I found White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy Mcintosh very interesting however the information within the article was not surprising. I know how white privilege works and have seen it personally countless times. The funny part is that the people that experience it look over the matter because it is benefiting them. There is one fact of the article I found interesting and that was learning that Mcintosh is a white woman. When she began to list the things, she does not experience because she has white privilege, I couldn’t help to laugh because these are thing I experience as a colored person and most of the friends and family I have experienced. “I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods that fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser’s shop and find someone who can cut my hair.” I know for a fact that this statement is the complete opposite for most people of color. I used to live in South Richmond Hill in Queens, and it was easy to find the foods of my culture because Caribbeans and Hispanics make up most of the population of that area. But if I were to go to any supermarket that was not in the “hood” I would not be able to find those things. Last year I moved to Niagara Falls NY and just to get my cultural foods I must travel 6 hours back to Queens Jamaica Avenue and Liberty Avenue just to get my cultural foods. When it comes to finding hair stylist that can do my hair it is near to impossible, and again I would have to go to Queen, Brooklyn, or the Bronx. No matter where I go in the I should be able to find products of my culture and that rule should go for everyone. One should not struggle to find cultural representation anywhere this country is literally built on migration of culture and tradition so why is it so hard to find representation in basic accommodation shops.

This brings me to my second point “I can remain oblivious to the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world’s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty of such oblivion.” The number of times I have witnessed a white person yelling or getting frustrated because a group of people are speaking their language in a public setting, like a restaurant, is disgusting and its always the same reply “This is America, speak English.” Or “We speak English is America.” It just really gets under the skin. The worst is when they travel out of the country and don’t think to learn the language of the country nor the customs because they feel everyone should conform to suit their abilities. Recently I was looking into teaching English in Korea, and I told my friend about it and how I will only go once I am as least able to have a full conversation in Korean. My friend asked me why I needed to learn Korean and told me I didn’t need to learn Korean because most of the population would know English. Its very sad that some people are so close minded and feel they don’t have to learn things about other countries they go to because the country is “westernized” I am no long friends with that person.

It’s funny how the same way most white people are oblivious to white privilege is the same way most men are oblivious to the oppression of women. Reading Oppression by Marilyn Frye was a bit emotional because it angered me to read about all the BS situations women go through and the way we are so looked over and undermined. I appreciate the way Frye spoked about how oppression truly is and how it may seem like it happens to both men and women but not in the same contest so much that men don’t experience it. The part when Frye spoke about the agency men have to open the door and all the little, small “chivalrous” gestures for women is something the whole world needs to read. “Men will impose themselves awkwardly and jostle everyone in order to get to the door first.” (Frye page 12) This has always been so funny to me, and I never understood the whole chivalry thing, like I can open the door on my own. However, as I got older, I realized that most men use the “gentlemen” card to manipulate women to do things for them in return. About 3 years ago I went on a date with this guy, and he was super nice throughout the whole date, however I believe he saw being nice and gentlemen like as an open pass to touch me inappropriately. I ended the date, and this man had the audacity to tell me after he was much a gentleman and paying for everything, I didn’t let him kiss me and I was a bitch for that. Women are taught if not at home, then by society to please men and if you do otherwise you’re seen as an uptight bitter woman. We are expected to be jolly and just deal with the things we go through. Frye spoke about women never being able to do anything right in the eyes of society.  You dress modest and reframe from sexual actions with men and deny them when they try, you’re uptight and bitter. You dress the way you want to dress and are proud of your sexual energy and freedom you’re a whore. Raquel Hernandez post about appearance really summed up the way women are treated today, there is no pleasing anyone, EVERYTHING we do people will find a way to criticize and oppress us from expressing our true selves. To be completely honest I believe the only way we as a collective can stop the oppression of women is to do what we want and express how we feel no matter what and stand by one another. There is power in numbers, and you cannot oppress the untouchable.

(P.S. I know it can be hard to express yourself freely and fight against all the manipulative actions and norms of society that oppress us so if anyone would like some empowering Femme Fatal music, I would be honored to create a playlist and share it with the class ?)