All the bruhaha over the pie and beach volleyball ads got me thinking about how much I take for granted. I'm white, I'm tall, I'm straight and I'm a guy-- when I roll out of bed in the morning, there's a lot I don't think about.
I don't think about getting raped when I walk to my car late at night, or when I'm out hiking by myself. I don't think about the security guard at the grocery store following me around. I don't think about the yahoo in the pickup truck behind me when I drive through the country. I don't think about being hassled at the airport because I look 'Muslim.' That's white privilege, and I should think about it.
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I remember a Saturday Night Live sketch where Eddie Murphy has a makeup artist transform him into "Mr. White." Mr White discovered that when Black people weren't around, whites got free newspapers and free money from the bank. Murphy scoffs, "Silly Negro!" after a Black man is rejected for a loan. The sketch was funny, but white privilege is a bit more subtle than that. People don't wear racism and sexism on their sleeves as much nowadays, but the attitudes prevail.
The fact is, being part of the dominant culture conveys huge advantages on me. White privilege means that I'm more likely to get paid a higher salary at my job, and more likely to get a promotion. I'm more likely to see people like me in positions of power and leadership. This isn't the same thing as "White Guilt." It's not about feeling guilty, it's about appreciating and respecting the perspectives of those who are not part of the dominant culture in America.
Going to a lesbian bar or walking through a primarily African American part of town helps me to appreciate it. Talking with my friends and loved ones about their experiences helps. Are some people just being whiny and overly sensitive about pie ads and racism at times? Maybe. I wouldn't really know. It's easy for me to feel high and mighty about these issues: I'm a white straight man, and most of the time, I don't even think about it.