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The quote comes from an article I was given in a Women's Studies Course. The focus of McIntosh's article was that many people are privileged, live the lives of the privilege yet never know it or never admit it. She uses herself as an example. She is a white woman...she knows what prejudices she faces because of her gender. What she didn't realize was that she was privileged because of her skin color. American society is criticized for the power and privilege white people are given. McIntosh admits that she is an oppressor just as white men are. She works through steps to help her and others understand skin-color privilege. Once there is understanding and awareness, changes can occur in behavior.
"...it is an open question whether we will choose to use unearned advantage to weaken hidden systems of advantage, and whether we will use any of our arbitrarily-awarded power to try to reconstruct power systems on a broader base."
This is an interesting article...I hope you can find it in your library!
Peggy McIntosh (1989). White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, PEACE AND FREEDOM, July/ Aug 1989 Wellesy College.