Here's an example of my white male privilege. [View all]

[MineralMan]

I went out on a walk in the tiny little unincorporated town in California I lived in for 35 years. It was after midnight. I stopped in front of the little corner market a few blocks from my house to look at the bulletin board on the front wall of the store, since people posted things for sale and other stuff on it. There was a light shining on it. I had lived there for over 5 years at the time.

So, while I was doing that, a private security guy pulled up, parked and got out of his car and yelled, "FREEZE!" at me. I turned to look at him and he had his hand on his pistol. What did I do?

I looked the rent-a-cop guy in the eye and said, "What the fuck are you doing with your hand on your gun? Are you planning to shoot me for looking at the public bulletin on a store I patronize almost every day? What is wrong with you?"

He started in about me acting "suspiciously." I said, "How is looking at a well-lighted public bulletin board suspicious?"

He got back in his car and sped off down the street.

Why? Because I'm a white male. I can do things like that without worrying about some cop or other armed security person mistaking a pistol for a Taser and killing me.

Anyone who doesn't recognize their privilege needs to take another look at themselves.