Racial and Ethnic Matter - Assignment Example

It involves the violation of other people’s rights without considering how they would feel or how they would be affected. White privilege is considered the intrusion of people’s privacy without their permission. 2 White privilege is earned because a person is able to fight his way out and convince people that he or she is right. It is earned because a person uses his skills and wits to his advantage. A person with white privilege convinces people that the problem is not with him, but it is from an outside source.

For example, a person owning a company will convince his workers that he cannot add them salary because the economy is falling down. White privilege is earned because a person is able to get support from people around him and rise to high status. For example, politicians are able to convince people to elect them back in cabinet yet they have never helped their supporters. White privilege is earned because a person is able to engage in a criminal activity and when taken to court he argues his facts out and he is released.

For example, when a woman is caught lifting things in a supermarket, she convinces the supervisor that he did it because her child is hungry a she does not have anything to offer her. 3 A privilege automatically means that one enjoys a particular advantage over the other (McIntosh). Admitting this privilege would mean that people assume that they are more superior to the other. In this age of equality and racial integration, it would be indeed disastrous to boast of such privileges. Further, it would make others feel inferior or marginalized, and thus may cause disagreements or lack of cohesion in the societal setting.

It is necessary to know about white privilege so that we can know how to relate with others, especially the other races. White people are often deemed as a reference point from where the behavior of other people can be explained, according to the author. It is essential to understand this concept so that we can make all-inclusive decisions that do not have to marginalize other racial groupings. Finally, it must be understood that it will not always be a personal subjectivity, but rather, it encompasses a trend that is historic and needs to be controlled.

4 Meritocracy has a hint of illusionism, in the way that it is currently not applicable (McIntosh). For example, the united sates advocate for equal opportunities for everyone, but the issue of white privilege is contradictory. Instead of merits such as education, credentials and competency, United States has become extremely competitive and close-ended to the point where there are practiced people who are unemployed. Thus, a non-White may fail to get an opportunity to be successful merely because of some social forces that affect the power of merit.

A US citizen may fail to be successful merely because of white privilege. For instance, without vast amount of wealth, an individual cannot campaign for the presidency. This means that a better-qualified individual would be denied the opportunity to become president merely because the opponent is wealthier. A poor individual would have a less chance to be successful compared to one who comes from an affluent background. Privileges become unearned, since such issues as familial background influence success.

5 Sentence number four which states that, ‘