Blog #1: Privilege, Power and Difference
Allan Robinson's article on these issues is taken in an alternative route: in the eyes of a heterosexual white man. Potential very controversial, however Robinson does an excellent job in explaining the issues through his own lens. He discusses how the issues of race, gender, social class, and sexuality are elephants in the room and are unfamiliar to most people which is why they are met with hostility. He brings in his perspective about how he feels guilt about his white privilege even though he specifically has done nothing wrong, as well as how he knows the sexism that women face in all types of societies.
Robinson seems to have had a realization about these issues, mainly through a story he describes in the second chapter. He mentions how he went to lunch with a coworker who was female and African American, and of these issues came to him while sitting there, with him feeling a tremendous amount of guilt for things that he was not responsible for revolving around economic status, race, and gender which most likely had affected his coworker in ways he would never experience. He jumps from situation to situation that all have a corresponding issue of white privilege and/or white racism, with those topics being the main discussion point in his writings. He continues to mention how white readers will most likely be turned off by his statements, but always backs them up and urges those white readers to move forward through his literature.
Overall, Robinson's work is something to keep into consideration not just for white people, but for all people. The root of the issue was from Rodney King asking everyone why people can't get along, and Robinson ran with that. People should be comfortable to review and discuss solutions with others about how to prevent these issues from continuing to happen. Talking about problems and solutions always leads to less conflict, why can't it work here? All we need is people to listen and to open up.
I agree how in the last paragraph you talked about how this article can be meant for everyone and can apply to everyone, even though he mainly focuses on white people. I feel that was a very good point because that can be overlooked when reading it.
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