Before watching the Tim Wise video in class I never really gave privilege much thought. I suppose this is due to my particular race and me being the one with the privilege. I now understand the idea of privilege and how it impacts my daily life. I agreed with a lot of what Tim Wise said. I agreed that people with the privilege do not want to give it up; even if it is hurting them too. I also agreed that people are in denial that they actually have privilege; I was one of those people. But, just to clarify, I have never been so torn when watching a video. I felt like I could not form any opinion because I actually saw both sides, and this rarely happens to me. Most of what I disagreed with was the Iraq War comments. Tim Wise is very effective at getting people to think with a narrowed scope. He actually makes you think about you and your responsibilities to society.
The media, without a doubt, portrays stereotypes while reinforcing and supporting privilege. The most popular shows on television take part in emphasizing these stereotypes. It is difficult to flip through the television stations and find a show that directly identifies with a particular race other than white. This in itself is white privilege. It is easy for a white person to find a television show that connects with them personally. Another example of white privilege in the media is in the use of news. Most stories featured in the local news cast or newspapers represent the white race and when people of a different race are interviewed they are viewed as representing their entire race.
I do think people still believe in the one-drop rule. But, without a doubt, I do not think they should. It is not right for us to make snap judgments the race of people. People should be able to identify with whatever race they want. Why would I care about the particular race in which a person identifies? In one of our readings the author talked about how he and his brother identified with different races. I’m not sure how common this is, but I don’t see anything wrong with it.
Reflection:
In regards to a new perspective and responsibility, the video definitely woke me up. I did not agree with everything, but it did make me aware that these things are happening and they are a problem, and we have to change to become a better society. I believe the number one thing people need to do, in order to fix the problem, is take on responsibility. No, I was not taking part in the slave trades nor did I ever own a slave, but it happened and that fact is never going to go away. Realizing it was wrong and seeing how white privilege still exists is the first step in taking responsibility. We have to quit denying white privilege exists and start dealing with the problem because it is impacting all of us.
Links:
This link is an article about the presidential election in regards to Sarah Palin and the white privilege she received. I was never a fan of Governor Palin, but I suppose as a woman I felt a connection with her and respect her to the highest degree. I read this article in astonishment. At this point, I can’t say I agreed or disagreed. I will need some more time to process all of these thoughts.
http://airamerica.com/blog/2008/oct/07/white-privilege-white-entitlement-and-2008-election
The other link I chose is a website contributing to media awareness and how white privilege and stereotypes shape the way we think. More people should be aware of this website, it warns you how dangerous the media can be.
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/whiteness_and_privilege/index.cfm
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I agree with what you are saying about not realizing that you actually have white privilege. Its crazy how many people are in denial of the fact that they have white privilege and even more crazy how people still deny it to this day after Tim’s video. It really did make you think about both sides and I consider it a good thing that I am now able to see both sides just like you are. I think that the video also “woke me up” into thinking about how people that don’t have white privilege look at me. I wasn’t aware that I had it and now that I am, I am very cognitive of how I portray myself to others who may not have white privilege.
ReplyDeleteI am completely the same way you are about white privilege. Before taking this class or watching the Tim Wise video, I had never really thought about it before. But perhaps it is because, like you, I am a part of the race that is portrayed as privileged. I think the Tim Wise video really did open up the eyes of people like you and I who had never been exposed to this idea really of white privilege before. Tim Wise did do an excellent job at making every person see both sides of the argument, it was interesting to see and then reflect this upon our own lives.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Ashley’s post. I too was a newcomer to the white privilege issue and listening to the video by Tim Wise made me think why was this my first time hearing about such an important topic. Tim Wise did an excellent job of public speaking; I was just so amazed by how influential he was with his words and personality. I also agreed with Ashley when she wrote about the media being so powerful when it comes to forming social ideas through stereotyping. It’s hard to watch a television show and not take some part of the show presented with you afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with your thoughts on Tim Wise in most all respects. I think Tim ( yes were on a first name basis) did a great job disclosing a multitude of facts and ideas that we as "privileged" white Americans usually do not hear about --half the time because we are not receptive to hearing about it, and the other half is probably people simply not wanting to talk about it-- and consciously or unconsciously we try our best to turn a cheek to when it happens around us in our lives most of the time. It is interesting that most of us know that this privilege exists, yet we do nothing singularly or as a society to help fix the problem. We do see it reinforced in the media whether it's through the news, movies, and television shows, and it is a far cry to ask for role reversal in any of those media to allow each of us to see the other side. It is sorrowful that it takes standing outside of our normal educational subject areas and hearing a speaker such as Tim Wise to make us aware of just how much white privilege effects us all. Saddening.
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley! I agree with a lot of your views on Tim Wise. I completely agree with you in the fact that I had never really thought of privilege because I was the one with it as well. I also agreed with you about Time Wise’s whole aspect of the War on Iraq. I also wrote about how the news is affected by privilege through stereotyping people. I think this happens more than I really noticed, and you made a good point about how when someone from another race is interviewed they are usually speaking for their entire race. I didn’t really realize how much control the news has.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. I completely agreed with your views on Tim Wise- especially his comments about the war. This class has also opened my eyes to privilege and stereotypes that are all over, but I have hardly ever taken notice to until now. I also looked at one of your sources (the essay by Tim Wise), and I was also shocked at the special treatment Sarah Palin, and others in her position, received while others are looked down upon for their “irresponsibility”. Like you, I was never a huge Palin fan either, and this web site shocked me even more. Hopefully, more and more people will educate themselves, like us, and we can eventually rid our country of privileges and stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, I agree with everything you said about the Tim Wise video. I feel like we wrote some similar things in our blogs. I never realized that I had this white privilege either. Honestly, I have never really felt privileged at all, until I heard Tim Wise, and then I realized my reality is different than the reality of those who are not white. I have always been a member of the lower class and have felt like I never get a break. Now I realize that I do have certain privileges, such as not being judged because I’m white, or not having to be a “snapshot” of the entire white race.
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone gives much thought to privilege. I think that most Americans think of the world being composed of two kinds of people: "The Haves" and "The Have Nots". I think the only time we really pay attention to privilege is when we are asked to discuss it in a collegiate atmosphere, on discussion panels, or when an individual or group of people abuses their privileges or those of others.
It's interesting in class that those who identified with everything Tim Wise said, was not willing to identify with him about the war. Yes, I agree that his statistics were wacky, but everyone knows not to trust statistics because they can be bended however you want them. Take for example the Elvis statistics. Being a black female, I know that there is probably the same amount of black people who still believe Tupac is a alive (If you don't know who he is, he is basically the black Elvis of rap). So for me, he was not very fair in that aspect, but the underlying message still holds true: those who are privilege do not have a problem with going to war, but those who are not privileged knows what it is liked to be oppressed, thus objected war.
Ashley, I agree with a lot of what you said. I was very conflicted with the Tim Wise video because on one hand, I do think as a white person I am granted certain privileges that minorities aren't born into, but at the same time it was my natural reaction to become defensive. I also lost a lot of what Tim Wise was talking about when he started talking about Iraq because I didn't see the relevance to the topic at hand. In general though I did agree with most of what he said and I am going to try to appreciate and acknowledge those privileges I have been granted that I have never noticed before.
ReplyDeleteAnother good blog in my opinion. I think you really understood what was asked. However, it was a little surprising to hear that you had never heard of privilege before. I think now you have a better grasp and are more aware of the privilege that you experience. I found the extra sources that you included to be very interesting and relevant to the topic.
ReplyDeleteI too gained much insight from Tim Wise’s presentation, however I am at odds with your comment about being white and therefore being the one with privilege... the implication is that whites are the only ones with privilege. I certainly agree that we live in an WASP-dominated society however I think it is necessary to realize that not only one type of privilege exists. In other words, there is white privilege; there is black privilege; there is female privilege; etc.
ReplyDeleteI also wish to comment on your next blurb about stereotypes on television. I agree that stereotypes are reinforced, time and time again, especially in situational comedies. However, I have to disagree with the statement that it is difficult to find a station that identifies with a race other than white...BET? or Comedy Central where minorities are commonly featured as the stand up comedian and do entire segments making fun of white people not understanding minorities.