When I first heard about MTV’s documentary about being white in America, I was skeptical of how well the issue would be handled. But Jose Antonio Vargas’ “White People” pleasantly surprised me, spurring conversations that need to happen more often.
Vargas hears out the misconceptions white people have and then addresses them with facts.
Anyone who has even discussed applying for college hears tales of “reverse racism” and how no scholarships exist for white people, or that people of color are “taking away their spot.”
According to the documentary, whites are 40 percent more likely to receive scholarships than people of color.
While the film addressed the fact that some people of color don’t get scholarships, it did not show how hurtful assumptions can be that their achievements are because of their race.
In a college environment, people of color often have to hear that their accomplishments are not deserved based on their skin color.
This is incredibly dismissive of their accomplishments, attributing all their success to a box checked off on a form, while at the same time implying that only white people have to work hard for their scholarships and university acceptances.
It also addresses the fact that discussions of racism often come off as more friendly when they come from a white person to other white people, with one student creating a white privilege workshop to introduce his fellow students to the idea.
Being cognizant of your white privilege does not mean being ashamed of being white. It just means knowing that white people have many unearned advantages.
“White People” is a good introduction, showing that white people do have privilege, and it does not come off as confrontational.
We often think of racial identity being linked to racism, which causes praise for “colorblindness” and for not speaking about racial issues at all. But racial identity can also be tied to privilege.
Although some of the situations in the film feel uncomfortable and artificial, it is only because honest and nuanced discussions of race are so rare.
This documentary is just a starting point. It shows that racism needs to be discussed in order to address stereotypes and misconceptions. Obviously, since it is only an hourlong program, it couldn’t delve into the intricacies of race relations in the U.S., but it manages to examine whiteness as a separate identity, not as a default. “White People” gives those who never thought about their race an introduction to issues they may have felt uncomfortable talking about before.
Nicole Dan is a UF political science sophomore. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
