1.  “White privilege” names the set of benefits received by all whites, regardless of their personal prejudices and attitudes, as a result of widespread, systemic, institutional racism. By its very nature, white privilege often remains invisible to those who receive its assets. For white people, acknowledging complicity in receiving the benefits of white privilege is often a first step towards genuine racial reconciliation.

The following is a checklist that begins to name many white privileges.  Check off the ones which you have experienced:

• My ancestors were legal immigrants to this country during a period when immigrants from Asia, South and Central America or Africa were restricted.
• My ancestors came to this country of their own free will and have never had to relocate unwillingly once they arrived here.
• I live on land which formerly belonged to Native Americans.
• I don't need to think about race and racism everyday. I can choose when and where I want to respond to racism.
• No one assumes that when I give my opinion on something that I am speaking on behalf of my own race.
• I never worry that my co-workers, bosses, or teachers might misjudge me because of my race or culture.
• I turn on the television or read the newspaper and see people of my race positively represented.

2.  According to the Congregational Project on Multiracial Congregations in America, only about 8 percent of American congregations are multiracial. The definition of multiracial is that no one racial group comprises 80 percent or more of the congregation. The Project found that while about 15 percent of Catholic churches are multiracial, only about 5 percent of Protestant churches are multiracial. In addition, non-Christian congregations are more likely to be racially mixed than are Christian congregations. Finally, the most common type of racially-mixed congregation is comprised of Anglos and Hispanics or Asians.

3.  In 2000, a New York Times poll, 90 percent of whites said there were few or no blacks at their religious services and 73 percent of blacks said their congregations had few or no whites.

4.  Only 7 percent of American churches are racially integrated, according to the Pew Center.

5.  According to an ABC News/USA Today poll, only 11 percent of African-Americans believe racial equality has been achieved, while 44 percent of blacks doubt it will ever occur. Thirty-nine percent of whites said they believe America has racial equality. 

SOURCES

1.  Third Way Café, “Beyond the News: White Privilege, Responding and Identifying,” www.thirdway.com/BTN/racism/church/privilege.asp.

2.  Congregational Project on Multiracial Congregations, “Multiracial Congregations in America: Looking for “a more realistic picture of what the world looks like”,” http://hirr.hartsem.edu/cong/articles_multiracialcongs.html

3.  Christian Century Today, “Divided by Faith, “ October 2, 2000, www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2000/october2/1.34.html

4.  ABC News, “Two Nations Under God: Segregated Churches the Norm,” Sept 10, 2008,
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/5050/story?id=6015620&page=1

5.  ABC News, “Two Nations Under God: Segregated Churches the Norm,” Sept 10, 2008, http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/5050/story?id=6015620&page=1