White privilege is a term for societal privileges that benefit people who are white in Western countries, that is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political, or economic situations. Royce Mann, who is a 14 year-old boy that goes to Paideia School in Atlanta, Ga has shook up the internet with his chilling poem. According to CNN, Mann had performed his poem "White Boy Privilege" at a slam poetry competition in May. Mann starts by apologizing to women, different races, and economic statuses as he paces around the room with every word you can here him having more conviction and passion. The sincerity of his words as he admits that he notices that being a white male has its advantages and says, "I'm just saying that I f------ love being privileged and I'm not ready to give that away. I love it because I can say 'f------' and not one of you is attributing that to the fact that everyone with my skin color has a dirty mouth."
Mann's poem was brought about by his class called Race, Class, and Gender as it opened his eyes further to how privileged he was in America. He also talks about the Black Lives Movement about how people are getting upset on how it getting stronger and talks about the pressures of women about their bodies that society places in media. Mann is beyond his years as he pours his soul into the poem as he says to CNN that, he refuses praise for the poem because, there are others that has done far more.
Mann is what black people will call as "woke" or conscious as he speaks the truth of how America claims to have equal rights and opportunities. Watching the video actually gives me some hope for the rising generation, If a 14-year-old-boy can realize that he is at the top of the chain and spread awareness to others about that privilege and shed a light on other dire situations. Mann also stated on CNN, that he was inspired by Alton Sterling's son, that called for a non-violent protest from the death of his father. I appalled Mann for getting the courage to talk about such sensitive topics and especially about race as race tensions are at a all time high at this moment as seems to be growing. I know that he is defenitely receiving backlash from numerous people but, I say that he should keep his head up and that he stood for something that is right and just that many adults can not comprehend. Mann states that, ""Some people feel that I'm ashamed of my race. ... In reality, I'm not ashamed at all. Nobody should be ashamed of their race because that's an uncontrollable thing. I was born this way and nobody should be ashamed of that." In my opinion, Royce Mann can has a seat and plate reserved at the family cookouts and welcome to any black or women functions.
