You’ve Got Loads of White Privilege — Start Sharing It!

It’s like winning billions in the lottery; you’re never going to spend it all in your lifetime

My dear White people, I have a message for you.

Your White privilege is an infinite and precious resource. Unlike money, there is no way that you can ever run out of it. You can shower the world with it, and guess what? It won’t decrease — it will remain the same. So use it, go on a mad “giving” spree every single day of your lives, and share it abundantly with Black and Brown people.

Remember that it is a gift that will accompany you from the cradle to the grave; it’s one of those perks that keeps on giving. No matter what you do — rob a bank, launder money, or even commit second-degree murder — it will stick with you for your entire lifetime.

Don’t be stingy, don’t save it for a rainy day, don’t horde it. Make sure you share it to give others less fortunate an opportunity to benefit from your very special superpower.

I know that some of you still question whether or not White privilege exists. When the term first hit the airwaves, many of you complained that you couldn’t possibly have White privilege because you worked a 9-to-5 and could hardly make ends meet.

Some of you said that you were White and poor and were in no way privileged. Others said they didn’t have a college education, a big house, a fancy car, or a savings account, and could not possibly have an ounce of White privilege.

Just so you know, I won’t stop talking about White privilege because you bully me or deny it — that’s not going to happen, so let’s politely or belligerently agree to disagree.

But the reality is that is not what White privilege is about. It’s about not having to worry about your skin color when you walk into a store because no one will think that you are trying to steal something. It’s about not having to worry that you won’t get a job because of the color of your skin. It’s about having people who look like you in magazines and in your neighborhood. It’s about not getting hurt or killed when you get stopped by police. It’s about having a lifetime of opportunities that Black and Brown people don’t have.

And I know that despite this definition and millions of other examples showing you that White privilege does exist, some of you will troll me and say that it doesn’t. Just so you know, I won’t stop talking about White privilege because you bully me or deny it — that’s not going to happen, so let’s politely or belligerently agree to disagree.

For the people genuinely interested in sharing their White privilege, here are a few ideas about how you can intoxicate society with a tidal wave of humanity by sharing it in a way that inundates racists and sets us on a path to exterminate racism for good.

If you are looking to hire someone, make sure you go out of your way to identify as many Black and Brown candidates as you do White candidates. If you are a professional, find a Black or Brown person to mentor. If you are a school teacher or a university professor, find a Black or Brown student to coach.

If you are a security guard, resist the urge to follow Black and Brown people around a store; if you witness an act of racism, don’t ignore it and get on with your business. Make your voice heard and stand up for the victim.

There are countless ways in which you can share your White privilege. That list, too, is as infinite as your privilege.

White privilege makes your life much easier in almost every country around the world. That’s because White explorers colonized and occupied many countries. Whenever they did, they brainwashed and literally seared into people’s heads that whiteness was superior to blackness and brownness. Like Doctors Without Borders (except that organization actually helps people), they wanted to make sure you had White privilege without borders.

Their malicious activities worked because Black and Brown people lighten their skin to look the whitest possible even today. Skin bleaching is an incredibly profitable business.

According to the World Health Organization, 77% of women in Nigeria bleach their skin— that’s the highest number in the world. For many Black and Brown people, lighter or white skin confers privilege — meaning better chances of getting a job or marrying into a wealthy family.

White privilege is a symptom of society’s inequalities. It bears testimony to the undeniable fact that racism exists. By sharing your White privilege, you help make it standard for Black and Brown people to permeate all levels of society. You’ll contribute to building a more equal society.

So if you really want to do something to work toward a racism-free world and become a genuine ally — not a performative one — share your privilege generously, knowing fully that the goal is for you to never be able to use it at all one day.

Go ahead and give someone else an opportunity.