recognizing a disguised prejudice. Because of the personal list of advantages she feels she receives because of her white skin, the paper has a more personal touch. If she would have just used a standard list of racial advantages and disadvantages, the paper would have been much less effective. Her involvement in women’s studies gives her a skill in being able to bring out unnoticed advantages. Certain things on her list such as; “I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or present to me” gives a very real view into how deep she had to go when making this list. As a white American, I typically do not think about the way my neighbors will treat me because of my skin color. Due to the fact that she was able to identify the simple advantage she has over people of color in regards to not worrying about getting back lash from her neighbors is truly incredible. I think it was very important for McIntosh to come up with this personal list of advantages because it makes her more relatable to both white and people of color. White people because we get a glimpse into a mindset we have yet to see and people of color because they can relate to each disadvantage. After reading the list, I have become more aware of advantages I was previously unaware of. I am not quite sure what to do with the new found information; however, I think now being more aware of the problem, which to this degree I was previously unaware of,  I will be more open to look for change.