What is white privilege? Thanks for asking!

Like a lot of things, the concept of white privilege comes from the USA. It means that simply being white gives a person additional benefits or rights compared to those of other skin colours.

Why are we talking about white privilege right now?

The notion has increasingly been brought into the spotlight in recent years by movements like Black Lives Matter, who campaign for greater racial equality all over the world. White privilege is now a commonly used term in the rhetoric of antiracist groups, both online and offline. There has been a backlash, especially from conservatives, against the idea that such privilege exists. Tensions are running particularly high at the moment, due to ongoing protests around the world against racial violence and injustice. This follows the death of George Floyd on May 25th, at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.

When was born the concept of white privilege?

The underlying concepts of white privilege date back to the work of black American sociologist W.E.B. Dubois in the 1930s. He observed that black farmers and labourers had less advantages compared to white people doing the same jobs. He introduced the idea of a “psychological wage” for white workers. This meant despite being poor, they still had greater chances of being admitted to public functions and better schools. 

Do white people have still white privilege? How can we reduce white privilege and get to a more equal society? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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First Broadcast: 18/6/2020

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