In Peggy McIntosh’s article “Unpacking the Invisible
Knapsack”, she explains conflicts that occur due to race. She explains how as a
white person she feels very privileged for the way she is treated and how
things come easy to her. McIntosh also talks about how she knows that things don’t
come easy to all races and that people of other races struggle with things that
would never cross her mind or that she thinks is just common to be so simple. This
leads me to the question should people be responsible for the disadvantage of
others outside their personal identity group? I do think that people are
responsible for others disadvantages. As a citizen I think it is our duty to
care for others. Feeling safe in every day life is a very important thing and
the fact that some people don’t get that feeling or have to worry is a sad
thing. It is stated in the article about how the author doesn’t worry about
going shopping by herself and she doesn’t think about people harassing her or
anything negative for that matter. Another idea that was brought up was how
neighbors treat one another. The article says “I can be pretty sure that my
neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.” This is also
so sad because if someone is able to live in an area and be financially stable
then it shouldn’t matter what they look or the color of their skin. Some people
do have things like that to worry about and if us as citizens have any way of
fixing that then it needs to be done. It is our responsibility as a human being
to make our fellow citizens feel safe. If we are the ones causing this
discomfort and these disadvantages then it is our responsibility to act on it
and do something about it.
That safety in which you are addressing with a quote from the article Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh is very important and a key part in which society functions. Although I believe it stems much deeper than the quote you deployed. On her list of ways she has seen her own White Privilege in action she says that it is easily avalible for her to chose "flesh" colored bandages and even make up that is relatively close to that of her own skin color. This is something I see as more scary than the ability to not be judged by neighbors. This is society expecting ones skin color to be white. It is the perception that anything darker is less important and therefore should and will not be called "flesh". That word is reserved for those whom it belongs to and as humans we all have flesh. This perspective had never even been something I could've thought up. I had never even pondered why bandages were called flesh color and why that color was closer to my skin than that of an African American. I find it offensive and belittling to lessen the humanity of people whose skin may be darker than mine which is how I perceive the use of the word flesh. McIntosh also brings about the idea of fitting in. This brings me to an interesting mindset that today's society adorns the idea of beings tan, but there's always that don't be "too dark" mentality. Society does not want to admit to its suppressive tendencies just as I don't want to admit to the perks of my skin color, but it's time we all fess up and realize that we should not be defined by our race or our skin color. We should be defined as humans.
ReplyDeletePeggy McIntosh writes in the article “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” how she thinks essentially how race affects people’s attitudes. How skin color changed how you think and act and how some have more rights than others. I personally do not think this is true. We are in the 21st century and with that comes a social responsibility to our fellow men. People have heard for a long time that we are all equal humans and need to treat each other equal. I think people don’t get treated equally because people write articles that this that affect how people think and may make some races bitter toward other races. McIntosh also talks about “fitting in” and I also don’t believe that to be true. Everyone marches to the beat of his or her own drum and we should not confide to conformity. We as humans need to stand together and work together. Not build racism up by writing articles, do it by showing compassion for your fellow man.
ReplyDeleteI am commenting and agreeing with Maddie's views on the topic. Peggy McIntosh article was a very intriguing piece to read. When answering the question should people be responsible for the disadvantage of others outside their personal identity group, i would have to say that yes people are indeed responsible. I mean yes, its possible for "minorities" to experience disadvantages due to circumstance.... but i also feel that its the people that are responsible as well. Words and actions from people could affect a persons whole mindset and cause them to be uncomfortable in a way.
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