This week’s reading was very interesting. I had the opportunity to learn more about white privilege. Nowadays, White privilege is so misunderstood. It’s right up there with cultural appropriation and “Black Lives Matter” among things people keep getting wrong. Contrary to popular belief, White privilege doesn’t mean all white people are rich. It doesn’t guarantee they will have bigger bank accounts than others though, on average, they do. Now, what is white privilege? White privilege, or white skin privilege, is the societal privilege that benefits white people over non-white people in some societies, particularly if they are otherwise under the same social, political, or economic circumstances. White privilege does not mean that you don’t struggle in life but it does mean that you do not struggle in life because of your skin color. 

Nowadays white people don’t recognize it which is the sad part. In our society when you are Black or Latino or Asian American, in many ways, you’re always, in a sense, your brothers and sisters’ keeper. White people are never called an asset or disgrace to their race because their actions are seen as their own. Nobody else’s actions reflect poorly or positively on them. Although some White people take every discussion of racism personally and end up defending the indefensible, when non-White people talk about racism, they’re usually talking about the system and specific individuals, not White people collectively. That sort of blanket racism is a specialty fostered by White privilege. If White men commit 20 murders in one day, it doesn’t affect how people see White men in general. If one murder is committed by a Black man, every Black man becomes a suspect and a target. We have seen it happening again and again over the years. I am not supporting any crime here, it was just an example.

White privilege means not having to fear the police. For example, When a White person sees the flashing lights of a police car behind them, they might worry about getting a ticket and how to get out of it. They probably don’t give a second thought to possibly losing their lives. That’s the first thing many Black people in the same situation think about. If they panic and act irrationally, it’s because they are frightened for their lives and tired of constantly feeling that way. Every time another unarmed Black person is shot by the police, someone, usually White, asks why they didn’t just obey the orders of the cop and acquiesce to being demeaned and dehumanized. That they just don’t get it is a prime example of White privilege. If you don’t have to live your life feeling like a target because of the color of your skin, you probably can’t truly understand why Black people react the way they do when staring down the barrel of a police gun.

In Oppression, Marilyn Frye compares the oppression of women to a bird being kept in a cage. Reading this brought back so many memories from where I can from (South Asia) where women have limited freedom. It’s like women are living in a birdcage. Men expect their women to do everything for them just like their mother. This needs to change, period. I just can’t believe even in 2021 so many women are going through this in so many different parts of the world. I hope we educate ourselves and give women the freedom that they deserve just like all men. We all are human beings and we all are equal. 

One of my classmates, Sandra Mohammed, shared her story that she was talking with her mom about how it is still challenging for a woman to be seen as an equal to a man in the workplace. Sandra also discussed with her mom how as a woman of color, if a white woman with a Bachelor’s degree and I applied for the same job with equal experience, She as a black woman would need a Master’s degree to get the job. I thought it was very powerful and is very true. It’s just not fair how women/men of color are struggling to get jobs while having the same qualifications as white people. I hope and pray that it changes very quickly and that way our world will get better. 

My classmate Fawzina Zack shared an image of during the protest against France’s law, banning hijabs underage Muslim girls from wearing their hijabs in public. I believe that the government shouldn’t interfere in people’s beliefs. Muslim girls can make their own decision about wearing Hijabs. There should not be any law about what Muslims can and cannot wear.