1 Million stories of white privilege

Real simple.  Tell your story of white privilege by posting here or using the submit link.I don't know what to expect or hope to change but I know there are millions of stories like mine - of white privilege

[million-stories-white-privilege]

A simple story

I woke up the other morning with a very sore back. I went to my doctor that morning and told him my back hurt and that I wanted Vicodin. I left five minutes later with a prescription for 40 Vicodin.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

#WhiteLivesMatter...Really?

A friend who recently discovered the #BlackLivesMatter campaign told me the white community deserved our own hashtag about the importance of white lives. She told me #WhiteLivesMatter is trending on Twitter, Facebook and pretty much any form of social media that will allow it. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so I Googled it right then and there and was shocked to find it’s actually a hashtag used. I wanted to share with you what I told my friend; this not only addresses their suggestion for this hashtag but also goes out to all those who are already trying to make this hashtag catch on: 

I can pretty much guarantee that at any place I end up working, I will be in the majority race. I can assume if I’m walking down the street, people aren’t going to cross to the other side in fear. I can even bet that if it were my word against someone of a minority, my story would be taken more seriously. Why? Because I’m white. I may be a woman, and I may not be the richest around, and sure that leaves me at a disadvantage in certain societal contexts, but it does not and will never detract from the fact that I am white and I am privileged. Time and again we hear the argument that white males in particular are discriminated against because people assume their being white and man gets them everything they want. Spoiler alert: it does.

We all know Tapestry is a mandatory graduation requirement during O-Week, and it has never been clearer how many white people have the mindset that although being white puts one in the majority, there are still moments of prejudice and racism against us. A white freshman male stood up and explained how he understood black people and other minorities felt racism was a common occurrence in their lives, yet he wanted recognition that white people also encounter racism on a daily basis. He claimed, “Everyone assumes white people – especially white males – are racist and privileged,” but he wanted people to know it was not the truth. If that idea of reverse racism isn’t a picture-perfect statement for #WhiteLivesMatter, then I don’t know what is.

The concept of reverse racism pops up constantly in the media today, and it essentially argues white people are discriminated against merely because people hold on to the racism of the past. The perception of reverse racism, however, fails to address an incredibly critical aspect of society – white privilege. Before transferring to Cornell, I participated in a program called Urban Plunge at Fordham University, and prior to our meeting, our counselors sent us readings to complete including Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” It is frustrating as a white female to hear my peers and even my family members argue that white people do not have as easy of a life as minorities would like to assume because I recognize I am privileged. I recognize I have the ability to identify with many, if not all, of the privileges McIntosh describes in her essay. Most importantly, I recognize everyone encounters difficult events in his or her lifetime, but that does not mean we, as the majority, need to exclaim we are similarly discriminated against.

In writing this piece about how I feel so strongly about white privilege and racism, I still am a victim of distinguishing a difference between people based on skin color. I am currently taking the Writing Black Experience and Black Lives Writing Seminar at Cornell, and never did I realize what it felt to recognize my skin color before this class. In this class I immediately noticed I was one of a few white people, and never before have I been encountered with the realization I am white. Unfortunately our culture has trained us to distinguish people based on skin color, and as my writing seminar professor, Carole Boyce Davies, once put it, “racism is epidermal.” We all classify each other by the color of our skin and assign stereotypical traits the majority of our race are bound to exhibit. Racism is as prevalent as ever in society today – maybe not in obvious laws like the Jim Crow Era or Civil Rights Era, but the subconscious discrimination is absolutely still there. Movements like the push for #WhiteLivesMatter to trend merely shed a more obvious light on discrimination minorities must face daily.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

White Privilege at the Hospital

A few years ago, my husband (a black man) was away in "The Boondocks" of PA for a work thing.  I slipped in the shower and broke my leg, and was forced to call paramedics, mainly because I didn't want to move and possibly hurt myself even more.

While checking me in, the nurses brought me a phone so I could call him and he jumped on the road right away.  There was a lot of traffic, so it took a few hours.  All the while the nurses are asking me, "will your husband be here soon?" with very sweet tones.  I told them he was on his way.

He walked in and was very anxious, a little agitated and, understandably a little loud. ( Normal reactions to hearing your wife is hurt and in the hospital).  The whole time he was sitting there talking to me asking if I'm ok, there were death stares from the nurses station.  He then got up to use the bathroom.  The next day, as we got home late, he told me that when he came out of the men's room, he was standing face-to-face with a nurse and two security officers.  They immediately questioned my husband about if he hit me.  Did he push me.  Did I really fall in the shower. Now, when the paramedics responded, I was the only person at home.  They needed to actually break my door down and I still had shampoo in my hair when they brought me into the ER, and was soaked from head to toe.  It was obvious I wasn't lying about being in the shower.  I know they need to ask because domestic violence is an issue, but he wasn't even there.  The whole experience made me question if it was because of his race and because of his behavior.  The way the staff's attitude changed when he walked in so upset and scared was especially telling.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

white privelege: brought to you by blowpops

I am a white female. I grew up sheltered in a relatively affluent suburb of Hartford. When I was about 13-14 years old (circa 2000-2001) I was walking home from the local town center with a group of friends one night, also white, male and female, maybe 6-10 teenagers. We (?) decided to cut through a local park. It was after dark, so technically we were trespassing. I figured we'd be in and out in a matter of minutes, but the other kids were more daring and thought it would be a good idea to jump in the wading pool and rumor has it do some skinny dipping. I waited at the picnic tables on the outskirts of the park with a friend just talking and sucking on BlowPop lollipops. After maybe 10 minutes, a police car pulled up, blue lights flashing, headlights blazing through the darkness. Everyone started to run, myself included. Then I stopped and yelled to my friend, why are we running?  You and I haven't done anything wrong. We hadn't made it out of the park boundaries but he kept going. I stopped. I turned around and started walking towards the officer. He shined a flashlight in my face and asked me what I was holding. I offered him my lollipops. He questioned me for 10-15 minutes: what were we doing,  did I know we were trespassing, why did my friends run. I said we were just passing through when he arrived but a few kids may have jumped in the pool. He made me give him names and addresses. I did. Then he lectured me and let me go. I felt scared, angry at my friends. I went straight home and told my parents what happened. They called the police station and lectured them on harassing a little girl.

I always knew I was privileged to live where I did. As I hear countless stories of young black men and women suffering at the hands of power hungry policemen just for making eye contact or running away, I can clearly imagine how this situation would've been different if not for my white privelege. I would've been cuffed and jammed in the back of the cruiser. Questioned for hours. And I was the one who didn't run. Who knows what would have happened to my friends. 

White privilege is being free to enjoy a lollipop and a walk through the park with friends without worrying for your safety or your freedom. White privilege is knowing that if you're stopped by the police you'll be allowed to keep your lollipops.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Essentially a list of recurring incidents and racist microaggressions that white people never have to face, turned into a satirical list called "8 reasons to feel bad for white people." very smartly done.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

White privilege while selling our home

Its your moderator @VeryWhiteGuy 

We’re selling our home & it will be one of the single biggest transactions we will make in my lifetime, so my wife & I did our due diligence and homework to make sure that we would be able to properly and fully benefit from the sale of our home.

One of the things we discovered is that there is something referred to as “Selling a home while black”.  That is, there is a distinct disadvantage to selling your home while black.  Ostensibly white home buyers are devaluing black owned homes.  White buyers make up a larger percentage of home buyers due to a myriad of racially biased variables from generational wealth building, FHA sanctioned redlining, steering minority groups into sub-prime mortgages which were hardest hit in the 2008 financial meltdown and more. So, not wanting to be impacted in this way we removed all evidence of her from the home (how depressing is that).  We took down pictures, hid hair care products and silk wraps - anything that would clue a potential buyer that my wife (and joint owner of our home) is black. Ultimately we listed the house, and the first family to visit the home put in an offer and we’re under contract.  It was only on the market for 5 days and we’re getting 99% of our asking price.  

I can’t be for certain that my white privilege played a role - but I know for certain that my wife being black would have potentially negative implications.  I am privileged to be able to sell my home without worrying about the buyers concerns over my race.  I am privileged in that I am able to secure a mortgage/loan at the very best APR & terms.  I am privileged in that I can treat lending/mortgages like a commodity - get pricing from 3-4 loan officers and compare the rates/fees for the best offer - they all want my business. I am privileged in that I can choose to live virtually anywhere I wish - no market is off limits other than due to price. It saddens me that my wife has to literally remove every trace of her existence simply to sell our home.  The home inspection is tomorrow...and I am making arrangements for her to be out of the home - we don’t want the buyers to know she is black until they see us at closing to sign on the dotted line. This is our home.  This is where we spend the majority of our time (we work from home).  Home is where the heart is...and to sell ours, we needed to white wash my wife’s existence from it - and that is heart breaking.

@VeryWhiteGuy

[million-stories-white-privilege]

White privilege & racial profiling

I'm a white woman in her 30's. Two years ago I finally saw what privilege looked like. I was taking a bus from Florida to Tennessee. I'm from the south, and I know where they put bus terminals, so I knew these were going to be predominately black neighborhoods. What I didn't expect was how long it would take to get the buses loaded because of all the searches. Everyone was all but turning their bags out to be searched; but all they did was glace at mine. They did the same with any of the other white people. The first time it happened I thought it was just that terminal. It was pretty much the same at every terminal. In some places everyone only got a cursory look and no one got searched. But when they did search the only people who were searched thoroughly were black.

Most of my friends travel for work; which means a lot of airports. Out of all my friends, the only one who has ever been randomly searched is the one from Trinidad. She's also the only one who's ever been searched more than once.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

White privilege at the airport

White Privilege at the Toronto Airport. 

 My mom's husband recently noticed his own white privilege. It was THAT blatant. 

 My mom and her husband recently returned to Ontario from a trip to the Bahamas. They are both white - in their mid 60's. Two flights had arrived in Toronto at the same time; one from Jamaica and one from Bahamas, so almost everyone in line at customs was from those two flights. 

 While in line waiting to go through customs, they were making sure they had their passports and forms ready, and that they had their story straight about how many bottles of alcohol each of them were carrying in their luggage, etc.. When they got up to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) agent, he just waived them through. The CBSA agent didn't even glance at their documents or ask them a single question. 

 My mom's husband noticed that a number of people were being detained and asked lots of questions, and some were being pulled aside for further questioning and searching by the CBSA agents. Every single one of them was black.  Every single one. White people were being given little to no scrutiny.  Black people were  being questioned extensively.   @VeryWhiteGuy - thanks for submitting this (anonymous submissions can be sent to [email protected])  I have witnessed this first hand in Chicago when returning from Jamaica as well.  My wife is black and she is almost always scrutinized.  The TSA claim that black people, in particular black women are used more often as drug mules so they are frequently pulled aside for heightened scrutiny.  I have not found any credible evidence or data that suggests this opinion by TSA is accurate.  Just like with Stop & Frisk in NY this is racial profiling.  In reviewing NYC stop & frisk data it was concluded that white people are MORE likely to be found with contraband, despite black people being stopped & frisked at much higher rates. http://www.civilrights.org/publications/reports/racial-profiling2011/the-reality-of-racial.html

[million-stories-white-privilege]

White Privilege Starts Young

A few months back I had to take an alternate route while trying to get our white teenaged son and his (also white) friend to the early morning weigh-in for his wrestling match, and as I zoomed down a road I was unfamiliar with, I got pulled over for speeding. I was going at least 20 miles and hour over the speed limit, but got off with a warning in classic white privilege fashion, and after the (white) cop drove away, I took the opportunity to spend the next few minutes talking to the boys about the roots and results of white privilege. 

Fast forward a few months. My son comes home from middle school, we're talking about his day and how other kids' history projects turned out, and he says, "I actually think my teacher is kind of racist." I asked him why he thought that and if he could say a little more about it. "Well, there's this kid, Arthur (not his real name, and someone I hadn't heard my son talk about before), and the teacher asked him how long he'd worked on his project, and he said, 'About 23 hours," and then the teacher said, 'I like your project, Arthur, but I'd like it even better if you didn't lie to me." I asked my son if he could talk a little more about why he thought racism was at the root of this. "Well, there was this one time when Arthur forgot his planner, and she (the white teacher) sent him to talk to the counselor about how he was forgetting his planner, and maybe he'd forgotten it three times or whatever, but when I forgot my planner, she just said, 'Well try to remember next time,' and it just gave me this feeling that he's kind of already in trouble before he does anything." 

I'm going to talk more with our son about this, about what it feels like and what we can do when someone in a position of power behaves in a way that makes us wonder if we might be witnessing racism at work. About the fact that I was about his age the first time I recognized someone actively expressing racism. About the work that lies ahead. I'm so glad he said something, but I'm also heartsick that he's seeing what he's seeing. White privilege and racism are incredibly and infuriatingly pervasive.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Recently I was driving my father to a doctor’s appt. in Schenectady, NY.  I was going too fast through a school zone and got pulled over.  A young, white officer asked for my license and registration.  When I handed over the documents, my father asked the officer if he could have a word, and proceeded to reach into the glove compartment to pull out his retired FDNY placard, and tell the story of how we were in the midst of a family crisis and how I was in town from the midwest and please, officer, if there is anyway you could find it in your heart to let us off with a warning, we would be so grateful.  My father is in the beginning stages of an alzheimer-like illness, and had to keep asking me to fill in the details of his story to the officer.  At one point, when my father asked me, “where did you come from?” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The officer let my father go on and on, and although he didn’t look pleased, he told me to slow down, gave me my documents back and got back into his police car and sped off.  My father and I laughed, he joked about how I owed him big, and I told my family and friends later how my father talked me out of a ticket.

Reflecting on this, I am aware of my privilege, from the sense of ease and trust I felt, in knowing/assuming how this interaction with law enforcement was going to turn out–the worst scenario was going to be a ticket–to the ease and trust the officer apparently felt and afforded me and my father, even when my father reached for something in the glove compartment, and could have easily been taken for someone who was not telling the truth.  In an anything-can-happen situation that I know is the reality for people of color when confronted by police, I would have been filled with anxiety, both for myself and especially worrying about my Dad. Perhaps a harmless fumbling of words might have irritated a suspicious officer?  Perhaps a lighthearted story and happy ending would have turned into one that had a gun drawn and pointed at my father for reaching into the glove compartment?  Perhaps I would have ended up outside of the vehicle, with my hands on the hood of the car with my 80 year old father while cars slowed and people gawked?  

Thank you for this site. @VeryWhiteGuy says - thanks for the submission it is a great example of the many privileges afforded to us white people during police encounters. 

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Smooth travel

I wore a hoodie all week and no one looked at me or treated me like a thug. I also went through the airport with a beard twice and no one looked at me or treated me like a terrorist. Probably no one thought it either. My skin is white and my beard is reddish-brown.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Flexible rules?

When my nephew graduated from high school, he and some friends were excited to rent a hotel for the weekend to celebrate. They were all 18. So they reserved the room online, and packed for a fun weekend away. They are all kids of color. My nephew is black, his gf is mixed black and native, and the other 3 were all black also.

They arrived at the major chain hotel, and my nephew went to check in at the counter. He said his name, presented his ID, and his bankcard. The employee refused to check him in, wouldn't give him a reason why, and then called over a manager who said he had to be 21 to check in. My nephew called me, his white aunt, and I drove to the hotel. I asked for the mgr, told him that I was aware of his discrimination against my nephew and lying about the 21 year old rule (it's actually 18) and within 5 minutes, my nephew was checked in, under his name and with his bankcard. 

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Privileged while shopping

It's @VeryWhiteGuy again. I was going to BJs to get some ice which they keep in the back of the store so I simply paid for 4 bags then went with my brother in law (black) to get the ice. We each grabbed two bags and I started to walk out. I had the receipt, we paid, I'm white so I didn't give it a second thought. My brother in law asked "are we just going to walk out of here?" I jokingly said it's all good - you're with the white guy. We had a laugh, but in all seriousness that's the essence of white privilege. I didn't even think or consider for one second there might be an issue. In contrast my brother in law has to be vigilant, aware and thinking about how he interacts within white spaces, at all times. He can't let his guard down for a minute. And if you're reading this and you're thinking "what's the big deal, he could just show the receipt" - it's not that simple. The act of being asked for the receipt, every time and knowing that you're being treated differently because of your skin is an indignation. A humiliation. It's embarrassing and uncomfortable. Now think about how that would feel if you felt that way every time you shopped.

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Privileged enough to skip "sketchy" restaurants

I am afraid to eat in at the McDonalds closest to my house. It’s located in a neighborhood that locals refer to as “sketchy” and the crime rate is moderate but nothing more than any other place in town really. I am a young white female that often eats alone in restaurants but I cant bring myself to go to this particular McDonalds. I tell myself that it’s right not to intentionally put myself in “harm’s way,” whether that harm real or imagined I cant say. I am privileged to prioritize my personal safety above needing to walk in for food. I get to go through the drive though in the car that I own(another privilege that as a 24 yr old probably didnt earn). The most privileged part is that if I did eat in and was harassed or a crime was committed against me I could call the police and they would assist me. They wouldn’t question my story or make me feel like a suspect instead of a victim. I might even be able to sue the restaurant if I felt in some way they had been negligent.

Thanks to whomever submitted this story. It's a good example of privilege, and also admitting to ones implicit bias regarding this particular McDonalds location. I'm not admonishing the writer, rather acknowledging their courage to be honest with themselves an admit that they're afraid to eat there alone. The next step would be to understand that fear is unfounded, irrational an overcome it. @VeryWhiteGuy

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Privilege even while protesting

So there have been a lot of stories about white people not being cognizant of our privilege in various ways - even when we're trying to be helpful, even when we're trying to stand in solidarity with black people at protest actions. Some of the leadership at these protest actions decided to pen a set of rules/instructions for us white folk - mainly as we kept fucking it up.  Here's a sample.

White followers - here's the first litmus test of your awareness of your privilege.  Does that sign upset you? Do you feel that sign is "creating division" or worse some form of (impossible) reverse racism? Why do you feel that way? Do you feel that way because you're left out? Do you feel that way because you inherently think you should be free to do what you like EVEN in the face of a request from the very group of people we're supposed to be in solidarity with and helping? To be clear asking people that are supporting you to provide that solidarity in a manner that best benefits the very group you're there to help should NOT be construed as anything other than a request.  Requests to correct problematic behavior are not themselves divisive or "racist" they're simply requests that we white people conduct and comport ourselves in a manner that does not HURT people of color. How might that happen you ask?

I understand the rage this young woman is feeling, but getting in face of police like that, at a protest action inherently increases the likelihood of confrontation - a confrontation that will more than likely result in problems for people of color - but not us white folk.  I read that this woman was escalating the problems, but it was a black protester that got arrested. I mention the above not to discuss but as an example of how we white people can, even when we try to do good, let our privilege get in the way.  I have espoused the opinion that white privilege is like the atmosphere - it weighs down on us, is everywhere, invisible to the naked eye yet is the very substance we require to live.  Privilege is just like that - everywhere, unseen, weighing down on us...even when we are at protest actions in solidarity with people of color.  There are a lot of complex things going on with our privilege when we are at protest actions.  There are mistakes like taking the megaphone or spot light - the news media are already twisting the narrative of this movement so giving them a white person sound bite does not help.  We white people often don't realize that our very desire to help can also come off as "white savior" complex.  Inherent in the white savior is that people of color NEED us to save them, or that people of color "cant" do it on their own.  That is NOT the message for this movement.

For more resources and information on how white people can help, without letting our privilege get in the way check out these resources. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dg86g-QlM0&feature=youtu.be http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/08/ferguson_how_white_people_can_be_allies.html http://whichsideareyouonfriend.tumblr.com/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/11/28/what-white-people-need-to-know-and-do-after-ferguson/ http://bendstowardjustice.tumblr.com/post/104742740875/dear-white-protestors http://damaliayo.com/pdfs/I%20CAN%20FIX%20IT_racism.pdf This blog is all about acknowledging and being accountable for our own privilege so I will relay my own story of privilege at a protest action. I am not perfect.  I am on an evolution of understanding of my own privilege.  I know I will never "get there" and this is ongoing & persistent work that I will embark upon. I know that I will make mistakes, but I vow not to repeat them and I vow to keep trying to be better. If you follow me on twitter @VeryWhiteGuy you will know my position on social justice and equality.  I think most people would say "Very White Guy gets it" most people would assume Very White Guy wouldn't "make mistakes".  Nope, not true. Our very first NMOS event in Philly was organized locally by my wife.  The movement that started in Ferguson with Mike Browns killing was in its infancy, there was a lot of anger, emotion - but not as much cohesion as there is in the movement today.  I was in Love park in Philly with my wife and about 700 other people. There was news outlets galore - NBC, ABC even Telemundo.  They all interviewed my wife, they all captured the various people of color that spoke during the protest action.  We had planned a reading of names of the victims of extrajudicial killing and there was a lot of mulling about and general ambient chatter & there was no megaphone...and we we're running out of time (you hear all the excuses I am making...).  Anyway, so, there was a need for gathering of everyone to read these names - I am big, tall and loud.  So I sort of stood in the middle to get everyone's attention and get us on the same page. https://vine.co/v/MYQEFz376nJ (sorry I didn't know how to vine back then) Of course that made every single local news outlet.  I gave them a perfect sound bite.  I didn't mean to, heck I didn't even think or consider how my taking center stage would OF COURSE be the narrative media would play.  It seems so obvious to me now, but 3 months ago...I didn't think about it. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM We white people can go through our entire lives without ever really needing to THINK about other people.  Everything from our media, to our text books, to our daily social interactions - all of them, every time, are built and designed to allow white people to remain insular.  These interactions subtly reinforce the notion that white people are superior, better, "normal" and anyone not like us is inferior, worse and an "other". So, fast forward a couple of months and I am MUCH more aware of my privilege and how I can inadvertently do harm to the very cause in which I am devoted.  I know better than to take center stage (again).  I know my role in protests and solidarity actions.  When I know better, I do better - right.  I vow never to repeat the same mistake - so I must be good to go at protest action...wrong. I was at a protest action and I am a sort of twitter addict.  I was in the #ShutItDown march that closed Market street in Philly.  I am walking, participating in chants...but I am also buried in my phone.  A young black woman said to her friend, pointing at me - bet he's a cop. Holy shit did that hit home.  I was viewed by these young activists as a potential agent provocateur infiltrating the ranks. But you know what - they weren't "wrong" for thinking that.  I was exhibiting behavior that probably seemed like I was a cop.  So I had to really think and sit with my actions and what they meant, and what I was trying to do with being present at this protest action. Here's the deal.  This is our ULTIMATE privilege as white people.  We can do this work, social activism while still being "arms length" from the realities that people of color are facing every day. Life and death realities.  My greatest privilege is the ability to "turn off" to not be fully present to the real pain that is inflicted upon our citizens of color. I can turn this on and off with ease, like a light switch. I can so easily turn it off that I don't realize that I have turned it off.  I can choose to be an activist, or silent in any moment and no one will know either way.  Black people can't choose to not be black like I can choose to distance myself from the very real pain that people of color are experiencing.   Was this a huge affront, no.  Was it as bad a mistake as letting the news capture me in a sound bit - no.  But it was a mistake on my part none the less.  That instant of not being present to the situation, the realities of this movement allows me (or any other white person) to make mistakes. I have to realize that part of my privilege is that I can not possibly comprehend and process police brutality in the same manner that black citizens can/do.  And I have to realize that I can, if I choose, or even accidentally, "turn off" and be at arms length from the social justice work I do. So, when you see someone talking about "rules for white people" at protests - don't take it personally, don't get upset, don't think it's divisive. Do take heed, do respect the wishes of people of color that are leading this movement, do understand that its not about YOU its about our inherent privilege that is ever present...even at protest actions. Humbly trying to do better every day - @VeryWhiteGuy

[million-stories-white-privilege]

White guy always gets credit opportunities

It's your @VeryWhiteGuy again. I just left the dentists office an made my last payment on service she rendered two years ago. Dental insurance doesn't cover shit an I've got a mess of problems stemming from aggressive orthodontists years ago. So I had an emergency two years ago. Lots of pain an swelling. Had a root canal but ultimately the tooth failed an I had it pulled out. But not after a root canal, multiple visits and the extraction plus a bone graft an post and crown. In other words a shit load of money. I just didn't have it. Credit cards were maxed out, it was around Christmas. My periodontist offered a type if credit through a lending organization that is in short predatory. I read up on it an could see it would be possible but likely problematic. Especially in the event I couldn't or didn't pay. It was at 24% APR I asked my general dentist the same thing and she simply said "pay what you can when you can". Did she expect me to take two years? I don't know. But I know she knew NOTHING about my credit worthiness other than I am white. So without a credit application, with no risk assessment, no installment plan and no collateral my dentist gave me a service costing $3500 which basically was a line if credit or loan. At an exceedingly low APR. Like less than 8%. Who gives a person off the street $3500 loan at 8%? A smart dentist? A risky dentist? I don't know. But do I think my dentist would have afforded the same to a black patient? Doubtful. This happened two years ago an I just paid it all off. So the risk assessment on my dentists behalf was accurate, but mostly due to luck on her part. The thing that strikes me is again just how uncommon this is for me, a white male. I'm afforded every opportunity and when bad shit happens like a massive medical expense, the "white guy" safety net helps find a way for me to get by. Now would people look at me an say "there goes a hard working good guy that's earned all he has he doesn't have privilege" or do they see all the privileges afforded to me, like low interest non installment non collateral secured loans falling from the sky like manna from heaven? It's not the incredible, or amazing examples of privilege that I find interesting, rather it's the mundane, ordinary everyday privileges that are omnipresent that I find interesting simply because we fail to see them. @VeryWhiteGuy

[million-stories-white-privilege]

Dumb shit that didn't get me arrested

It's your curator, @VeryWhiteGuy here - was great seeing so many stories posted (thanks for the shout out Tim Wise) but the well seems to have dried up - if you're reading this, and you're white, odds are you have a story of your white privilege - please share using the link http://million-stories-white-privilege.tumblr.com/submit In the meantime, here's one of the MANY instances of my white privilege. We were visiting Chicago to buy tickets to see the Grateful Dead - pre internet where you actually had to wait in line to buy tickets.  After getting our tickets we realized it was Blues Fest in the city and would make a great get away.  We packed up our gear, which in this case meant beer, weed & psychedelics.  We dropped our acid, lit up a doobie and kicked back in Grant park near Buckingham fountain to enjoy.  We smoked, we drank and we let our trip begin.  As we were decamping from that spot an undercover police car rushed up and no sooner than I could say "holy cow" we were hands on the hood with our beer and weed on display. We were searched and separated.  I commented "We're just here trying to have some fun, I don't want anyone to get arrested" and the police officer told me to shut up and that if we were gonna be arrested we would already be in the back of the car. They ended up confiscating our beer - you see the police were there off duty, paid to patrol the park for the Blues fest event.  And the event was sponsored by Budweiser and sold their beer - hence the confiscation of our beer.  That was the real big no no - bringing beer in to the park. So the police tell us to get on our way and even suggested "be careful there's a lot more of us out here than you think". Low and behold, the weed was returned - even went as far as to give each of us our rightful stash. We were dumbfounded - how in the hell did we get let go.  Holly shit are we lucky they didn't find the psychedelics...holly shit are we now trippin for REAL. Me and my buddies tell this story all the time. We've recounted it often when we're together - it's indelible in the sheer audacity of our escape. Telling it here, recalling it now again - I realize what is so amazing isn't the story itself, but that it is so unbelievably common for white men to be found with contraband engaging in illegal activity and then to be let off with nothing more than a warning.