“White Privilege” is Redundant

In our ongoing quest to become more politically correct, White folks often spend so much time trying to keep up with the “correct” thing to call other people that most of us don’t stop and think about why we still call ourselves White. Despite the fact that we have seen countless labels come and go throughout almost three centuries of redefining the terms and categories of race, the term “White” has remained a constant. Why is this? Doesn’t this label deserve the same level of scrutiny? 

There is one simple reason why the term “White” has not been called into question, and likely will not be any time soon: Unlike every other racial term that has ever been used, being labeled as White has always been a privilege.

A Title of [Unmerited] Power

The term “White” is a self-created label that has allowed us to keep power confined among those of us who are “fortunate” enough to be identified as such. In other words, by the nature of its design, being called White is an automatic indication of our status. Like it or not, White was a self-ordained title that was intentionally created to unfairly designate people that look like us as the intellectually superior form of our species in order to justify slavery and oppression.

Unlike other terms that we have created to devalue others’ humanity, we created our label to elevate ourselves. Consequently, we have never have been offended by the term “White,” nor have we had any incentive to let go of the oppressive reigns that we’ve held onto for over 300 years. Now I know what some of you might be thinking: “That is not true! I just don’t mind being called White because it doesn’t offend me!” 

To such a gut response, I must ask you to dig deeper. Why does it not offend you? The answer is simple. The term “White” was never meant to offend you. Quite the opposite, it was meant to give you citizenship, inalienable rights, wealth, status, and power, while also ensuring that others did not have access to those very things. There is simply no reason for you to be offended by the term “White,” nor has there ever been.

The Self-Chosen People

Unlike choosing labels for groups outside of ours, labeling ourselves as “White” has ensured that we remain the “[self]-chosen” people. This is not to say that White people are the first group in history to think of themselves as the chosen people – far from it – but it is almost certainly the only time in history that an entirely new category was created that superseded nationality, culture, religion, and even ethnicity.

White folks have both consciously and unconsciously allowed our title to remain, simply by virtue of the fact that it has given us permission to hold unmerited power and status over those we deem to be outside of our tribe.

Conversely, the label “Black,” from its very conception, was created in order to de-rank and dehumanize an entire group of people. And while Black Americans have since taken this initially oppressive label that was placed upon them and made it their own – even building an entire identity and culture around it – it is unfortunately still too easy for White folks to use the term “Black” in an offensive or oppressive manner – simply by virtue of who’s saying it and/or why it is said.

Can White Be Derogatory?

 Needless to say, there are almost limitless offensive and derogatory terms that we call people of every other race. Surely there must be some offensive things that White folks can be called, right? It’s not quite that simple. Barring offensive names and stereotypes toward specific groups such as those identifying as Jewish within the White population – there is simply not an all-encompassing derogatory or cruel way to address White people. While more than a few mean-spirited names have been thrown at us such as “Honky”, “Cracker”, and “Whitey”, these terms never gained any traction – Not to mention when is the last time you were called Cracker and actually felt deeply offended?

This is because it is not an equal playing field when it comes to “name calling.” We are the ones making up the rules and deciding who is who. The names that are thrown at us are more akin to White folks calling all police officers “pigs.” These hateful names are being thrown “upward” at people that we feel have control over us. 

Conversely, the offensive terms that we White folks use to describe any Person of Color are always thrown “downward” – which we can use maliciously to further demote them, put them in their place, and distance ourselves from them. White people get to (i.e. have the privilege of calling) other people whatever we want because of our ability to distinguish and vindicate ourselves as “White.”

Restoring White To Its “Intended” Meaning 

 What would it be like if the word “White” actually conveyed the full power of its meaning? What if every time someone referred to me as White, it automatically implied that I was a beneficiary of, as well as knowingly partaking in the systematic oppression of others for my own gain? While this may seem unreasonable or even outlandish, consider for a moment that this is not actually changing the meaning of the word, but rather resurrecting its original purpose and intent.

To be called White has always meant that we had (or at least have access to) status, wealth, power, and privilege above those who are not considered White. As such the term “White privilege” is actually a redundancy. Whiteness is privilege.

I am not necessarily advocating that we should stop calling ourselves White, nor that the term “White” is evil. I am however suggesting that we start owning what our title really means. It is time for us to acknowledge that the word “White” itself embodies a racist connotation. The term “White” should not be divorced from the cruelty and inhumanity that it stemmed from. Otherwise, we will continue to lose sight of the fact that our very racial category was founded upon a system of oppression.