What is White Privilege?
The concept of white privilege is a provocative topic that is steeped in history, but still remains relevant in today’s society.
“White Privilege” refers to a socio-political system that distributes power, privilege and benefits unequally among groups in societies and countries in our world. It is rooted in the history of European colonial domination and settlement of the Americas, Asia and Africa, on one hand, and the 19th century practice of “race science” justifying this domination, on the other. These two phenomena have resulted in a set of political, social and cultural beliefs, assumptions and practices based on the primacy of one group over others. Privilege is often times difficult and hard to see for those people who were born with access to power and the resources that go with that power.
The White Privilege Conference – Global is a marketplace of ideas where our goal is to enhance individual understanding of white privilege and to address the dominant narratives that operate throughout our institutions and across society. Through workshops and panel discussions we will engage in a transformative conversation about privilege and its impacts with an aim of building a more inclusive world.
WPC is About Creating Change!
“Whites need to acknowledge and work through the negative historical implications of ‘Whiteness’ and create for ourselves a transformed identity as White people committed to equity and social change...To teach my White students and my own children...that there are different ways of being White, and that they have a choice as White people to become champions of justice and social healing.” ~Gary Howard
“The most powerful message that continues to reverberate through my head and heart is that of looking at the future and eliminating systems of oppression through the lens of possibility and hope.” ~Educator commenting on WPC 7
To learn more about privilege, we recommend:
Privilege, Power and Difference, by Allan Johnson
Privilege: A Reader, edited by Michael S. Kimmel and Abby L. Ferber
White Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism, by Paul Rothenberg
Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person, by Gina Crosley-Corcoran