When I first looked at the title of this reading, I thought the author was going to be talking about the issue between whites and colors people. But in the beginning she starts off talking about the privileges men have over women, then she takes that and relates it to the issues in schools between whites and colored students. I thought this was a clever comparison because its somewhat similar. Something she says as a transition was, "I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege." Here she is seeing them as similar issues.
McIntosh continues to talk about what she thinks are white advantages, and her list really blew me away. I came to the realization that things that I was used to having and doing everyday, that I though were available to everyone, really isn't. There are people out there that feel that they are not equal as I, and people out there that make sure that separation is present. Its those kind of people that disappoint me about our society. After her list, McIntosh continues to say, "If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own." I completely agree with this statement. people say this is the best country to live in to have a great life, but if someone of color doesn't feel as though they can even buy a birthday card with someone of their race on it, free is not the word that should be used.
Something that really stuck out to me was what she said about her colleague Elizabeth Minnich pointed out, "whites are taught to think of their lives are mortally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work tat will allow "them" to be more like "us". I really agree with this statement and I feel as though more people should know about it, especially those in or going into the educational field for work.
This reading was very informational to me about the types of issues I might have to face and concur when I become a teacher in the working field. I'm glad I was able to see it can happen to everyone at some point. I feel as though this picture is very compatible with this reading as well.
