Wise, Zirin, Coakley

Tim Wise’s main and strongest argument is centered around white privilege. He plays a game where he compares situations where white people engaged in violent or questionable acts and were seen as being patriotic, and not a threat. And then shows the opposite, when a person of color does similar things, even on a smaller scale, they are feared, criticized and seen as anti-American. This difference arises purely because of skin color. 

Zirin’s main argument with respect to the Ben Roethlisberger’s sexual assault case is that Roethlisberger should thank his lucky stars that he is white. He has been accused of raping a 20-year-old student in a bar. Thanks to lawyers, wealth, fame and his skin color, Roethlisberger may escape jail and even a trial. Comparing this to the Michael Vick case, Vick was suspended from the NFL for his conviction of fighting and abusing dogs while Roethlisberger may walk away with no charges for possibly raping a woman.

These white privilege-isms tie to McIntosh’s examples from “Unpacking the Knapsack” because white people are so used to conveniences in life due to skin color that it becomes normalized and expected. White people are equipped with many things automatically. Vick had the lawyers, wealth and fame like Roelisberger, the only difference: Vick is black, and Roethlisberger is white. Roethlisberger is automatically privileged.

With respect to patriarchy, supremacy and classism, supremacy and particularly white supremacy is most evident in the Zirin article. Vick was charged and convicted while Roethlisberger escaped conviction. In Zirin’s article, patriarchy is the result once again of skin color. Both males are wealthy, but Roethlisberger is a byproduct of white privilege putting him higher up than Vick. As far as classism, that is most evident in Wise’s article. White people can get away with more socially unacceptable acts because of their skin color. When white people reciprocate these actions, they are reprimanded.

Coakley’s argument of black athletic destiny is that many young black, men, grow up believing the black body is superior when it comes to physical abilities in certain sports (286). They believe that the only way they will be recognized in society as being successful is through athletics. Coakley notes a great difference between black and white athletes. Black athletes are driven in athletics due to biological predispositions. They have the genetics to make them successful largely due to their history, whereas white athletes, particularly men, succeed in sport due to cultural and social influences. This is why scientists do not conduct studies to identify genes that would predispose a white person to succeed in sport. The white hockey players and white skiers grow up with skates or skis on when they are taking their first steps. They have the environment to thrive in their skill, without having the genes to make it possible.