Adaptation of “Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” by Dr. Peggy McIntosh

As white people, we are able to live our lives without confronting the advantages and privileges that come to us just by virtue of the color of our skin…privileges we have regardless of education, socioeconomic status or even gender.

I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

When I or my children are told about our national heritage or about “civilization”, I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.

I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them .

I can swear or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, illiteracy or poor education of my race.

I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.

I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.

If a traffic cop pulls me over, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.

I can choose public accommodations, restaurants, or coffee shops without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.

I do not have to be concerned about others accusing me of “playing the race card” if I object to an injustice.

I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge”, I will be facing a person of my race.

I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered unheard, held at a distance, or feared.

I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of race..

I can recite these privileges publicly  without people avoiding me in the future or accusing me of being overly sensitive.

When I get tired of thinking about racism, I can go back to my regular life and stop thinking about it