To everyone reading this who is hurt by white privilege, I apologize to you. I truly believe that we should base everything (schools, jobs, relationships, etc) off of what kind of person someone is and what they've done with their life. But that is not the reality we live in. I try my hardest to live my life that way and treat others as I want to be treated. I'm not perfect and I'm not saying I am anywhere close to being a saint, but I try my hardest. I recognize that I'm privileged because I'm white. And I can never truly understand white privilege from your perspective, because being white is all I have known. I'm not going to pretend I understand all the losses you experience, but I can point out what white people gain because of our race. That is something I do know.
To everyone reading this who doesn't believe in white privilege, please continue so you can realize how much privilege you have as a white person, especially a white male in America. It's ironic that you're headed down a path of hatred that will make your heart darker than the people you're discriminating against. Also, I included your message second on purpose because you're probably used to being first.
White privilege is real.
White privilege is a real thing. It exists all around us. It is the experience of having a generally easier life than someone of another race, simply because of your race. Skin color cannot dictate what is in a person's heart. Skin color doesn't affect a person's ability to perform in school or the duties of a job. These things happen today, even though they are completely unfair. We abolished slavery over 150 years ago, and yet black Americans are still being discriminated against by white Americans? Abraham Lincoln would be extremely disappointed to see the state of our country today.
Affirmative action is not fair.
One thing that both sides can agree on is that affirmative action is not fair. Although racists may see it as unfair because "there's a quota of that race that needs to be filled," the other side sees it completely different. First, it helps even the playing field because a certain number of each race is included. Second, there is nothing that says the people who are included in affirmative action are not qualified. They may be equally as, or more, qualified than a white person, but turned away because of their race. Third, it's not fair that we even need "race quotas." It is 2016 and everyone should have moved on already. We have computers in our pockets but we still need to give guidelines so people who are not white have opportunities? That is absolutely unfair to everyone, the most qualified people for the job or school should get an offer.
If you cannot see white privilege, it is because you're living it.
If you think white privilege is not real, you are a prime example of it. You may not notice how people who are not white are treated differently in line at the store. You have probably never been discriminated against or even arrested because of a racial stereotype. You probably got the things you have with a lot more ease. Being white, we can never completely understand the other side of white privilege. But we can acknowledge that it exists. And in that acknowledgment, we can personally treat everyone equally.
