This diary is prompted by all of the events of the past several days in regards to incivility, civility, etc and this wonderful blog entry by former Kossack abrauer, “Privilege-and-Paternalism-talking-cross-culturally” over at the Angry Black Lady Chronicles’ blog.
Let me start by saying that I recognize there are areas where I am privileged vis–a-vis others:
I own a car (though paid The Black Tax* to finance it)
I’m well-educated
I am abled
My salary is above the median income
I’m an American-born citizen
I can read and own a personal computer and can afford access to the internet
I do not have to perform manual labor to fulfill my job requirements
I’m straight and HIV-negative
I can provide pedagogic privilege to my child
I’m sure I’ve left off a few other privileges
*“The black tax is the price blacks (and other minorities) pay in our daily lives because of racial stereotypes. Like a tax, racial discrimination is persistent, pervasive and seemingly inevitable -- as in "Nothing in life is certain save death and taxes." And just as the state collects general taxes, blacks often regard state representatives such as police and judges as IRS agents for the black tax.”