White Privilege: A Clarifying Conversation

Parent Education Series – April 3, 2008

White Privilege
Panelists: Carla Gary, Asst. Vice Provost at U of O, Tim McMahon, UO, Ruth Wren, LCC Women's Program, Arbrella Luvert, Johnny Lake, Eugene District 4j, Juan Quadros, Asst. Principal at Roosevelt Middle School, Donna Koechig, Mark Harris, and James Florendo, Lane Community College.

Randy Bernstein, Principal: The idea for this meeting came from me and a SEHS parent with the hope that parents will see with new eyes and find new ways of looking at things.. Our school staff has spent professional development time and training regarding “cultural competence.” What is it? And Why? Schools are supposed to be the great equalizers. We have an achievement gap. We have an opportunity gap. We would like to be more proud of our programs. We would like to eliminate cultural bias and include cultural sensitivity. Once we recognize white privilege, how do we use that privilege to make things better?

Carla Gary: This is a difficult conversation, particularly in view of current events. This is a journey of a lifetime. Some things you will hear may make you feel uncomfortable. I say, “Welcome to the world, step out on faith, open possibility to see through new eyes. Hard conversations have to happen every day. This is just the beginning, we live it every day of our lives.



What is white privilege? Various paraphrased comments from members of the panel:

It is an institution...white race in dominant positions of power...doors are open to white people.

I have dark skin, dark hair. White privilege is something I don't have.

When I show up at someone's office, they say, “Oh, you don't look the way you sound over the phone.” Meaning that they though I was white because I spoke the king's English.

White privilege in America is never having to think about it. I can be sure of three things:
1. I will always be presumed to be innocent.
2. There will always be a presumption of worthiness.
3. There will always be a presumption of competence.

When does the fish know when he's out of the water? You only realize white privilege when you don't have it. You have an advantage over somebody else who is disadvantaged. Racism and sexism are a norm in our society.

My high school counselor told me to forget about college. He said, “You people are good at working in the fields or with your hands.”

When I came here to Eugene from L.A., I went to a store with my father to look for a toy for my son. We walked up and down the aisles, testing toys. When we left the store, my father said, “Did you see that sales clerk following us, watching as if we were going to steal something?”

Shifts and changes are happening quickly. Kids are not seeing race. Children are more prepared for these conversations than we are. We are behind our children and we had better catch up.

For some students, the U of O campus is the most diverse place they have ever been. You can be pretty sure the professors and administrators are going to be white. White folks just don't bring it up sometimes.

I have lived here for 25 years, but don't consider it home. Why is the immigration issue not about whites? It's always about Mexicans. There are a (large number) of illegal whites in the United States.

If you are a dark skinned Cuban who immigrates to the U.S., you get sent back to Haiti, but white Cubans get to stay.

¾ of 1% of the total population of the U.S. are Native Americans. It used to be 100%. In this country there are over 300 tribes, each one is considered a separate nation. I am an Indian. I've lived in this community for over 30 years. I am the one Indian in the room. How does that affect our community? I'm the only Indian you can find. The only Indian kid in the room becomes the spokesman for all the 300 tribes.

Resegregation of the schools.

I moved here as a white person to this predominantly white community. I didn't know anyone, but always felt comfortable. When I compared notes with my dark skinned friend, he said he did not feel comfortable. His experience was not being welcomed.

I have to blend in. You have to negotiate who you are. A chameleon on a red chair doesn't make the chair red.

Those who have undeserved privilege must be ever mindful of those who have undeserved burdens.

Your perceptions are not necessarily shared.

The audience broke up into groups and were joined by members of the panel. These are various paraphrased responses from the groups:

Table 1 --We had a wide ranging and focused conversation about different types of privilege – adoptees, heavy people, female. We talked about discernment vs. discrimination. We are hard wired to notice these things in different ways. Tolerance and acceptance, apathy and empathy. That's so gay – stereotypes.

Table 2 – We talked about what brought us to this meeting. Some of us wanted to be involved, some of us came from other parts of the country. Why it is important to talk about racism. Responsibility to understand that you have privilege.

Table 3 – We talked about being asked tactless questions about adopted children. Why is student government disproportionately white? How does one take on the burden and become an ally? How do we help have these conversations with our kids?

Table 4 – These are difficult conversations to have because we are afraid we are going to say the wrong thing. It is not something we talk about except in close groups. It is important to have conversations and bring up when it occurs. Need everyone, not just people of color to bring up. We all have responsibility.

Table 5 – We had a sense of awkwardness, started by telling personal stories. How it felt to have contact with people of color. Talked about experiences of racism in schools. “Your son doesn't need to take Spanish because he won't be going to college.

Table 6 – What do we do with our knowledge? Let's not look back but now and forward. Make the situation for all of us better, share the richness, making it better for all concerned.

Table 7 – Personal accounts around white privilege. How it is difficult. We think that Eugene is liberal and hip, but no it is not. There is a lot of work to be done. Continue to do the struggle and hard work.

Table 8 – We giggled over the fact that Eugene is not liberal. We have to talk about this in a way that does not put someone on the defensive. Problem solving, not blaming. We heard a story about a Columbian drug dealer—of course, he's Columbian, must be a drug dealer.

Table 9 – This is about our children and what do we want to teach them? Who is responsible? We want to find that person and set him straight, but he is, of course, us. (laughter)_ We all have inherited these issues. We all have to work together. It has to be a multi-cultural group at the table.

Carla Gary: The conversation has to continue. Important for all children to see themselves as the face of scholarship. Plant a tree under whose shade you do not expect to sit. It is hard to take people on a journey when they think they have arrived. Stick and stay and come back Thursday, May 8, 7:30, for Where do we go from here?