Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person

[JustAnotherGen]

68. Not sure if you are male or female

But here's another way to look at it.

"I'm a beautiful black woman in America. Not a beautiful woman. ". Who said it? It was a conversation between me and Vanessa Williams (first black Miss America) at a beach bar in St. Martin in the 1990's.

When I buy products for my hair - I go to a section of the drugstore that is about 12 inches wide and two shelves - I was in Rite Aid this morning. That's not 12% of two long stacked aisles - no way.

I think sometimes the message of these articles get lost in the poverty perspective.

If you look at it as two women - one white and one black in America - AT every economic level - you will see these distinctions made.

Take poverty out of it if it helps. Take where you are "placed" in society.

Now here's the thing - and it's Meant as a compliment . . . It's hard for a white male progressive/liberal to see these things. Because you probably don't question Vanessa Williams beauty or know the difference between good hair vs. "bad" hair vs. "natural" hair or why these distinction might identify a black woman's "class".

However racism created both of these examples - and they both continue to exist. When you see that - these two examples and acknowledge and honor their existence - you strip away white privilege.