I’m not a big fan of the term “white privilege.” If something is supposedly available to two-thirds of the population, then that’s not really the definition of the word privilege. Maybe the term “white privilege” just caught on because it’s an easier slogan than the phrase “people of color disadvantage.”
Oh wait. Did you think I was trying to make the case there is no systemic racism in America?
This is how I define the term “people of color disadvantage” (or if you insist, “white privilege”): In my entire life, every time I applied for a job or met with a potential new customer or talked with a bank loan officer, the assumption was that I had good character — until I proved overwise. However, if I were black, then in those exact same situations the assumption would be that I had poor character — until I proved otherwise.
Oh wait. Did you think I was trying to make the case there is no systemic racism in America?
This is how I define the term “people of color disadvantage” (or if you insist, “white privilege”): In my entire life, every time I applied for a job or met with a potential new customer or talked with a bank loan officer, the assumption was that I had good character — until I proved overwise. However, if I were black, then in those exact same situations the assumption would be that I had poor character — until I proved otherwise.
Imagine every personality-shaping interaction you ever had since childhood — with neighbors, teachers, store owners, landlords, cops, delivery drivers — and in every case the other person automatically assumed you were less intelligent, less ambitious, less trustworthy, and ultimately less likely to succeed, just because you had dark skin.
While all my fellow pale suburban kids were going through the race of life jogging merrily downhill, you were competing in the same race of life, but running uphill. That’s quite a handicap to endure, day in and day out, year in and year out.
While all my fellow pale suburban kids were going through the race of life jogging merrily downhill, you were competing in the same race of life, but running uphill. That’s quite a handicap to endure, day in and day out, year in and year out.
After all these decades, I know myself well enough to acknowledge that if I had faced that kind of disadvantage throughout my life, I would have given up a long time ago. You see, I simply do not have the character of Jackie Robinson, or the perseverance of Joel Boyd.
Jackie Robinson I know, but who is Joel Boyd? Ah, I’m glad you asked. Let me tell you about Dr. Joel Boyd.
Many years ago I went off to college with the twin goals of getting an education and playing football. I had been fairly successful on the gridiron in high school, although it was pretty much a suburban pencil-neck geek whitebread league.
One of my fellow freshmen on the team was a guy named Joel Boyd. He was strong and fast, and soon distinguished himself as a terrific tailback. Also, he was black, which allowed me subconsciously to check off a number of stereotype boxes.
While I was devoting some of my efforts toward football and academics, and a LOT of my efforts toward partying, Joel was not only wracking up impressive statistics on Saturday afternoons, but was also studying really hard as a pre-med major.
After medical school, Boyd became an orthopedic surgeon. Eventually he became the team physician for the Minnesota Vikings and in 1998 was named the first ever African-American team doctor for the U.S. Olympic hockey team.
Surgeon and hockey fan? Hmm, those items were not on my stereotype checklist at all.
Jackie Robinson I know, but who is Joel Boyd? Ah, I’m glad you asked. Let me tell you about Dr. Joel Boyd.
Many years ago I went off to college with the twin goals of getting an education and playing football. I had been fairly successful on the gridiron in high school, although it was pretty much a suburban pencil-neck geek whitebread league.
One of my fellow freshmen on the team was a guy named Joel Boyd. He was strong and fast, and soon distinguished himself as a terrific tailback. Also, he was black, which allowed me subconsciously to check off a number of stereotype boxes.
While I was devoting some of my efforts toward football and academics, and a LOT of my efforts toward partying, Joel was not only wracking up impressive statistics on Saturday afternoons, but was also studying really hard as a pre-med major.
After medical school, Boyd became an orthopedic surgeon. Eventually he became the team physician for the Minnesota Vikings and in 1998 was named the first ever African-American team doctor for the U.S. Olympic hockey team.
Surgeon and hockey fan? Hmm, those items were not on my stereotype checklist at all.
Joel Boyd MD is one of the many people I’ve known over the years who shattered the stereotypes that were subtly taught to me during my suburban upbringing. There’s not a single person I’m related to who is as intelligent, hard-working, or successful as Dr. Boyd. And he did it while running the proverbial race uphill, while we were jogging downhill. I guess that means the term “white privilege” is appropriate after all.
I wish I knew how to solve the chronic racial strife our country is experiencing. All I know is that whenever I’m tempted to embrace some of the old fear-inspired stereotypical ideas from my past, I just think of Dr. Joel Boyd. Then I realize that talent and character and perseverance know no racial boundaries.
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