Since the beginning of patriarchal and racist societies, upper class white people have had the upper hand when it comes to navigating social systems. We've recently seen many examples of white people in the media, who have used and abused their white privilege to escape the persecution they deserve for their crimes, perpetuate racist ideology and other really dangerous situations.
The free passes that white people receive is called white privilege. To explain further, white privilege is a set of advantages and/or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others.
As news stories of injustice continue to emerge, people have taken to twitter to express their frustration. Here are 10 tweets that capture our frustration with white privilege.
1.
White privilege is being able to continue on with your life, despite committing a crime. POC, including children like Tamir Rice, are denied that right every day.
2.
White privilege is being rewarded for bad behavior. While Lochte gets to be a dancer on DWTS, Leslie Jones has to constantly deal with people who bombard her with racist and sexist insults.
3.
I hate that the world is giving this rapist so much attention but here it is: the truth! We all have hair products that have lasted longer than Brock Turner's time served in prison.
4.
Privileged people have been trying to take away from Kaepernick's protest by using his parents reaction against him. Critics of his actions have also tried to erase his racial/ethnic identity. This twitter user was fed up
5.
White privilege allows white people to be mediocre and still gain praise. There are really damaging standards of perfection forced up people of color.
6.
White privilege allows white people to be violent, angry, show their emotions and still be respected. People of color are often expected to justify their emotions, especially anger or violence.
7.
Unfortunately, it seems as if the right to live has also become a white privilege.
8.
White privilege allows those who have it, to escape being critical of how they can use their privilege to their advantage.
While Twitter let's us capture our frustration with white privilege, people of color and white people are actively working to change the ways in which some people navigate their lives. If you are white, be critical of the ways in which you benefit from the color of your skin.
