Recent news events spark conversation across America about White Privilege—a harmful current more damaging than blatant discrimination because society’s dominant race is mostly unaware of the benefits we enjoys at other’s expense. White Privilege first pierced American society in 1988 when Wellesley women’s –studies scholar Peggy McIntosh published “White Privilege and Male Privilege.” In the article she offered forty-six personal examples of unearned benefits she enjoys, including: “I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group” and “I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to the ‘person in charge,’ I will be facing a person of my race.” Like Peggy, I benefit from White Privilege. But when I consider unearned advantages what surfaces first is not of White but Human Privilege. My species dominates non-human animals, vegetables, and minerals. We are unconscious of both our history and contemporary practice of taking what is not ours. As we fail to temper our human advantage, we cause harm. Because of the size of our population and the power of our technology, the advantage of Human Privilege now threatens life and our continuation on earth.
Here are a dozen examples of Human Privilege that come to my mind. They are opportunities enjoyed by me and others in my species–often at the disadvantage of the non-human realm.
- I can hoard.
- I can be lazy and fat.
- I can engineer genes.
- I can consume a global diet.
- I can hate.
- I can drink more than water or milk.
- I can torture.
- I can fantasize.
- I can write.
- I can waste.
- I can deny reality.
- I can change the global climate.
I find an understanding of Human Privilege redefines my role in the world. I become aware of my power over others and see how my actions create harm or well-being. I naturally want to act in more compassionate and skillful ways.
If you find ideas of Human Privilege of interest, share this post with a friend. Talk about ways to create a more just and equitable world for the human and non-human realm.
