Blog#4 Allan G Johnson’s “Where White Privilege Came From”

THE ORIGIN OF RACE IN THE USA - VIDEO

In this article, Johnson had the following main points: 

• Explain the origins of the idea of dominant race - White race

• The development of white power that lead to white privilege. 

• How white privileges of wealth and power are inherited but usually not perceived.

• How social systems create paths of least resistance (to follow social norms related

• to gaps of privilege and do not oppose them).  

Origins of race

Under Johnson’s perspective, the idea of a dominant race originated

when the British struggled to conquer Ireland, and it was that frustration 

caused by Ireland’s stubborn resistance that led the British to believe that

Irish were inferior savage people. This was the invention of the concept of 

race where the British were in the position of dominance.  Later on, the 

British brought that cultural belief to North America, along with the sense 

of superiority. During the 18th and 19th century, in the midst of Industrial 

Capitalism, labor and its related cost was a key element that opened the

doors to slavery. 

White Power

Later US land was gained through military and political dominance

creating a hierarchy of power with the subordination of Africans and

Native americans. Upper-class whites encouraged lower and working class

whites to strongly identify with their race. By emphasizing their whiteness it

distracted them from the economical disadvantages of capitalism. 

“That advantage cannot be uncoupled from the history of race and racism

in this country. The past is more than history. It also presents instructional 

distributions of wealth and power and cultural ideologies, laws, practices,

beliefs and attitudes whose effect is to justify, defend, and perpetuate the

system of white privilege. ”  

Inherited white privilege

Johnson shared his reflection on how his present economic situation

benefited and connected to what was taken from others generations ago, 

to later benefit him. Therefore, it is important to question our individual

participation in privilege and oppression.

“Collectively, the white population of the United States now holds an 

enormous unearned advantage of wealth and power” 

Path to least resistance

The idea of “luxury of obliviousness”, talks about how you can act out

on injustices or be a participant of it. Social systems create paths of least 

resistance meaning they follow the social norms and do not oppose them. 

We can unknowingly participate in these systems and create issues without

being aware of them. On the other hand, there are always individuals with 

possibilities of making different choices. Systems can influence our 

behavior but it is about the choices individuals make in the system. 

“The path of least resistance in any system is to be aware of none of this, to 

accept the organization of social life just as the way things are”  

Connection 

The main connection that I made was to the documentary “Precious 

knowledge” ,  where the Chicano community decided to raise their voices in

a peaceful way in order to defend their rights and fight injustices as in the 

example of this reading. . 

“Four college boys of color, during a time of segregation stepped of the

path and sat down to make change.  Stories of their actions were spread 

all over North Carolina and others sat in order to facilitate change”