Whiteness

Whiteness is a difficult subject for me to talk about. For one thing, it is always tempting to just say that I see whiteness as no different from other ethnicities, as we are all the same. But of course this is just playing innocent. The fact is that I am aware of the fact that I am white very much, and I'm not quite sure how to feel about it.

Being white is much like being upperclass. It is being privalaged in most areas of life in the United States. And with privalage comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes guilt. The upperclass of America have to face the fact that there are a lot of people who have less than they do, yet at the same time it is hard for them not to be proud of their accomplishments. This is how I feel about being white. I know that I am privalaged for no good reason, and that there are many people who get treated like less because they aren't white. However, I find it hard to not to be proud of who I am and to enjoy my herritage just like anyone else. And I don't think I should have to.

I am mixed up about my ethnicity as I think many other white people are. There is still a lot of growing that our culture needs to do before we can put race aside. Perhaps that day will never fully come. All I can do is enjoy who I am while also being sympathetic to others, and hope for the best.