Enter the River Study Guide
Session 7: White-washed
Handout for Session 7: A privilege puzzle
- Sam is walking home after dark. As he leaves the bank near his house,
he falls in behind another man walking in front of him. The man in front of
Sam continues walking, but begins to show signs of nervousness. Suddenly the
man spins around and looks Sam squarely in the face. Although the man has
never before seen him, relief floods across the man's face when he sees
Sam.
- Rita parks her car alongside the curb near her house. She turns off the
ignition and takes a deep breath. Her hands shake as anger continues boiling
inside.
That afternoon, while on her way to visit a client, she noticed flashing
lights in her rear view mirror. As she stood awkwardly by the roadside, the
police officer demanded she show him the title to her car. He hadn't even
respected her enough to ask her name.
She was allowed to leave only after a call to her husband Sam and a
confirmation call to the dealership where they had bought the car the weekend
before. No one apologized.
- Tami sits in the auditorium listening to her professor lecture on
Egyptian history. When he is finished, he invites questions from the class.
Someone asks about the role of hieroglyphics in the development of widespread
written communication. Tami asks him for details on the role of women in the
construction of the pyramids.
When he is finished responding, another student asks, "Professor Harkin,
what do you people think about the fall of the Roman empire vis-a-vis the fall
of Egyptian civilization?"
"Mom was right," Tami thinks to herself as she shakes her head, "it does
happen even today."
- "No. I won't ask him to come with me." Tami and Rita sit at their
kitchen table. "It's my loan, not Daddy's." Rita doesn't respond, but looks
at her daughter with concern. "Tami, it's your choice. I just don't want you
to be disappointed."
They sit in silence for a few more minutes, then Tami gets up to leave.
"This is my choice, Mom. This way they have to respond to me, not
Daddy."
- Sam opens the door and walks in. "You just missed Tami," Rita tells
him.
"She's going by herself. Isn't she?" Rita doesn't need to answer. Sam
asks, "Do you remember the time she demanded that I not talk to her teacher
about the stereotypes of blacks in her history book?" "Yes," Rita smiled, "she
wanted to tackle that one without your help also."
"She has done her best not to let my skin color work to her advantage."
The pride in Sam's voice cannot be mistaken.
Session 7: White-washed
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