11 Phrases White People Say That Unintentionally Reveal Their Privilege

White people can be complicit in racism without even realizing it. While some argue there is no such thing as White privilege, people answered by asking simple questions regarding representation, defining moments when they realized their skin color, or even something as essential as hair care. Here are some typically White phrases that do not imply people are racists, but they do reflect White privilege.

Get Inspired

Nothing listed is supposed to make anyone feel bad or “called out.” Instead, it should inspire more conversations, history lessons, and a better understanding between people. 

All lives matter

This was a popular response to the Black Lives Matter protests, mainly over police aggression. While saying that all lives matter is the truth, Black Lives Matter is about focusing on what is happening to Black people. It does not exclude White people and their problems. It is starting honest conversations about topics that can potentially directly harm your Black neighbors, coworkers, or college friends. 

Don’t be scared of the police, you did nothing wrong 

Sadly, this comforting expression is not valid. Before George Floyd, there was Breonna Taylor, a hospital worker, who was sleeping when at least seven officers entered her home and killed her. Two years before, in 2018, Botham Jean, an accountant, was killed by an off-duty officer while watching football inside his apartment living room. There are numerous examples of why Black people fear law enforcement regardless of whether they did anything wrong. 

Posting on social media against racism is pointless 

In many cases, posting on social media seems pointless, but if we genuinely believe that, everyone would stop posting altogether. Going silent in the digital age signals that you agree with specific events and actions. You don’t have to tackle the current issues, but you can share a poem by Maya Angelou or Langston Hughes. 

Posting on social media against racism will cause a backlash 

Silence is often a sign of fear. White people are afraid they will face backlash from their White peers as well as Black people. Still, silence is a form of complicity, and if you want to be an ally and help others feel safer, you have to accept that backlash is possible.   Even saying, “Hey, I am a White person, and I don’t know what to say, but this is wrong,” comes from an honest place and can be the start of a conversation. 

My children are too young to learn about racism 

If you watch how young children interact, you will notice they do not care about their religion, race, creed, or politics. Children are 

pure, and there is a fear that talking about important yet challenging topics like racism can strip them of their innocence. But, Black, Brown, or Indigenous kids do not have that luxury. Their safety goes beyond teaching them not to take candy from a stranger. It might not be easy now, but your children will be grateful that you gave them essential tools to stand up for themselves and for their friends who are not White. 

What color? I don’t see color 

Perhaps you wanted to say that you value people based on their personality traits, not their skin color. But saying, “I don’t see color,” erases discrimination and racism. There is nothing wrong with seeing color, especially in a diverse country like the US. We can learn from each other, and since it is part of the US DNA, it should be honored and celebrated. Revising history is painful, but looking at how far we come is admirable and can inspire future changes for the better. 

White privilege is not real 

When someone hears the word “privilege,” they think of wealth. Rich people are indeed far more privileged than an average White person, but just because you struggled does not mean you did not experience some privilege. A Black woman can benefit from pretty privilege. However, pretty privilege is a conversation the other day. White privilege is not being the only one of your race in your workplace, not being followed by security while shopping for groceries, or having to face violent stereotypes regarding your race. 

I am not racist. I can’t fix others 

Institutional or systemic racism exists in public or private institutions’ policies, procedures, operations, and culture. While saying that you can’t fix it is accurate, it does not mean you can’t be an ally. You alone cannot make much difference, but a group of people who want positive changes can.  

But we had a Black president 

Barack Obama made history as the first Black president. That’s one president in nearly 250 years of history. So, saying that just because we had a Black president, racism is over is overly optimistic. If anything, Obama, the first non-White president, gave people hope that change is coming. But, his success does not represent the lives of over 41 million Black people in the US or over 60 million Latino people. Using one person to justify the whole race or diversity in the US creates more problems when there is already a lack of solutions. 

I heard it in a song 

It is hard to explain to a teenager why some words are not okay when they are widespread across the hip-hop community, for example. But hard does not mean impossible. This is why history is important, but it is not just hip-hop lyrics full of words and phrases that should be put to rest. “Cakewalk” or “Lynch mob” are racist terms hidden in everyday speech. The mere fact that someone uses racist language and defends it because they heard it in a song means they know they are in the wrong. 

She is such a pretty, light-skinned Black woman 

It is not about someone’s level of attraction, but the term “Brown” is part of colorism, the ugly little sister of racism. If you think that’s not a thing, ask Black or Latino people you know. Discrimination against those with darker skin is not just a white privilege, but it is also noticed among people within their race or group. The 2021 Pew Research found that the majority of Latinos living in the US said colorism affected their work and private lives. 

In conclusion 

The desire to overcome our differences should be greater than any fear of being called out. One sentence can be racially insensitive, but it does not make you a racist. It gives you the potential to grow and spread knowledge. Having difficult conversations with your White friends and family, not just Black people should be the norm. Some White people will say, “What about racism against White people?” Well, it is racial prejudice, but more importantly, no one said that any race is perfect, so if you were unlucky to have met an anti-White person, it could also help you grow and get a better understanding of what it is like being Black in today’s world. That being said, no one should be judged based on their skin color, just like we don’t judge people based on their eye color. 

Teacher fired after refusing to use student’s preferred pronouns scores major legal victory

Teacher fired after refusing to use student’s preferred pronouns scores major legal victory