Essays on White Privilege

White Privilege is a term used to describe the various privileges, benefits, and unearned advantages that white people have simply due to their race. In America, these privileges are often seen in education, employment opportunities, housing markets, access to healthcare and other social services, legal systems and law enforcement agencies as well as everyday interactions with others who do not share the same racial background. In many cases these privileges are so ingrained into our society that they become invisible to those who possess them. This can make it difficult for those outside of this system of privilege to recognize or challenge it; however, the effects of white privilege continue regardless of whether or not individuals are aware of its existence. Consequently, understanding white privilege is important because it helps us identify ways in which racism continues today despite advances made in civil rights legislation over the past few decades. White Privilege affects nearly every aspect of life in America; from education and employment opportunities to voting rights and access to health care services. Individuals who benefit from White Privilege tend to have better educational plans than their non-white peers resulting in higher rates of college enrollment and graduation rates among whites compared to minorities. Additionally this results in greater economic opportunities when entering the workforce such as higher wages for comparable positions and increased chances for promotion within organizations ” all factors that play a role in creating lasting wealth discrepancies between races even generations later . Furthermore there exists an unequal balance when it comes to how law enforcement interacts with different racial groups where police brutality disproportionately impacts communities of color more than whites leading some experts suggest excessive use force is more common against certain ethnicities based on implicit biases held by officers . Finally neighborhoods often segregated by socioeconomic status further promote inequality between races making up what has come be known as the two Americas” one predominantly inhabited by wealthier White Americans while another occupied mainly by low income African Americans or Hispanics faced with inferior schools lower quality homes lack adequate health care service etcetera Ultimately white privilege creates institutional barriers that limit full participation minority populations within society thus perpetuating long standing disparities between ethnic groups throughout US history .