Peggy Mcintosh's Argument Against Racism

1265 Words3 Pages

First, we must define racism. Racism is discrimination or prejudice based on one’s particular race. Sadly, it still exists today in various parts of the world. During slavery, blacks were deemed intellectually inferior to whites. This way of thinking is still relevant in modern day. Considering that blacks do suffer from higher rates of unemployment than whites; does this mean that blacks simply do not take the initiative that whites do or are racial barriers in place to limit a specific people? Some would argue that racial barriers do exist. It has been known that blacks blame whites for their lack of success in the overpopulated white societies. However, derogative and even violent comments towards white people are made openly and …show more content…

McIntosh speaks about white privilege and gives numerous scenarios that not one white person can really deny at least one situation has happened before in his or her lifetime. According to McIntosh, males are taught not to recognize male privilege and whites are taught not to recognize white privilege. “The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one’s life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtue of their own.” (McIntosh 4). White privilege really does show that racism is here to stay in our society. As a member of society, I see that the white privilege has an impact on how blacks or Asians feel as the minority. The Band-Aid advantage identifies with every single white person. “I can choose blemish to cover or bandages in “flesh” color and have them more or less match my skin” (McIntosh 3). White children surely think nothing about how band-aids blend into their skin tone perfectly. It has to be difficult for African Americans to put on a band-aid and wonder if they are a normal color. It just goes to show how something as small as that can show how whites do not see the unearned privilege they have. White people don’t have to worry about his or her actions being ascribed to their race, whereas people of color constantly have to worry about his or her performance triggering negative group

Open Document