White Privilege Covert Racism

Crash & Burn: Racism Transcends Time Once a ruling class establishes itself, those who are different, usually by race or wealth, are cast to the lower edge of society, where they must fight to overcome their predisposition. In America, white males have long been at the top of the social ladder, where many have fought to preserve their status. Although times have changed, racism continues to persist in American society, but it has largely shifted from overt racism to covert racism. Examples of the shift in racism can be seen the movies Mississippi Burning, The Color of Fear, and Crash. Additionally, author Peggy McIntosh’s article “White Privilege,” illustrates how white privilege preserves covert racism.
The movie Mississippi Burning was
inspired by the actual murders of civil rights workers J. E. Chaney, Mickey Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman in 1964. It may be hard for people today to realize that acts of violence, such as the beatings, lynchings, and murders seen the movie, were not only practiced 42 years ago but were also accepted in many places. The type of racism exhibited in the film is almost entirely overt, malicious acts against an oppressed people. Violence against the segregated caste was socially acceptable and preserved through the idea of white superiority, which was instilled into children at a young age. Black children were taught about white superiority through violence and oppression, while white children received the message disguised as formal education. Character Mrs. Pell explains how racism is preserved when she says, “Hatred isn’t something you’re born with. It gets taught. At school, they said segregation is what’s said in the Bible—Genesis 9, Verse 27. At seven years of age, you get told it enough times, you believe it. You believe the hatred. You live it; you breathe it. You marry it.” In addition to education preserving hatred, white political leaders, who often were members of racist organizations, also stirred emotions within the white community, granting validity to the violence. In the film, Clayton Townley, an influential member of the community and local leader of the Ku Klux Klan, incites people into action through motivational speeches. However, through the diligent work of the two main characters, Agents Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward, the murders were brought to justice, which pointed out their acts as atrocities. Although the agents successful brought down the men responsible for the murders, overt racism continued to thrive, and in many areas it still continues.
In the documentary The Color of Fear, eight men gather to discuss their thoughts and emotions and how they relate to racism and feelings of oppression. The men discuss many different areas of racism, but focus on how racism has shifted from the overt to the covert in recent years. Many of the non-white men discuss what it means to be American and how they do not fit that mold based solely on race. Victor Lewis, who is African-American, says, “There is a way ‘human being,’ ‘white,’ and ‘American’ become synonyms.” Therefore, many non-whites do not feel accepted in the nation they live. Although they fear organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and the white supremacy movement, they find racial isolation, or covert racism, frustrating and oppressive. In the group, David Christenson, a white man, fails to make the connection. He sees himself as non-racist, but fails to understand how his status as a white man puts himself above the non-whites. Excluding David, the group points to the concept that being white makes one inherently racist because they are privileged, countering the earlier idea that no one is born racist. David attempts to defend himself, but ultimately relents, realizing that he is indeed privileged.
McIntosh’s article “White Privilege” parallels much of what the men discuss in The Color Fear.
In her article she points out how schools fuel covert racism. She defines covert racism when she writes, “I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets.” She points to education as the foundation when she writes, “My schooling gave me no training in seeing myself as an oppressor, as an unfairly advantaged person, or as a participant in a damaged culture.” As pointed out earlier, education plays a role in supporting overt racism, and McIntosh suggests that it supports covert racism as well. McIntosh focuses on white privilege but does not link it to racism. Although covert racism exists, it is different than privilege. Privilege insinuates an unfair advantage offered to one over another; implying that whites cheat the system. The fact is whites are offered the opportunities and rights that should be afforded to all people regardless of race. Non-whites are repressed and oppressed by covert racism, which is the byproduct of the white privilege. McIntosh expounds on the idea when she writes, “In proportion as my racial group was being made confident, comfortable, and oblivious, other groups were likely being made inconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated.” Rather than linking the two ideas together, it is more of a cause and effect relationship—because of whites receive more privileges than non-whites, non-whites feel targeted for their race. Until whites can share their privilege with non-whites, they will continue to support and preserve covert
racism.
The recent film Crash shows how overt and covert racism collide and continue in today’s society. In one of the earliest scenes, Anthony and Peter, two African-american men, leave a restaurant in an upper-class white district, where they feel the effects of covert racism. Anthony explains it when he says, “This white woman sees two black guys … strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gangbangers? Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared, it’s us: the only two black faces surrounded by … white people.” However, just moments later in the film, Officer Ryan, a white policeman, pulls over a black couple, violates the female passenger, and sends them on their way, clearly illustrating that overt racism still continues today. The film is filled with both types of racism, showing how that both are destructive, insidious, and malicious. Regardless of which type, racism prevents people from being completely effective in the community. Officer Ryan cannot help his father because he insulted Shaniqua Johnson, the healthcare supervisor. He also has difficulty rescuing Christine, whom he violated earlier. Racism has the power to block communication, which becomes evident when Frahad, a Persian shop owner, confronts Daniel, a locksmith. Frahad refuses to listen to Daniel, who genuinely wants to help, because of his race, which turns out to cost Frahad his store. The film is filled with examples of how racism is both debilitating and destructive, both passive and aggressive.
Mississippi Burning, The Color of Fear, Crash, and the article “White Privilege” illustrate how racism has transcended time. It is like bacteria, mutating in order to continue its devastating reign in the American psyche. With little more than a mouse click, people can easily find examples of overt racism, which continues to thrive today despite its unacceptable practice. Meanwhile, white privilege continues to isolate non-whites, continuing the oppressiveness inherent in racism. As long as there is difference, those with power, will take it upon themselves to ensure they retain it even if this means oppressing or eliminating. It is a grim reality that cannot be ignored, but, like the men in The Color of Fear, people can work toward a better understanding in hopes of someday eliminating it from their lives.