From “Wired to Lead: Being the Leader the Church Didn’t Think You Could Be” by Suzanne Nadell
Some of you may be questioning why you are even reading this book. You may be thinking, “Suzanne is a liberal journalist disguised as a Christian who tricked me into reading a book that discusses white privilege.” You may even be one of the many people who believe the term “white privilege” is racist. It’s not. When you really understand it, you realize it doesn’t mean “anti-white people.” It’s a term that describes a reality in our society. If you are white, you have experienced privilege. Even if life has been hard for you and even if you don’t know it, you have had some – and probably many – privileges that black people are not afforded. Think about your education, your access to fresh and healthy food and to good and affordable health care. Think about the times you have been stopped by the police. Did you fear for your life? Do you fear for your son’s life every time he leaves the house? Think about the books you read in school, perhaps long ago. Did you study any non-white artist, philosophers, novelists, scientists, musicians? What unconscious norms were you taught? Was it challenging to get your first bank account, loan or mortgage? Did the tone of real estate agents change when they saw the color of your skin? Has anyone ever rushed to lock their car door or cross the street because they saw you walking in their direction? I encourage you to study the topic objectively. Engage in constructive conversations with others who have opinions and information about privilege – or lack of it. Partner with someone who wants to use knowledge and conversation, and help each other grow. It helped me, and it may help you.
Understanding what white privilege is and identifying your own privilege is hard and often painful work. It means taking an honest look at yourself and your past to admit the advantages you experience. And it means doing something to shift the imbalances of power and privilege in society – in your family, neighborhood, state, church, school, country.