Peeling back the expectations of a white male
Often our jobs as citizens is to educate our elected and appointed representatives. My experience is that, at best, if I communicate with them via letter or email I can expect to receive a form letter response indicating merely that my communication was received. Very often, however, I receive no response at all. Occasionally, if I follow up with a phone call I am able to set up a meeting with a staff person in the office and occasionally with the elected or appointed representative.
All elected and appointed representatives at all levels of the body politic receive many requests. They give their attention and the power of their office to addressing a variety of issues, most of which deserve serious attention. These requests arrive from private citizens, representatives of mayors, governors and the president, CEOs of mayor companies, professional lobbyists, and representative of many other special interest groups. Deciding which ones deserve their attention depends, I am sure, on many factors, Certainly, one of the factors is the “price” one might pay for ignoring the concern or request. One of the prices or rewards for elected representatives is votes. If one is the only person concerned about an issue and one does not represent a group of people who are likely to affect the career of a person, one’s issues are not likely to get much time or attention.
Some of us are in the habit of expecting others to recognize that even if we do not represent an “important” organization or person we and our requests are important. One may, for example, come to believe that one’s white, male privilege will always be recognized and honored. We may have been routinely rewarded with more attention than those who are not while males or who do not appear to be white males. We may or may not have consciously allowed ourselves to know this to be the case.
If people do not see me in person many assume that I am not a while male or, at best, I am a faux white male. Often, it seems that the concerns which I address do not seem to promote the interests of the status quo. I am considered a person who makes waves about issues which may only be of concern to a segment of the community whose needs are of no concern except possibly at election time. Perhaps not even then. Knowing this I can still “fall” into the trap of expecting my male white privilege to be honored. Perhaps I should sign all correspondence “white male” although that might only be appreciated by the radical right and only then if my opinion or concern corresponded to theirs which is unlikely.
Since the early 1960es I have consciously been attempting to peel back the layers of white male privilege which I have internalized. Yet, it seems I have only begun. My earliest memory of recognizing and being ashamed of my racism dates back to 1945. My attempt to peel back my male privilege sadly did not consciously begin until the 1970es. From an early age, I do recall that something seemed “off” when males had more privilege that the women in our families who often seemed wiser, more compassionate and more spiritual. I also sensed that relationships which demonstrated both equity and equality such as the one Aunt Pleasie and Uncle Harold shared were not only attractive but highly desirable.
As is almost always the case, I began this blog with an agenda which had little to do with white, male privilege. Yet, the muse or the part of me who knows he knows quickly took over. I have no expectation that I will live long enough to peel back to the core but it seems that my muse will insist that I continue the slow, often uncomfortable process.
Written March 1, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Often our jobs as citizens is to educate our elected and appointed representatives. My experience is that, at best, if I communicate with them via letter or email I can expect to receive a form letter response indicating merely that my communication was received. Very often, however, I receive no response at all. Occasionally, if I follow up with a phone call I am able to set up a meeting with a staff person in the office and occasionally with the elected or appointed representative.
All elected and appointed representatives at all levels of the body politic receive many requests. They give their attention and the power of their office to addressing a variety of issues, most of which deserve serious attention. These requests arrive from private citizens, representatives of mayors, governors and the president, CEOs of mayor companies, professional lobbyists, and representative of many other special interest groups. Deciding which ones deserve their attention depends, I am sure, on many factors, Certainly, one of the factors is the “price” one might pay for ignoring the concern or request. One of the prices or rewards for elected representatives is votes. If one is the only person concerned about an issue and one does not represent a group of people who are likely to affect the career of a person, one’s issues are not likely to get much time or attention.
Some of us are in the habit of expecting others to recognize that even if we do not represent an “important” organization or person we and our requests are important. One may, for example, come to believe that one’s white, male privilege will always be recognized and honored. We may have been routinely rewarded with more attention than those who are not while males or who do not appear to be white males. We may or may not have consciously allowed ourselves to know this to be the case.
If people do not see me in person many assume that I am not a while male or, at best, I am a faux white male. Often, it seems that the concerns which I address do not seem to promote the interests of the status quo. I am considered a person who makes waves about issues which may only be of concern to a segment of the community whose needs are of no concern except possibly at election time. Perhaps not even then. Knowing this I can still “fall” into the trap of expecting my male white privilege to be honored. Perhaps I should sign all correspondence “white male” although that might only be appreciated by the radical right and only then if my opinion or concern corresponded to theirs which is unlikely.
Since the early 1960es I have consciously been attempting to peel back the layers of white male privilege which I have internalized. Yet, it seems I have only begun. My earliest memory of recognizing and being ashamed of my racism dates back to 1945. My attempt to peel back my male privilege sadly did not consciously begin until the 1970es. From an early age, I do recall that something seemed “off” when males had more privilege that the women in our families who often seemed wiser, more compassionate and more spiritual. I also sensed that relationships which demonstrated both equity and equality such as the one Aunt Pleasie and Uncle Harold shared were not only attractive but highly desirable.
As is almost always the case, I began this blog with an agenda which had little to do with white, male privilege. Yet, the muse or the part of me who knows he knows quickly took over. I have no expectation that I will live long enough to peel back to the core but it seems that my muse will insist that I continue the slow, often uncomfortable process.
Written March 1, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
RSS Feed