A Deeper Look into White Privilege

One issue during class really struck my interest - white privilege and how it presents itself in media.

White privilege, as we discussed in class, is a relatively contemporary issue. However, I find it a semi-confusing one, as the very definition of white privilege varies depending on where I'm searching. Though it's not difficult to find information on the issue, it's just difficult to sort through it.

It seems to me the issue of white privilege has a community of its own. But from what I can tell, the idea of white privilege points back to one thing: a sense of power.

This ABC news special from 1989 explains the issue of white privilege by studying children's thoughts.

Many movies still demonstrate white privilege by continuing to have white males playing the most powerful, heroic roles. Though this isn't always the case, such as Crash (1994), shows white privilege in more subtle ways. This clip contains a scene where white privilege is discussed.

White privilege is not something I usually consider (probably because I am white), but it's rather easy to detect when I really started looking. The media is full of examples, and I'm sure the issue will continue to change the way I consume it on a regular basis.

But here's a little food for thought - there's an interesting clip on the irony of white privilege from a popular speaker, Tim Wise. He uses more contemporary examples, such as Hurricane Katrina, to describe how white privilege has, in some ways, worked against whites and the idea of power.