White Lies

I believe that the artist illustrated an intentional sarcasm of Caucasians reasoning to defend white privileges; along with the play on words with the title, White Lies. The statement made by the cartoon characters are “lies” because their statements are made from a single point of view that have masked the subtle dominance of white supremacy. The characters are exploiting the common justification of Caucasians reasoning to defend that there is no advantage or difference among whites and other race and/or ethnicity. It clear, there’s a hierarchy of power with a stratified distribution of advantages and privileges among the population on the basis of being “different.” Since the white characters did not acknowledge that there’s a difference in equality among the populations; they’re telling “white lies” that have been used to mask and deflect criticism among Caucasians.   

McIntosh argues that "...obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage it kept strongly acculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all. Keeping most people unaware of the freedom of confident action is there for just a small number of people props up those in power, and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already" (298). I agree with McIntosh, to my understanding that there are differences in advantages among different populations. Although this concept may be obvious, if the recognition of white privilege/advantage is acknowledged in the United States it would shatter the ideology of meritocracy. The myth of meritocracy, in a more simplified way, states that regardless of race and ethnicity every individual should have equal opportunity for success in the U.S., with hard work and determination of course. Exposing the myth of meritocracy to the unaware population may cause a revolution to challenge the systemic hierarchy and complication for the government.   

Jon Scalzi’s analogy “game of life” is useful to help understand the concept of reverse racism. The analogy explains how each individual regardless of race or ethnicity will go through the same process in life, but illuminates that there is a difference in difficulty in the experience of life.

-370W