White Privilege Essay Example for Free

White Privilege Essay What is white privilege? It is important that white privilege be defined because the majority of whites want to deny that it exists at all, especially in response to assertions of people of color that it exists unjustly and should be dismantled. The denial of its existence by whites is racialized. People of color say white people enjoy white privilege while white people deny, as often as possible, that they have it and that such a privilege exists. White privilege is defined (Clark, 2005), as (1a) a right, advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of allWhat is white privilege? It is important that white privilege be defined because the majority of whites want to deny that it exists at all, especially in response to assertions of people of color that it exists unjustly and should be dismantled. The denial of its existence by whites is racialized. People of color say white people enjoy white privilege while white people deny, as often as possible, that they have it and that such a privilege exists. White privilege is defined (Clark, 2005), as (1a) a right, advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities. (b) A special advantage or benefit of white persons; with reference to divine dispensations, natural advantages, gifts of fortune, genetic endowments, social relations, etc. (2a) A privileged position; the possession of an advantage white persons enjoy over non-white persons. (3a) The special right or immunity attaching to white persons as a social relation; prerogative. (b) Display of white privilege, a social expression of a white person or persons demanding to be treated as a member or members of the socially privileged class. (4a) To authorize or license of white person or persons what is forbidden or wrong for non-whites; to justify, excuse. (b) To give white persons special freedom or immunity from some liability or burden to which non-white persons are subject; to exempt. While many whites seem to think and believe that the notion of racial preference originated with affirmative action programs, intended to expand opportunities for historically marginalized people of color, racial preference has had a very long and very White Privilege 3 white history. Even if most whites were willing to acknowledge the existence of white privilege they would likely have no explanation for the privileges afforded them every minute of every day of their lives. They simply take it for granted. Affirmative action was the guiding principle of segregation for most whites. It was used to motivate racially restrictive housing policies while people of color were excluded from the same programs. It is hardly an exaggeration by people of color to say that white America is the biggest collective recipient of racial preference in the history of the universe. They have skewed our laws, shaped public policy and have helped to create the more obvious inequalities with which we live. According to (Bell, 1995), black people need reform of our civil rights strategies as badly as those in the law needed a new way to consider American jurisprudence prior to the advent of the Legal Realists. The debate about racism in America revolves around achieving diversity. Focusing on diversity means that questions of history and power go unasked and unanswered. Without an understanding of the history of racism in America, and the enduring imbalances of power, wealth, status and privilege, further progress toward racial justice is unlikely (Allen, 1994). Racial oppression is a set of strategies for social exploitation (Allen, 2003). The institutions of slavery were established in order to secure benefits for white people at the expense of African slaves and their American born descendants. One way to think about the benefits of exploitations, according to (Berger, 1999), is in terms of racialized social privilege? patterns of social privilege and benefit, including exemptions from harm and burden, which accrue to racial groups at the expense of others. The short hand term for White Privilege 4 these patterns in American society is white privilege. Economic benefits are at the core of white privilege. The vast pool of labor provided by slavery, from which both Northern industrialists and Southern plantation owners benefited, is one of the founding sources of the American economy. African Americans continue to struggle with economic legacy of an unjust history. Poor and working class whites strongly object to the idea of white privilege, stating or pointing out what they consider the obvious, that not every white person has wealth and power. There are other benefits that accrue or come as a natural right to white people, including one which W. E. B. DuBois called the psychological wages of whiteness. (Williams, 2004) This refers to that age old membership in the privileged group, even for whites on the bottom rung, confers a social status and recognition which is denied to all but the most powerful members of oppressed groups. The history of racial oppression in American is not disputed. However, what is disputed is whether and to what extent, four hundred (400) years of oppression continues to harm African Americans and other minorities and their life chances unjustly; and conversely, whether that history of oppression continues to benefit white Americans unjustly. Systems of oppression are not established unless they are a means of benefit. There is no reason for people of color to believe that social institutions and power structures no longer dispense benefits and harms racially. When we examine the way benefits and harms are apportioned in the U. S. , including wealth, income, equality of our court system, treatment from the police, access to colleges, universities and even the political symbolism of state flags, what we see are White Privilege 5 exercises and expressions of white privilege. As a group, white people have more income, wealth, political representation, status, power, and social reinforces of their human dignity and self respect than any group in America. If history is any guide, expecting white America to voluntarily open the corridors of power to people of color aintt gonna happen. These privileges have been enjoyed by white people unjustly. The struggle by people of color to obtain freedom, justice and dignity is as old as this nation, and racial equality, unfortunately, is not a realistic goal.

Holocaust Survivors Essay -- Essays Papers

Holocaust Survivors Who survived the holocaust? What are their lives like today? What has been the government's response towards those who survived after World War II? Have the survivors kept their faith? How has the survivors next generation been affected? The survivors of the holocaust were deeply effected by the trauma they encountered. This unforgettable experience influenced their lives, those around them, and even their descendants. When the infamous Hitler began his reign in Germany in 1933, 530,000 Jews were settled in his land. In a matter of years the amount of Jews greatly decreased. After World War II, only 15,000 Jews remained. This small population of Jews was a result of inhumane killings and also the fleeing of Jews to surrounding nations for refuge. After the war, emaciated concentration camp inmates and slave laborers turned up in their previous homes.1 Those who had survived had escaped death from epidemics, starvation, sadistic camp guards, and mass murder plants. Others withstood racial persecution while hiding underground or living illegally under assumed identities and were now free to come forth. Among all the survivors, most wished not to return to Germany because the memories were too strong. Also, some become loyal to the new country they had entered. Others feared the Nazis would rise again to power, or that they would not be treated as an equal in their own land. There were a few, though, who felt a duty to return to their home land, Germany, to find closure and to face the reality of the recent years. 2 They felt they could not run anymore. Those survivors wanted to rejoin their national community, and show others who had persecuted them that they could succeed. In order to enco... ... 160. 8. Norbert Muhlen, The Survivors (New York: Crowell Company, 1962), 38-39. 9. Norbert Muhlen, The Survivors (New York: Crowell Company, 1962), 40-42. 10. Survivors of the Holocaust -Study Guide

Madoff Case Study

Introduction Honesty is one of the basic principles for ethical business conduct. Gaining the trust of customers and investors is paramount in ensuring continued long term success and profits. For over ten years, Bernard Madoff created and grew one of the world’s largest Ponzi schemes known to date. He gained the trust of wealthy friends and prominent charity organizations, served on the chair of NASDAQ, and lived a lavish lifestyle all while keeping a dark secret from those who were the closest to him. Madoff’s deceit was worldwide.Being a man of power, Madoff lured in Ponzi scheme investors all over the globe with the guise and promise of being part of an exclusive club. Regulators are now increasing testing of and instructions to financial intuitions in an effort to protect consumers from another billion dollar scheme. Issues Raised As our test book states, â€Å"When an individual engages in deceptive practices to advance his or her own interests over those of his or her organization or some other group, he is committing fraud†¦ Fraud is any purposeful communication that deceives, manipulates, or conceals facts in order to create a false impression. (Ferrell pg. 78) There is no doubt that Madoff actively breached the trust of the companies involved in the Ponzi scheme. After his family gained awareness of his actions, Madoff admitted to his dealings and was tried and sentenced to 150 years in jail. One of the questions raised by his scheme, is did he work alone? There is proof that an accountant friend assisted, but who else looked the other way while he was pulling the wool over the eyes of millions? Who knew something was wrong, but still participated thinking they too could gain from being at the top of the scheme?This is the promise of such schemes; those at the top get all the benefits. The estimate of losses totals over $50 billion. In order to manage that large of a sum, there would need to be a lot of paperwork somewhere, let alo ne, accountants and workers to control it. He couldn't have done it without the cooperation and assistance of someone well informed who could process trades, report them and create monthly statements. Others had to help him falsify all those reports, conduct mail fraud and create multiple sets of books, while he was at country clubs attracting more investors to be at the bottom of the ladder.However, he still claims to be the only perpetrator. Even with regulators and the SEC on the case, no one will ever know with for sure how many people actually worked for Madoff or how many investors he had or how much money he actually managed. Analysis of Regulation Since the Madoff case came into public view, a spotlight is now shining on the governing bodies of regulation. The investment world is painfully aware of what is possible when auditing regulations are negligent. Shortly after Madoff’s arrest and trial, the SEC took quick measures to ensure the safety and confidence of financ ial investing.Many of the new SEC’s regulation guidelines include: Revitalizing it’s Enforcement Division, Revamping the handling of complaints and tips, Encouraging greater cooperation by ‘insiders', Enhancing safeguards for investors' assets, Improving risk assessment capabilities, Conducting risk-based examinations of financial firms, Improving fraud detection procedures for examiners, Recruiting staff with specialized experience, Expanding and targeting training, Improving internal controls, Advocating for a whistleblower program, Integrating broker-dealer and investment adviser examinations, Enhancing the licensing, education and oversight regime for ‘back-office' personnel. I think one of the best things the regulating bodies can do is provide education to investors and encourage both investors and financial intuitions to demand higher standards of ethics. The SEC, and other regulators, need to stop the wait and see technique and become more proactive in their regulation tactics. I like the idea of having a better whistleblower program for anonymous complaints as well as sporadic audits and training.Bottom line, the more people talk to and about financial practices the better. Conclusion Fraud is the opposite of being honest. As the world adapts to technology and people build relationships with their money and financial institutions, ethical problems are sure to erupt. Fraud was easy during the birth and growth period of technology and the internet, since it’s full capabilities where unknown. Bernard Madoff is not the first to use his position of power to gain the trust of the wealthy or hard working. Many still believe business is a game or war and they think each man is for himself, or no rules apply in the quest for profits and a lavish lifestyle.Because of Madoff and his far reaching, billion dollar scheme, the times have changed and the SEC and regulating bodies are more aware than ever, of how people with knowledge can take advantage and lie to those who don’t have it. The mystery of who knew about and participated in Madoff’s scheme may never be solved, but one thing is for certain, the doors of communication must stay open between business, regulators, and consumers everywhere so we can look out for each other and hold each other accountable for unethical actions. Reference †¢Ferrell, O. C. , J. Fraedrich, and L. Ferrell. Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases. 9th. ed. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Index of Aristotles Tragedy Terminology