1. Exploring White Privilege Presented by: Ryan Gove, KUMC Office of Student Engagement Joel Sweeney, Office of Multicultural Affairs Student Success Professional Development Day January 31 st, 2008

2. Today… What is privilege? Where does it come from? Exploring white privilege Application Resources

3. What is Privilege? A right, advantage or immunity granted to or enjoyed by persons beyond the common advantage of all others.

4. Where Does Privilege Come From? Socialization Whitening of American Society

5. The Cycle of Socialization

6. Causes of the Cycle Ignorance Fear Anger Confusion Anxiety Insecurity

7. Whitening of America Original immigrants Anglo-Saxons and Protestants Late 19 th and early 20 th century Eastern and southern Europeans Groups assimilated Loss of heritage Gains in privilege

8. Defining Privilege for Today White Privilege is: A right, advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all others.

9. Examples of White Privilege If they wish, white people can be in the company of other white people most of the time. Whites can be sure of renting or purchasing housing in any area they can afford and choose to live. Whites can go shopping alone without the worry of being followed or harassed. Whites can turn on the tv or open a newspaper and see people of their race widely and positively represented. Whites can be confident that if they need legal or medical help, their race will not work against them. Whites are not asked to speak for all persons of their racial group. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack -Peggy McIntosh

10. Recognizing Our Privilege as Whites We must begin by examining our lives and how they might be different if our skin was a different color. Would we take as many risks? Would we be given the benefit of the doubt? Would we ever feel out of place? Would we expect standards to be lowered without question? Would we be confident that any place we go, our presence would most likely not encounter resistance?

11. Resisting Privilege The problems with resistance… Lack of role models Alienation from friends, family & colleagues Why does injustice always win!?! Something to check off your list The bottom line is that being white in this country does not mean that we have to sit around and accept unjust social systems!!

12. Resisting Privilege Continued Paths of resistance… Learn to listen Live near and socialize with people of color Force people to think more, not less By resisting, we send a message to other whites that they cannot take anything for granted and they may not get away with it!

13. Loss and Redemption The Big Question: Why would any white person want to relinquish the advantages bestowed upon them by our society? In actuality, we lose more by continuing the cycle… Loss of heritage Fear, anger, confusion, anxiety and insecurity A false sense of security

14. School Shootings in the US from 1996 - 2007 February 2, 1996 Moses Lake, WA March 7, 2001 Williamsport, PA February 19, 1997 Bethel, AL March 22, 2001 Granite Hills, CA October 1, 1997 Pearl, MSMarch 30, 2001 Gary, IN December 1, 1997 West Paducah, KYNovember 12, 2001 Caro, MI December 15, 1997 Stamps, AROctober 28, 2002 Tucson, AZ March 24, 1998 Jonesboro, ARApril 24, 2003 Red Lion, PA April 24, 1998 Edinboro, PASeptember 24, 2003 Cold Spring, MN May 19, 1998 Fayetteville, TN March 21, 2005 Red Lake, MN May 21, 1998 Springfield, OR November 8, 2005 Jacksboro, TN June 15, 1998 Richmond, VASeptember 26, 2006 Bailey, CO April 20, 1999 Littleton, CO September 29, 2006 Cazenovia, WI May 20, 1999 Conyers, GAOctober 3, 2006 Nickel Mines, PA November 19, 1999 Deming, NM January 3, 2007 Tacoma, WA December 6, 1999 Fort Gibson, OKApril 16, 2007 Blacksburg, VA March 10, 2000 Savannah, GA September 21, 2007 Dover, DE May 26, 2000 Lake Worth, FLOctober 10, 2007 Cleveland, OH March 5, 2001 Santee, CA

15. Loss and Redemption Continued The Bigger Question: If racism is so ingrained in us and our society, is it possible to really end it? Rather than a reason to give up, it should serve as a recommitment to the purpose and mission of anti-racism!! After all, our black and brown friends have been resisting for centuries and will continue to do so no matter what the outcome!

16. Application Privileged Students Equal vs. Fair Being an ally

17. Resources Office of Multicultural Affairs Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center Diversity Training Institute Symposium of the Recruitment and Retention of Students of Color Tools for Social Justice Media Colleagues

18. Something to think about… There is something to be said for confronting the inevitable choice one must make in this life between collaborating with or resisting injustice. -Tim Wise