I wholeheartedly believe that all races and genders are equal and should be treated as such. Because of this belief, I find discrimination, being the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, of any race or gender, appalling. I see the use of the term “white privilege” has become a nuanced form of discrimination.

I believe that a person should be judged on their actions and character and not by their skin color. The use of the term “white privilege” has been used to prejudge white people and to silence or delegitimize their opinions because of the color of their skin. This is blatant discrimination and a great harm to American equality.

The political atmosphere of America has neglected Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of avoiding skin-color discrimination and has done nothing except propel discrimination with identity politics. There are certain privileges in the country that different groups of people experience but in no way, shape, or form, do these privileges warrant the discrimination of any groups. The basis for white privilege in itself falls apart and should not be used for discrimination.

Many see white privilege as some sort of socioeconomic advantage where being white may give a person the inherent advantage of being richer or being employed more often. However, all economic indicators of white privilege are even further exaggerated in Asian Americans. Recently, Asian Americans have become the best off economically. According to the U.S. Census, the mean income for Asian American families is around $81,000 with the next highest being White American families with $65,000. Asian Americans also have the lowest unemployment rate as of 2018 for ages 25 and over at 2.6% with the second lowest being white Americans at 2.8%.

This would suggest that there is Asian privilege instead of the suggested white privilege in regards to economics. As a Hispanic, Asian, white American I would hope that the privilege of being part of a race with a higher average income would not be used to prejudge me and label me as having it easier than any other race.

Beauty products are often used to propagate the idea of white privilege because of their focus on marketing to white individuals. This is seen as a privilege for some reason, but it’s a basic fact of economics. A company is going to advertise a product to the majority of its consumers and since the U.S. is around 70% white, most companies are going to market to whites in order to maximize sales. This aspect of economics is true anywhere else in the world, and has already manifested itself in Japan and India. Companies there are going to make products and advertise for their majority consumer by using a person that represents that region and by advertising in the same language of the region.  

I am disgusted by the increased use of the term “white privilege” as a vindictive tool to undermine white Americans that have no malicious intent toward minorities. When accusing someone of having white privilege and using it to justify or validate one’s own arguments, that person blatantly prejudges another person based on skin color. This is clearly discrimination, and I struggle to see why the people trying to promote less discrimination use this term and spread the issue even further.

*Fellow seniors Cole Wittbrodt and Brady Meyer assisted with editing prior to submission.

Opinions expressed in editorials are those of the writer(s).  These views may not represent the adviser, The Prowler, advertisers/sponsors, the Starr’s Mill High School administration or staff , or Fayette County Public Schools as a whole.  Please see our FAQs for more information pertaining to the rights of The Prowler’s staff members.