Out In The Open

Exploring white privilege and 'white talk'

We explore white privilege, a system of unearned advantages that favour white people, and how it gets complicated by class.
Peggy McIntosh, the creator of the term 'white privilege.'

The term 'white privilege' has gained popularity over the past few years. The phrase — coined by feminist and activist Peggy McIntosh — is used to describe a system of unearned advantages that favour white people.

But those advantages are complicated when class is added to the equation. Peggy reflects on the terms used her iconic article White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.

Then, professor Alison Bailey introduces us to 'white talk' — a patterned reaction people have when confronted with race. 

"I came here with nothing" or "I'm not rich, I work really hard for what I have" all fall under the 'white talk' umbrella. Piya explores this phenomenon. 

WEB EXTRA | To get a better idea of how 'white talk' is used on conversation, here is a mash-up of examples.