Attending a HBCU (Historically Black College or University) has given me a new perspective of our predominantly white society. Recently, I took a class called Intro to African-American Studies. History has always been written from the European white male's point of view. This class was taught from an African-American point of view, including all of the struggles, contributions and conflicts black people have experienced from the beginning of their ancestry. Everyone acknowledges that African-Americans are at a disadvantage and that there needs to be change. But no one chooses to blame the white person's advantage as the root cause of racism.
If you still don't follow my reasoning, take male dominance for example. Generally, men do not acknowledge that they are over-privileged. They are reluctant to grant women more rights or integrate more female roles in "manly" jobs. For example, the United States has never had a female president, and men are a majority in politics. Women in the military are unable to achieve certain ranks because of their gender (this is finally changing).
Similar to how men are reluctant to point out that they are at an advantage, white people are reluctant to point out that they are at an advantage in society. We are bred into the social hierarchy of society. As a female in a STEM major, I understand what it feels like to be in a male dominant world; your ideas are suppressed. Manly tasks such as building, drilling and lifting things are often not even an option for me but note-taking, drawing diagrams and doing computer work are acceptable tasks. There is even a new term for this: mansplaining. Even worse, women are labeled as feminists for wanting equal rights.
Unfortunately, African-Americans have it even worse than women. Not only has media portrayed an entire race as criminals in the past, but white Americans are taught to be racist in school. One chapter of a textbook is dedicated to African-American history, not an entire class. As a black person, advocating for equal rights slaps the label of "black rights activist" on you. People think you only care about African-American rights when in reality you just want equality among all races.
The black struggle, the female struggle, the LGBT struggle; in the end we all want the same thing.
Growing up in a predominantly white area, I am just as guilty as anyone else of having been passively racist. I didn't realize this until I went to a predominantly black school. People are people regardless of gender, race or their beliefs. America sells us the headline "land of equal opportunity" when in reality there is no equal opportunity. Employers judge us by more than just our resume.
This article was inspired by Examining Unearned Privilege by Peggy McIntosh.
