While writing a piece on White Privilege for my blog, i have been doing a lot of reading up on articles and posts relating to the whole Ferguson situation that has been playing out in Americaland and there have been a number of really helpful ones written and here are some of those:
I loved this piece which begins with an innocent ‘interaction’ in a coffee shop that opens up to the much more hectic conversation about Ferguson and the challenge for us to stop hiding:
http://culturemulching.com/2014/08/24/how-do-we-dance-after-ferguson-for-the-privileged-vacationer
An excellent piece from a comparative perspective of ‘If this was a white kid it would not have played out this way’ which is White Privilege to the extreme:
http://blog.mattstauffer.org/182/first-they-came-for-the-black-people-and-i-did-not-speak-out
This is a very different perspective, shared by a mother of a six year old, Keesha Beckford, with some practical ideas on what we can do to make a difference:
http://www.bonbonbreak.com/dear-white-moms
This is the piece by Elizabeth Broadbent which i already referenced [under her alias of Manic Pixie Dream Mama] from the perspective of a white mother able to spot the difference:
A helpful piece using the analogy of bicycle riding in a world designed for cars, helps to bring the point across:
http://alittlemoresauce.wordpress.com/2014/08/20/what-my-bike-has-taught-me-about-white-privilege
This is a visiual of the difference in reporting language for white and black crimes that is heartbreakingly indicative of the fact of White Privilege:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/media-black-victims_n_5673291.html
Had to add this one which looks at 28 common racist attitudes and behaviours and while i don’t agree completely with all of them, i do see a lot of sad truth in most of them:
https://www.stcloudstate.edu/affirmativeaction/resources/insights/pdf/28ToolsChange.pdf
And i would love to hear from you – when it comes to ‘White Privilege’ and Race Conversations, what are the articles and blog posts that have influenced you or caused you to pay extra attention of late?
Finally, a reminder from pastor Martin Niemöller which was written about the Holocaust and a reminder why it is SO IMPORTANT for white people to be having these conversations and getting personally involved in action:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
[For my original post on White Privilege, click here]
Irresistibly Fish 
White privilege is definitely real. Those who try to deny it are either self-absorbed or slow-witted. Coming from an upper middle-class white home. I enjoyed opportunities and advantages that many of my black friends simply never had.
Thanks for sharing all of these links (including mine), Brett. Important to keep these conversations going. And following up with action.
Best, ML.
So I’m doing my masters thesis on white racial justice activists in South Africa, and something I’ve found in talking to random people about my topic, (but also in some of my interviews) is that people here highlight the class thing a lot. There is still white privilege, for sure, but because of the demographic make-up of South Africa ( a lot less white people) class has a bigger effect. (at least, from people’s perspectives). But– it doesn’t take away white privilege. One example: black cop pulls over my white female co-worker who was driving in the township with two black male co-workers, and the black cop asks her if she’s okay. She tells him she’s fine (she’s with friends) and he didn’t believe her– he was convinced she was begin hijacked. So people who are scared about being a minority, and “reverse racism” and stuff… because of our history, even though now there are lots of people who haven’t lived through apartheid, there’s still a racial structure that benefits white people. I could say more, but, yeah, thanks for the post.
Thanks Steph, sounds like you might have some good stuff to add – drop me an email at brettfish@hotmail.com if you want to look at guesting a post on here.
Read this post
Great roundup of posts! I have thought a lot about this with recent events and I am grateful that my college experience introduced me to the idea of white privilege, of which I was completely unaware of before this.
Thankx so much Melissa. As a South African who has lived in the USA for the last three years and just moved back i feel like these conversations and engagements are crucial. Just trying to figure out the best way to engage with people on them.
Thankx for stopping by
love brett fish