White privilege is an advantage given to Caucasians due to their race, which has been present in the United States since colonial times. It is still prevalent in modern society, with studies showing white-preferred hiring and housing practices. Some argue that public education perpetuates the system, while others believe it is not a significant issue. The goal is to solve race-related issues and move beyond terms like white privilege. The hope is that with the younger generation coming to power, the effects of racism and privilege will continue to diminish over time.
White privilege is a term used to describe unintended benefits given to people of Caucasian descent. Experts are divided on the presence and prevalence of white privilege in modern society; some believe it is a serious problem with little hope for a solution, while others see it as a dwindling concept in the modern world.
Privilege can be defined as an advantage given to a group simply because they are a member of that group. White privilege is often referred to as “invisible” because recipients may not be aware that they are in a race-based decision making system. The concept of white privilege isn’t simply determined by whether or not you believe in the superiority of a race. It’s a generational issue, in the United States dating back to the early colonial days, with European interaction with Native American, Central American and African populations. Centuries of laws that were clearly preferential to whites allowed family fortunes in white families to be more easily maintained and passed down. Some families in America still hold power and money from those days, giving them a natural edge especially in terms of wealth.
Studies conducted in the 21st century have shown that white-preferred hiring and housing practices are still unofficially in place, even for applicants with identical backgrounds. Despite a clear shift toward equality in racial policies since the late 20th century, some studies show that whites are still much more likely to get better positions and more job offers than non-whites, particularly African Americans. Some experts suggest this may be due to the racial makeup and age of corporate leadership; an older generation, often less attentive to human rights, still heads most of the companies.
Many experts who argue that white privilege is a widespread problem point to public education as a major factor in maintaining the system. Children in classes are often divided by ability, and because white children are generally better prepared for school because of early learning opportunities, they are often separated from minority children and placed above them in ability level. While dividing by skill level can’t be considered accurately racist, it can often break down classes based on race. Some also believe it is unfair to teach Standard English as the correct form of language learning, as it does not take into account dialects or cultural differences in learning styles.
A vocal minority argue that many are making too big a deal for white privilege. They are quick to point out the hundreds of scholarships and programs available to minority children and college-aged students that are determined by race and unavailable to white students. Many also point out that free speech is limited by fear of appearing racist; in polite society, some words are considered incredibly racist when spoken by a white person, though the standard doesn’t apply equally to all races. There are certainly examples of white people being negatively affected by race relations, yet some people believe that anti-white racism or anti-white privilege shouldn’t be discussed, or count as racism.
The goal of most progressive race relations is to go beyond terms like white privilege, not by ignoring statistics about race-related issues, but by solving them. Studies indicate that white privilege is still a clear issue in many areas, particularly in the American judicial and economic systems. However, with the first generation born after the civil rights movement hit their 40s and came to power, it seems hopeful that the effects of racism and privilege will continue to diminish as time goes on. Race relations are not an immovable line of inequality and the changes that have already been made, as African-American Senator Barack Obama put it in 2008, “give us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.”
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