For people of color, it’s no secret that White folks have it better. They aren’t watched when they walk into a department store because the store clerk is fearful of shoplifting and don’t have to endure queasy, uneasy feelings when being stopped by the police. As a Black parent, however, I’ve had to have the hard conversation with my son about the steps to take should he be questioned by those who should protect and serve.
To understand White privilege, we have to dive deeper into the legal and social systems that produced this notion. More importantly, the effects of this advantage on Black Americans. The Federal Reserve reported that White families today have nearly 10 times the net worth of Black households. The Mapping Inequality Project explained that redlining directed capital away from African Americans and immigrants. Redlining explains why the lack of homeownership is the most significant factor in the generational wealth gap.
I’m not saying that White people don’t struggle or face obstacles, but their roadblocks aren’t the same. Loughlin already has been offered her next acting role post-prison, while Black actor Isaiah Washington was booted from “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2007 for calling a White actor a gay slur during an argument. Knight hasn’t had a significant television or movie role since.
If you recall, studio execs originally wanted Julia Roberts to play abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the 2019 biopic, Harriet. After public outrage, that idea was dismissed. In a June 3, 2020, interview with Vanity Fair, Jimmy Kimmel said, “People who are white, we don’t have to deal with negative assumptions being made about us based on the color of our skin, whereas Black people experience that every day.”
Now, what is White America going to do about it?
Anissa D. Blair is an Atlanta-based author and blogger with a passion for writing and being a mother and wife. In her blog, “Straight, No Chaser,” she represents everyday women “just trying to cope doing average s—” and covers all topics — from the good, the bad, and the ugly of navigating through life’s obstacles and roadblocks, to building and keeping successful relationships while trying to maintain your sanity. No taboo topics here. You can read her work at rollingout.com/anissa/ and follow her on social media @anissadblair on Instagram, @anissablair on Facebook, and Blended In Love on YouTube.
