White privilege. It’s a thing, there’s no disputing that. Hands down, white people have it easier than most. But, it is important for everyone to understand that privilege itself has nothing to a person’s actions. Furthermore, racializing privilege is just another way to put a negative spin on what should be positive. Simply put, it is an advantage given. I have done nothing to earn my privilege but there is nothing I could have done to earn it either.

More importantly, why does the word privilege have to be connected to “white?” Of course, white people aren’t the only ones that grew up in a safe, reliable, and loving home, in fact, there are white people themselves that never had these opportunities.

So why? Why try and make an entire race feel guilty about something they can’t change? The best we can do is acknowledge it and try to lift each other up. People are people regardless of color. Trying to bring others up by tearing whites down isn't helping. Because of this, it's hard to believe that there was a time when the words “white” and “privilege” were not considered synonymous with each other.

It is ok to be mad at circumstances and to want to change them, but this way isn’t helping. People want to criticize me for having opportunities I never asked for. But, that’s the same principle as me wanting to criticize you for not having opportunities.

To give some context for this article, it is based on my reaction to this tweet:

No surprise, it has gathered a bit of attention. Unable to comprehend why this man decided to do this or how he felt that it was appropriate, I read some of his comments. Instead of finding understanding, I found gems such as:

“For you dummy’s out there, I am a concept not a person. Imagine a piece of paper with the word “privilege” in the center”

“A piece of paper can’t be racist girl. And neither can the oppressed”

“White privilege is a luxury and higher/condescending to others. Might as well be royalty”

“People in my dms talking abt culture appropriation. Girl, what culture do you have? White people stole everything from different cultures.”

Let’s try to tackle these one-by-one, shall we?

In his defense of his costume being the same as a piece of paper, I would like to know: Why not just tape a piece of paper to your shirt then? Or even wear a white shirt with the word privilege on it. I personally don’t like any of the options, but either suggestion is better than donning white face to try to prove a point. I am aware that “white face” might seem impossible, but it’s not.

While it might not have been used with the same malicious attitude in mind as those who historically wore blackface, it is the same thing. Making yourself look like another race to prove a point.

As for the “oppressed” not being able to be racist, do I really need to explain this? To be racist is to show discrimination or prejudice for another race. Of privilege itself, maybe this costume isn’t exactly racist, but covering your body to represent a white person is. Racism isn’t limited to whites against other races, that is just the most commonly discussed occurrence.

The assumption of white privilege as a luxury, and its equivalent being royalty is something that I just can’t wrap my head around. Why is being able to live my life without much fear and having opportunities a luxury? It should be the norm for everyone. Am I being condescending when I say that I want that for everyone?

Sadly, I don’t think it will matter when I say that I have no idea how it would feel to be royalty, that I'm just a girl struggling through college from a lower-middle-class family. On a personal note, I honestly wouldn’t want to be royalty, ideology and idolatry are some of the worst things about life.

Cultural appropriation is, again, not something limited to white people. It is adopting elements of another culture by a different culture. This opens up an entirely different conversation about what is meant by the word “culture,” in this case, it seems to have been mixed up with the term “race.” But in the context of Halloween costumes, as it has become attached to, this seems to fit in.

A final point, attacking another culture is not an appropriate defense for your actions.