General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Aaargh. Wading into it: I'm grateful for my "white privilege". I wish everyone had it. [View all]alarimer
(16,245 posts)Suppose two people are asked to dig holes. One, a white person, has both hands free to dig the hole, while the other (African American) has to dig the hole with one hand tied behind his or her back. Makes it a whole lot more difficult to accomplish the same task. Or, suppose life is a ladder. The white person is born on, say, the third rung, while others start at the bottom.
That's how I think of privilege. Some people, by simply being born into a certain race or class (and, as the OP states, there are varying levels and combinations of privilege that operate at the same time), have an advantage over others. It is simply not a level playing field. Acknowledging that fact does not mean being ashamed of who you are. Or having to apologize for it. It is simply a recognition that you did not get "there" all by yourself.