Sociology: Tim Wise, Essay Example

What is white privilege?

White privilege means that being white gives a person more opportunities over one who is black or of another race. These opportunities have no relationship to the person’s credibility or qualifications. Some social analysts such as Tim Wise have referred to the concept as structured inequality whereby some people are given one mile ahead, of a race set for all to run; due to some social ascription In this case the social ascription is just being ‘white.’

What is Whiteness?

In my perception whiteness is a social status placed upon people who have blue eyes, white skin and blonde hair. The status comes with privileges announcing superiority above all other ethnic groups. During the Jim Crow era it meant segregation whereby whiteness was exclusive to blackness, which was supposed to be underprivileged. This coincides with Tim Wise’s perception of the concept.

Has Barack’s election changed the racial climate and opportunities?

No! The point is while Barack Obama is perceived as black he is very much a black bird in a white cage from my perception. He actually grew up white, but tries to be black as an adult. Tim Wise perceives this as the backlash. In my opinion racism has not gone anywhere because due to Obama’s apparent blackness he has been the most disrespected president in United States of America, just because he is classified black. Therefore no opportunities have been opened to blacks. He has to dance to the white Republicans’ music.

Tim Wise has said, “I want my country back.” What does that mean?

To me Tim Wise means that America has been ravished by white supremacy whereby the indigenous peoples have been isolated in their own land. Perhaps, he is a descendant of those indigenous people.