21 Day Equity Challenge

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

Privilege means a built-in advantage, immunity, or benefit that a person or group enjoys beyond what others have access to or experience. White privilege refers to the level of societal advantage that comes with being seen as the norm in America, automatically conferred irrespective of wealth, gender, or other factors. It provides certain advantages, but it’s something you would barely notice unless it was suddenly taken away — or unless it had never applied to you in the first place. Writer, Christina Emba, offers the following examples to illuminate the concept and the reality of white privilege:

• Taking it for granted that when you’re shopping alone, you probably won’t be followed or harassed.

• Knowing that if you ask to speak to “the person in charge,” you’ll almost certainly be facing someone of your own race.

• Being able to think about different social, political, or professional options without asking whether someone of your race would be accepted or allowed to do what you want to do.

• Job applicants with white-sounding names are more likely to get called in for an interview.

• Being shown houses in the neighborhood of your choice when trying to purchase a home.

• Skin tone will not be a reason people hesitate to trust your credit or financial responsibility

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Do one or more of the following…

READ:

READ: Peggy McIntosh’s groundbreaking essay that popularized the phrase “White Privilege”

WATCH:

WATCH: Cracking the Codes: Dr. Joy DeGruy "A Trip to the Grocery Store"

WATCH:

WATCH: The Unequal Opportunity Race

READ: 

READ: 10 things you should know about white privilege

WATCH: 

WATCH: Explained: White privilege, systemic racism, and implicit bias

WATCH: 

WATCH: What is privilege? 

WATCH: 

WATCH: Chelsea Handler On Why She Produced Doc on Privilege 

    Interact: 

INTERACT: How Privileged Are You? Quiz