“Privilege is not something I take, and which therefore have the option of not taking. It is something that society gives me, and unless I change the institutions which give it to me, they will continue to give it, and I will continue to have it, however noble and equalitarian my intentions.”
For its receivers' white privilege can be hard to notice, strange but understandable given that they're born with the indefinite access to resources and power. And so white people aren't ever forced to contemplate the colour of their skin. For those on the flip side, the situation couldn't be more different, in fact, white privilege is painfully visible, seriously detrimental but blatantly ignored. And in this case ignorance certainly isn't bliss.
Racism might seem out of your control, a distant trouble that'll clear with time or fade with the death of the grandma generation. But this viewpoint is itself an issue, a problem that can be relived with the public doing better.
If you are white use your privilege to make a noise on all matters of injustice and hold other white people accountable or nothing will change, and nothing will get better. Use your privilege to toughen up the status quo, demand more and please don't let that racist remark from your mate slide just because it doesn't directly affect you.
This is no big ask so please take risks, speak up and don't be shy.
Here are some things you can do:
Sign Petitions, they're free and take two minutes so there's really no excuse.
Here are some to get on with:
Justice for George Floyd here
Justice for Ahmaud Arbery here
Justice for Belly Mujinga here
Raise coloured voices, this is easily achieved even if it's just a retweet of your fav coloured creative.
Read literature on the topic, a couple of favourites are listed below
'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche here
'Queenie' by Candice Carty-Williams here
'The Good Immigrant' by Nikesh Shukla here
Donate to charities:
Minnesota Freedom Fund here
Brooklyn Bail Fund here
Black Visions Collective here
And most importantly give respect where it's due.