Deep Thoughts, Day two

A: White man's privilege is something you discuss in a college class on racism. It doesn't exist in the real world. I mean, I never got a 10% Caucasian Male Discount at the dinner. While corporate leaders are often male and white, I don't have any on speed dial because of that. I thought the number of benefits I personally got out of maleness and whiteness were pretty much non-existent.

When I came to Austin from Michigan, I traveled back roads - little winding two lane things cutting through fields or hills, woods on one side and a field of cows on the other. I steered clear of the freeways as much as I could manage.

At some point it hit me that I would not be doing this back road route if I was black. I figured a black man traveling alone in this farmland would get stopped now and again where I didn't. Sure I might not have gotten any trouble (though I would not be surprised by a speeding ticket for 3 over). But even if I had been treated fairly, I wouldn't be there. I would not have felt safe in rural America, and I wouldn't have gone.

And if I were openly gay I would have been concerned about violence. Or even .... if I were a woman traveling alone, I would not have left the freeways. I'd stay in well lit areas, keep my nose down and try not to attract attention.

But I am a white male, and I look pretty normal to the guy behind the counter at the road side convenience store. I take a look at a map and realize whole big chunks of it are open to me that wouldn't be, otherwise. Yeah. I get it. White man's privilege.