White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack By: Peggy McIntosh

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White Privilege Unpacking the Invisible
KnapsackBy Peggy McIntosh

• Lauren Delaney

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What is the author trying to argue?

• White people have unearned advantages in society
  due to skin color.
• Most are unaware of white privilege.
• People are taught about racism, not privilege.
• Even though men are aware of womens
  disadvantages, men do not recognize their male
  privilege.
• Men want to work to improve womens status, but
  not lessen their own.

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How does the author try to explain the argument?

• I have come to see white privilege as an
  invisible package of unearned assets which I can
  count on cashing in each day, but about which I
  was meant to remain oblivious. White privilege
  is like an invisible weightless knapsack of
  special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks,
  visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks.
• List of 26 skin-color privilege conditions
• School systems and obliviousness
• White people are taught to identify racism as
  putting others at a disadvantage however, white
  people are not taught about white privilege
  putting them at an advantage.

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Does the author assume the white middle-class
woman norm?

• No, McIntosh discusses white privilege.
  Identifies how it hinders others and how it can
  be changed.
• The article is about recognizing and
  deconstructing norms.

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Article Strengths

• McIntosh fully analyzes white privilege
• Discusses how it is formed.
• Provides examples that allow readers to fully
  recognize and understand white privilege.
• McIntosh understands the concept of interlocking
  oppressionshow gender, race, ability, age, and
  class all relate to ones oppression.
• Eye-opening.
• Clearly articulated points makes it easy to
  understand.

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Article Weaknesses

• No mention of ways that change can occur on small
  or large levels.
• What actions can individuals, school systems,
  organizations, and communities take to change the
  historical pattern of white privilege?

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Diversity Training Manual

• Implement list of 26 skin-color privilege
  conditions
• Help clearly explain what skin-color privilege
  is.
• Help the workforce understand skin-color
  privilege on a personal level.
• Integrating all forms of privilegeethnicity,
  gender, ability, age, and classthe workforce can
  educate employees on all forms of privilege.
• By including suggestions on how individuals and
  companies can change the historic pathway of
  white privilege, education could occur on how
  change can begin to be made.

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My Suggestions for Change

• K-12 School Systems
• Colleges
• Class
• Housing
• Personal