My Privilege: Unpacking my Invisible Knapsack

“Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do. Access to privilege doesn’t determine one’s outcomes, but it is definitely an asset that makes it more likely that whatever talent, ability, and aspirations a person with privilege has will result in something positive for them.” — Peggy McIntosh

When I first encountered Peggy McIntosh’s text, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, I was a naïve first-year college student who found its context and influence “merely interesting” at best. I did not fully understand what it meant to have privileges and how that influenced the lives of others less privileged. Today, with just two more years of Black Studies education, I have much more appreciation for her deconstruction of White Privilege, its contribution to the discipline of Black Studies and what it means for me to be a minority. However, as an academic, I know understanding is not enough but I must also express and share my knowledge/experiences with others.

In this post, I will contribute a deconstruction of my own privileges (not restricted to race) as a middle-class, Vietnamese-American male and the first generation college student.

1. I can comfortably speak with law enforcement, government personnel and other individuals in society without worrying that my fluency of the English language will disadvantage me.
2. Should I need to, I can articulately defend myself, my family and my friends from verbal abuse.
3. I can approach many professional and public situations without worrying that others won’t understand me.
4. Most multimedia in my environment/society is in my fluent language.
5. Most financial, political and educational materials are available in my fluent language.
6. Growing up, I did not have a lack in support for achieving higher education.
7. Most educational institutions I have been involved with had enough resources and funding to support me.
8. I have many support systems in my educational tract.
9. Should I need to, I can change my educational trajectory without fear of wasting too much money or time.
10. No educational institution I have been involved with have expected me to fail.
11. I can afford to attend a large university (Michigan State University).
12. I do not need to worry about whether I have a safe, comfortable place to sleep at night.
13. Should I need to, I can afford travel to find more educational and professional opportunities.
14. I do not need to worry whether my family will need me to be financially stable.
15. If needed, I can rely on my family to support me financially.
16. I do not need to worry whether my income is affected by my gender.
17. I can operate within most societal structures without worrying that my gender will disadvantage me.
18. I can go an entire day without instances of sexual harassment.
19. I can walk around at night comfortably and without fear of violence or harassment.
20. I can be in most personal relationships without fear of sexual abuse.
21. I can walk around at night without being suspected of criminal activity.
22. In many legal situations, I do not need to worry about my race disadvantaging me.
23. I can live in many communities without my neighbors fearing that my race will affect crime rates.

Each and every one of us have unspoken privileges that both benefit us in some social situations and disadvantage us in others. By understanding my own “invisible knapsack”, I can both better prepare myself as a minority and move toward a more educated position to help others who are less privileged.

I high encourage readers, after finishing this article, to think about their own privileges and whether others — their friends, family and colleagues — have the same and if not, what that means for them.

If you would like to reference Peggy McIntosh’s text, you can find it at https://www.deanza.edu/faculty/lewisjulie/White%20Priviledge%20Unpacking%20the%20Invisible%20Knapsack.pdf.