White Privilege: Should We Find a Better Name?
The concept of white privilege has been a very hot button topic, particularly in recent years. Conversations in class have also prompted me to reflect further on this topic.
Privilege as a Trigger Word
As we have discussed, part of the frustration with the phrase “white privilege” rests in semantics. This frustration is particularly prevalent in underserved and underprivileged white communities. How can someone accuse them of having privilege when they are lacking in so many other ways?
This can feel like some sort of attack or almost like a form of gaslighting. This idea that a person can see someone struggling and still call them privileged can seem like a minimization of that person’s strife.
The Complexities of Privilege
Privilege can be complicated. How do you explain to a white person in poverty that they have privilege in a way that someone like LeBron James or Beyonce does not?
Ultimately the answer rests in the fact that there are different types of privilege that individuals can experience.
A person of color or Black person can still experience privilege – both within their own communities and compared to the general population as a whole. One of the easiest ways for racial minorities to have privilege is economically. There is no doubt that access to capital and resources gives people access to power and opportunities that others may not have, regardless of ethnicity.
Within their own communities, racial minorities with lighter skin complexions such as myself have privilege because of colorism. Though I still experience racism, I do not have the same struggles as darker skinned members of the Black community. This is also a form of privilege.
Furthermore, some individuals experience an intersection between being a racialized minority, economically disadvantaged, and even part of another marginalized group such as being LGBTQ+ or being a woman. However, some people may experience only belonging to one of the groups that I just listed.
Ultimately, different people experience different privileges and also experience different barriers. Some of these privileges are based on phenotype, while some are not. Privilege has no monolith and it is important to acknowledge any form of privilege that one may have.
Is it Really Just Semantics?
I am not sure that there is a simple answer to this. While I do agree that language matters and that changing the name could lead some people to being more receptive to this concept, I am not sure that it is that simple.
There seemingly is a rather large group of people who are not just frustrated with the semantics of the word privilege, but also the underlying message. There is a frustration with the idea with the acknowledgement that being a certain race can give certain groups “perks” or benefits. A frustration with the acknowledgment that even though underprivileged white communities may struggle in many other areas of life, race is the one place that they do not.
While altering the semantics could be enough to change the minds of individuals who simply get triggered by the word “privilege” and nothing else, I do not believe it would be enough to change the minds of individuals who have an issue with both the word “privilege” and the underlying message.
If someone has an issue with the underlying message, then semantics is not enough. Someone would have an issue with whatever we decided to change the name of the phenomenon of white privilege to.
Again, I am not arguing that there would be no benefit to changing the name from white privilege to something less triggering. However, I personally believe that more people have an issue with the underlying message than the name itself. Until we can address how to make people more receptive to the underlying message, the concept will continue to be hotly debated.
The Solution?
In all honesty I really do not have a solution. I would be very dishonest in saying that I am a fan of making lessons about racism more “palatable” in order to appease people who are often willfully obtuse about the subject.
However, I do understand that in order for progress to be made, there do need to be adjustments made as to how we talk about the complexities of racial identity and privilege. Looking at the semantics of the phrase “white privilege,” and establishing one solid definition of the phrase that acknowledges nuances may be a good first step in the process of getting people on board.
Ultimately, people on both sides of the aisle must listen to each other. Not listen to respond, but rather truly listen to the frustrations and concerns of each other so that they can find ways to move this conversation forward.