I first discovered my white privilege when I was 15. I saw an ad on TV for a Summer Jobs Fair for Poor Disadvantaged youth. Since I had no parents, was living with my Grandmother in HUD housing. My Paper Route and her SSI was our total household income. So I figured, I was poor and disadvantaged. WRONG! As it turns out, I was poor, however I was NOT DISADVANTAGED, because as the Interviewer told me, I was White. He said since I was White I would not qualify as disadvantaged unless I also had a Police Record. I had been taught that discrimination against someone because of race was wrong. That day I learned discrimination was just fine as long as it is against White People. That was in 1979. It has only gotten worse in the years since.
In my early 20's there was a girl at work that I was interested in. We were at the point where we had a standing lunch date every day. I would call her or she would call me and we would time our breaks so we could be together. After awhile I asked her if we could get together outside of work. She told me, we couldn't get serious because if we did. I would eventually have to meet her father. I said no problem, I don't mind meeting your father. She said, you don't understand, your White and my father would kill me if I brought home a White Boy.
When I started my Business. I learned that if I wasn't White my Business would qualify for Tax Credits.
When my company started doing business with the US Government. I learned that if I wasn't White my business would get priority in contract awards.
No I have never been called the N-word. but I do get called Racist when people disagree with me on any subject. Lady next door said my dog was chasing her cats. I told her my dogs were never outside alone. So it could not have been them. She called me Racist over and over. I asked her why she kept calling me that, she said, well look at you!
Those are some of my White Privilege moments.
