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Practice Module on White Privilege and Voluntary Change
Practice Module on Editing a B essay to an A

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: November 4, 2002
Latest Update: November 4, 2002
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

How to Use Sources and Specificity to
Turn an Essay into an A Paper
Essay by Crystal Adams

Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors, November 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.

On Sunday, November 3, 2002, Crystal Adams wrote: Subject: evidence of learning

I wrote an essay on why the majority wants to remain in the majority... specifically, why it is irrational for whites to want to forgo that silent privilege they have over other races. This is why, lengthy but here it is anyway,I hope you get to it. I thought this tied into oppression.

jeanne's comments: Good idea to take an old essay that we can rework together in light of the theories and approaches we have studied this semester. Notice also Crystal's care in telling me that this is a previously written essay - she's conscious of charges of "resubmitting work used in another class." My personal reaction is that it's an absolutely wonderful idea to rewrite this way, from class to class. It's good practice; you get the help of several teachers; you get a deeper grasp of the issue. BUT don't forget to check with other teachers how they feel about this.

Many whites argue that it is not rational to expect people to voluntarily forego personal advantages associated with being white. This is not be a rational concept and it is definitely not a probable expectation. Whites benefit from their privileged position while all others do not. These others, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians have been treated very unfairly and this treatment has left an impact on social and economic areas of society.

It is understandable why whites would not want to give up their privileged position. Who wants to be at the bottom? Who would opt to be mistreated, subjugated, and marginalized? I must point out there is a way to change the system; one must acknowledge that this invisible unearned privilege does exist. Most whites don't want to acknowledge this because, they would have to explore the effects their privileges have on others.

Whites who embrace these advantages by simply being white are possessively invested in their whiteness. This means they embrace race privilege and unearned privileges they receive for simply being white. Why not? They are judged by the content of their character, they can disagree without being thought of as a threat and when they speak they can count on being taken seriously. That is power and freedom, to know that the system works for you, that the contemporary racialized social structure is beholden to your race.

For example, whites who are heavily invested in their whiteness reject programs such as Affirmative Action. They feel that they are out of date because, now there is a level playing field. They refuse to acknowledge the impact that centuries of slavery, exclusion, and racism have left on society. When you analyze this, whites must support the system that supports them. If you choose to go against the establishment there will be a price to pay. The system will not support you.

The sedimentation process is very important in examining why whites, would not want to give up the privileges associated with their race. Sedimentation is simply numerous inequalities, laws, racism, social ostracism layered over hundreds of years. This results in disadvantages that interfere with wealth accumulation.Who would opt for this to happen to their race? Some critics may say it is possible to have a balanced system. I disagree, there will always be people on the bottom. If you can apply the sedimentation process to one group, while simultaneously uplifting your own group, why not.

Many people of color are paid unequal wages when compared to whites with similar educational backgrounds. Also people of color are excluded from positions of real power. White people have these positions and often give these positions to other whites. That is exactly what I mean by the system working for whites. It is impossible for me to believe that whites would deny themselves advantages.

In conclusion, whiteness is a very powerful tool for whites. It is defined as a social position of dominance, structural advantage and race privilege. These social positions are socio-historically, politically linked to the domination of people of color. Whiteness is unmarked and unnamed it gives whites an invisible shield. Society's racial ideology works in favor of whites, so to give up power, privilege, wealth, access, advantage and so many other privileges is definitely not rational, impossible and not probable.

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