Won't Someone Think of the Poor College Kid Triggered by the 'White Privilege Checklist' in His Dorm?

By Rafi Schwartz  |  April 14, 2017 | 1:00pm
Latest

College is a time for growth. A time for self-exploration. A time for experiencing new things.

But what happens when that new thing is a homemade poster
that asks students to consider whether or not they’re the beneficiaries of white privilege? Cue meltdown.

Such a poster was hung in a residence hall at the University of Minnesota, and sophomore Evan Christenson was extremely outraged.

“I do believe it crosses the line. When it attacks the individual and not the idea, there is a problem,” Christenson told Campusreform.org. “I am not inherently racist because I don’t believe in white privilege. I believe there needs to be dialogue on the subject but it needs to more of a give and take and not a one-sided affair”

Just what was so offensive about the poster’s message, which pulled 10 of Wellsley professor Peggy McIntosh’s 1988 list of 46 white privilege examples?

Prompts like:

I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

and:

I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

Wow, pretty horrifying stuff!

An accompanying poster reportedly urged students to visit CADOF.org, itself an acronym for “Conservatives are destroying our future.”

“The website appalled me—I thought it would be something—not as blunt about saying that,” Christenson told the Minnesota Republic, a student newspaper known for its many hard-right provocations. “I don’t think conservatives are destroying our future; there has to be a give and take between the parties.”

Christenson, a self-described “social progressive,” appears to have gotten the last laugh. According to the Republic, the poster was taken down on April 13.

Another win for white people!

 
Join the discussion...