Few times, or possibly never before, have I been as taken by a public speech like I was after having watched White Privilege, first in class and later in its entirety by myself. I immediately sent out emails with the YouTube link to my close friends and family that I thought would share my fascination, and while some thought my email had been hacked when reading my frantic sounding excitement, I believe it was well received by most.
Now why is this such an interesting speech to listen to?
The blunt honesty; cold hard facts without sugarcoating. We are not used to be presented with information regarding sensitive topics like racial inequalities without even the slightest attempt to justify why we see these inequalities. What fascinated me the most is the way Mr Wise presents data and facts of how we throughout history have always claimed that racism was a thing of the past, acknowledging that sure, once there was a problem but not any more. A human safety mechanism perhaps, being able to see and acknowledge a problem that does not directly involve yourself because otherwise it would require you to either try to change (which is hard) or look in the mirror and admit to yourself that you are part of the problem.
I can willingly admit that prior to watching this video, I have probably been too sheltered in my own existence to open my eyes and see exactly how far we still have to go before we can see a
United States, and a world, without racial inequalities. I hope we can see more videos like "White Privilege", but perhaps a little less blunt, in educational systems, because at the end of the day, knowledge will always be power.
I. Kantoft
LT24
KIN577
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