white privilege and colorism in America
America has made great strides toward racial equality since the end of slavery. However, several racial problems persist, and they include white privilege. White people continue to have an advantage over some opportunities compared to other people of color. This essay will discuss the issue of white privilege and colorism in America. This will be achieved by defining the terms and giving examples to illustrate the problems in society.
White privilege refers to the advantages possessed by white people based on their race in a society plagued by racial injustice and inequality. Collins (2018) note that white privilege is described using Peggy McIntosh’s essay published in 1988. This essay illuminated white privilege by making the problem tangible and personal. Indeed, white privilege is a concept that has become a victim of its connotations. The term contains two words that have a double whammy, which instigates pushback. The first word “white” creates discomfort among people who loathe being defined by their race. The second word, “privilege,” make rural and poor white people feel like the term doesn’t belong to them (Collins, 2018).
A white person’s whiteness comes with an array of benefits not shared by people of color. Examples of being denied privilege due to color can be illustrated by the relationship between the community and the police. The whites have the privilege of not fearing the cops while people of color fear them. When white people see the police, they are filled with relief and gratitude as police ensure that they are safe and their rights protected. However, people of color have a strained to a fatal relationship with law enforcement. Edwards (2018) note that police officers have killed 52 unarmed black men. This number contains cases that were highly publicized by the media and the internet. This number shows the privilege enjoyed by white people as they can run towards law enforcement officers to seek help while people of color have to hide when they see then.
Collins (2018) posit that the ability to accumulate wealth has an element of white privilege created by systemic and overt racism in the private and public sector. He references the report by Pew Research Center in 2014. The report showed that white households had an average net worth of $141,900, blacks $11,000, and Hispanics $13700. The disparity indicates that whites have a higher earning power compared to other people of color. White privilege gives white people an advantage in the job market, and this is reflected in their net worth.
Some privileges change with social context as one moves from one place or social setting to the other. For instance, most restaurants and schools have embraced equity. Everybody in these places is accorded equal treatment, and white who are used to living a privileged life has to adapt to the new dynamic in these places.
Colorism is a term that was first coined by Alice Walker in 1982. She defined the tern as “prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color” (Norwood, 2015). An example of colorism is when a firm that only hires black people of lighter complexion.
In conclusion, colorism and white privilege continue to be a significant problem in many parts of the world. White people continue to have many advantages that stem from their skin color while people of color struggle to make ends meet. Indeed, certain skin tones are preferred, and this is why people are spending a lot of money on skin lightening and skin tanning to achieve a particular shade. Colorism has idealized that certain skin shades are better than others, which has resulted in discrimination.