Austin Fry
In her article, White Privilege and Male Privilege, Peggy
McIntosh both analyzes gives detailed accounts of how Caucasians have an easier
time in modern society. She describes
white privilege as an “invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions,
assurances, tools, maps, guides, codebooks, passports, visas, clothes, compass,
emergency gear, and blank checks.” (McIntosh 1988, 95) After discussing what
white guilt means in society, McIntosh lists off forty six privileges that are
given to Caucasians simply because they were born with a specific skin
tone. These reason range from not being
hassled by security guards
, appearing financially stable at banks, and being able to perform certain acts in which aren’t judged as a result of her skin color, such as chewing with her mouth full. (McIntosh 1988, 97-100). McIntosh makes a point to discuss how she didn’t realize these privileges until she actually looked for them.
, appearing financially stable at banks, and being able to perform certain acts in which aren’t judged as a result of her skin color, such as chewing with her mouth full. (McIntosh 1988, 97-100). McIntosh makes a point to discuss how she didn’t realize these privileges until she actually looked for them.
McIntosh’s
article reminded me of a comedy bit done by stand-up comedian Bill Burr. Throughout his career, Burr has frequently
touched on his race and gender, and how being a white male has its own
privileges and disadvantages. In one of
his shows, he comments on how he is running out of white guilt because of all
the ‘secretly’ racist movies against white people there have been
recently. When I first started listening
to him, I found him simply hilarious because I could relate to what he was
saying, for I too have seen these advantages and disadvantages in my daily life. However, as I continued watching his show, I
started to question if it was really okay for him to make these kinds of jokes
and if it was okay for me to laugh at his set, similar to when McIntosh had the
same kind of revelation when she realized her own white privileges through
observation and conversation. There has
already been plenty of observational comedy regarding race in stand-up, but I
feel most of the comedians who touch on race are African-American (such as Dave
Chappelle and Richard Pryor). Burr not
only makes fun of his own race, but at the same time he complains how each race
has their on ups and downs, and how ridiculous it can be sometimes being white
and trying not to sound racist. With all
the privileges that McIntosh lists, are whites (like Burr) allowed to comment
and argue that their lives are also affected by reverse-racism? Personally, I find these comedic acts
helpful, because they point out what happens in society and makes us more
aware. I also believe that humor shouldn’t
be censored, but a question I would like to ask is where is that line where
this turns from light-hearted observation into racist ventings? How do these racial privileges affect white people after they learn about them?
Bill Burr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvMoF4lAwmw
To answer your first question, "are whites allowed to comment and argue that their lives are also affected by reverse-racism?", I would have to say yes they are, however it depends upon the enviornment that they are in. For example on this campus I do not believe white people are able to make such a comment because they are the majority and people like myslef, people of color, are the minority. Only when white people are placed in enviorments where they become the minority is when I think that they can make such an argument because that's when they would experience the reverse-racism.
ReplyDeleteTo your final question,"Do these racial privileges affect white people after they learn about them", I would have to say no; not for the majority of white people at least. Sure there are those white people that will actually internalize them and agree that it isn't morally right for them to exist, and there are those few who will actually advocate that they shouldn't exist as such the case with McIntosh. However the majority of white people, after they learn about them, will take no affect to it at all; they would think yea its wrong, but it is what it is. The reason why I think this is the case for the majority of white people because if it wasn't, we wouldn't even be talking right now about the racial privileges that they experience or McIntosh wouldn't be either. Everyday the topic of race is discussed because it is a dilemma that still exists. The existence, in my opinoin has to be attributed to the lack of affect that it has on the majority, which is white people.
To answer Austin's final question, sadly, I agree with Dominique. In some way or another we all feel as if there is nothing that can be done about these things, and as he said, we just see this as being just what it is. As far as everything else is concerned, I think the fact that we refer to it as “reverse racism” is a problem in itself. It isn't reverse racism, it would just be plain racism. By calling it reverse racism we make it seem as if white people don't face racism as well, and that racism is only a problem of the minority. This is obviously untrue seeing that any member of any race can experience this. I agree with Austin that comedic acts that point these things out are useful to society. With a routine like Burr's, I think it's how you perceive what he is saying. Some minorities will look at that routine and laugh, others might be upset because he is making fun of something that causes a lot of pain for them. But I'm sure the split is the same when comedians like Dave Chappelle talk about white people. Even, some of Burr's jokes may fuel or reaffirm racist beliefs in some whites in the same way that a Chappelle routine may seemingly reaffirm racist beliefs in blacks. This is simply the world of comedy. I personally don't think that people should always keep it “PC” and avoid these topics just because they are usually on the opposite side of the fence. However, I do wonder myself a lot of times where the same line is that Austin points out, but again, I think it is up to the person listening.
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