White Privilege – a definition

A set of advantages and/or immunities white people daily benefit from beyond those common to others. White privilege can exist without white people’s conscious knowledge of its presence and helps maintain the racial hierarchy in the U.S.

-Prof. Arlene Avakian (2003)

Owning up to white privilege

One person who formerly took the course shared their experience of white privilege:

“I can expect to be trusted in stores and by people I don’t know. I have never felt “watched” as I move around a store.

I can expect to be treated with respect and personal space by the police.

I do not feel “different” from everyone around me in majority white environments.

People do not assume I’m poor. Or seem surprised that I’m not.

I have never been denied a job because of the color of my skin.

If I am standing in a public space for no apparent reason, I am more likely to be offered help than to be questioned about why I am there.

I believe we are one family and my family is being hurt and divided. I don’t know how to fix it, but owning my unconscious role in it is my first step.”

On May 3^rd we opened Session 1 with the first four lines of a prayer –

When we do not see the gravity of racial injustice,

Shake us from our slumber and open our eyes.

When it becomes easier to point fingers outward,

Help us to examine our own hearts.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Kaye Nash, a member of the Racial Justice Team

Judy Arnold, Will Burhans, Sara Gallop, Jonathan Goodell, Anne Hoenicke, Jerry Mechling, Kaye Nash, Julianne Zimmerman

Let’s respond well to racial tension and injustice in our culture!  Moving and acting together has a greater power than being alone!  That is why we are gathering for four weeks to focus on this work. Beginning May 3rd we will use a UCC curriculum to gain insights about recognizing “white privilege” in our culture and society. We hope, through supportive small group discussion, to reflect and act powerfully and gracefully on this important topic going forward. Please join us!

And please sign up by Tuesday Apr 26th so that we can send you materials prior to the first conversation session on May 3rd. We are offering a Zoom session at 10am and an in-person session at 7pm in Ripley Chapel (which has air purifiers).  Both sign up options involve committing to attending all four weeks.”