The following is an example of a open-ended quiz question I submitted
Is it White Privilege or is it Hard Work?
Word Count: 681
Fortgang is the author of Why I’ll Never Apologize for my White Male Privilege and he argues in his article that he won’t apologize for white privilege. He does a great job of putting this into a different perspective. When someone who is a part of the majority tries to give their opinion it is shut down because they need to check their privilege. This is very toxic because it assumes that everyone got to where they are because of privilege not knowing their life. Fortgang argues that while there are some privileges he has, he struggles a huge amount to get to where he is. He says that the statement invalidates someone’s accomplishments, and what they went through in life. He argues that his family worked hard and struggled a lot to get him to where he is.
McIntosh is the author of White Privilege and Male Privilege and she gives 62 examples of white privilege. She argues, “people who benefit most from privilege systems in the United States are kept most blind to the existence of privilege systems.” (McIntosh, 1988). Fortgang does not do a good job of adequately addressing any of the 62 examples. He adequately addresses that he does not benefit from the white privileges. He states, “Passing along property and a set of values, is called privilege” (Fortgang, 2014). He completely has a different perspective of white privilege than McIntosh has. Her examples of white privilege are being able to move into a neighborhood without worrying about the neighbors hating you or going to the barbershop and having someone there who can cut her hair. Fortgang is exactly the kind of person who McIntosh is describing. He doesn’t realize his privilege because he benefits from it. McIntosh isn’t trying to disregard anyone’s accomplishments, just list examples of what is white privilege for the people who haven’t recognized it like Fortgang. While Fortgang argues he came a long way and so has his family. This argument is true but it is true for the majority of people in the U.S. White privilege isn’t about what you have achieved exactly, it is what little/big things you get in life easier than others and most of the time you don’t realize because it doesn’t affect you.
Fortgangs grandfather did experience white privilege in his start-up business. While it is hard work. He did have it easier than others. He has the ability to just start a business a lot easier. Back then there was something called the National Recovery Act which was called the Negro Removal Act. It was called this because it put hundreds of thousands of African Americans out of work. When African Americans tried to get a loan there was something called red lining. Within the $120 billion the government gave out 98% of it went to white people. On top of that, the government wouldn’t give communities funding if they let black people move in. With all this being said, there were many policies that would’ve stopped Fortgang’s grandfather from becoming an entrepreneur if he was of a different skin color. On top of the racist mindsets a lot of the American people had. I believe it is a great thing to teach kids in school what white privilege really is. These 62 examples that McIntosh gave are extremely important for schools to teach so that everyone sees where the bias is from. This creates an opportunity for more change in the future.
Resources
Fortgang, Tal. 2014 (May 2). “Why I’ll Never Apologize for my White, Male, PrivilegeLinks to an external site.
McIntosh, Peggy. 1988. “White Privilege and Male Privilege.” McIntosh – White Privilege and Male Privilege 1989