Condemnations of white privilege and whiteness with demands for guilt, shame and contrite confession run hot along virtual networks of our civic square in the news, academy, politics and religion.
Personal awareness of privilege arose through my experiences as a minority during research in India. An American, a white man, English speaker, with a respected American passport, and carrying U.S. dollars, found open doors, welcome and symbols of respect, hospitality, access and privileges in most social and religious contexts, but exclusion from others. Access was granted to relax undisturbed to enjoy the air-conditioned comfort and luxury of public areas in the Taj Hotel and the Oberoi Hotel in Bombay when dressed in nondescript western clothing. Gratitude arose, not guilt and shame, even after observation made clear that an Indian, dressed in laborer’s clothing, speaking Tamil and offering rupees would be questioned and even excluded as unclean, although welcomed where white Americans would not. Gratitude upon receiving blessings beyond all deserving was an appropriate response.
Lest gratitude rather than guilt cause misinterpretation and suspicion, explanation is necessary. No justification is intended for racism, white supremacy, or discrimination against black or brown people. Indeed, current peaceful protests and media coverage are necessary to shine spot lights on recent outrageous events and to educate American citizens about injustice and a history of discrimination. Racism continues to be an ugly stain on our individual psyches and social order. Nor does anything here call into question the sincerity or good intentions of any of peaceful protesters or spokespersons.
However, current fury against white privilege and whiteness is not an effective strategy, perhaps even counterproductive. It is never wise to alienate those who could be allies. Yet, these cautionary comments might encourage feelings of superiority and perhaps result in gestures of charity to others deemed deficient. Charity, while helpful, might leave unjust social structures in place and dilute movement toward change. Serious efforts to establish justice will gradually alleviate some need for charity.
Guilt and shame are not effective motivations for positive individual or societal change. Rage, social ills and failure to change result as common transference of guilt. A valued Christian tradition emphasizes individual choice, freedom, grace, forgiveness, gratitude and positive individual and social ethics. Those lead to wholesome change better than original sin, guilt by association, condemnation, guilt, shame and punishment.
Each individual is a minority of one, born and developing as a unique human. Nevertheless, we cannot be fully human outside community. Each person is gifted differently, and each belongs to several identity groups by natural birthright of ability, shade of skin, gender, aging, and more. Each is gifted differently through heredity of native place and nationality, language, family, neighbors, education, professional opportunities and more.
Benefits of privileges are bestowed on each in every identity group beyond all deserving.
Any population can be statistically divided into identity groups, which is useful for large scientific study. However, identity grouping becomes a dangerous virus when employed for stereotyping, intimidation and discrimination. Even though everyone is privileged in some ways, many wrongly believe and even brag that they deserve all their personal success, wealth, status and privilege because they pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. A problem — bootstraps have disappeared for many people along with the American dream.
Privilege need not be a zero-sum game benefiting some at the expense of others. Everyone has some privilege and some deprivation in different contexts. Many condemn the American 1 or 5%, whereas most Americans have family wealth and accompanying privileges in the top ten percent of the world’s population. The goal of justice should be a positive-sum enterprise resulting in more privilege and equality of opportunity for everyone.
To whom much is given, much will be required; and from whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. Ethics require privileged people to increase privilege for everyone, especially those who have long been denied opportunity. It also promotes good social policy.
Attending more carefully to peaceful protesters and to leaders who accurately describe problems and suggest effective solutions is essential. A brown immigrant noted, “Education is the international passport.” Accurate knowledge for American citizens and good education available for all who have the ability and energy to benefit are first steps to solving the division, prejudice and discrimination that harm everyone. Guilt and shame are relatively weak motivators for individual and social change. Gratitude for benefits beyond any deserving is a more powerful motivation.
Let those who hope for some light in the current darkness, including those who experience guilt with repentance and those who are grateful for benefits with generosity, link arms in common tasks so everyone will be privileged. A movement might arise with a powerful message and melody that diverse voices can sing in harmony. Perhaps a song resembling “We shall [all] overcome some day!”
Raymond B. Williams, LaFollette Distinguished Professor in the Humanities emeritus at Wabash College, contributed this guest column.
