"Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" Response

In Peggy McIntosh's "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" she recalls many of the privileges given to white people as related to those of African Americans. I agree with many if not all of the privileges given to whites although nowadays more of the privileges have shifted toward African Americans as well. Many African Americans have proven themselves worthy and have overcome barriers to reach privileges such as getting better jobs and not being judged for have higher paying jobs. One of the points mentioned by McIntosh was traveling alone without a spouse and not being harassed and that has also changed for African Americans. They have become independent and are not looked down upon for being single or married.

Although, many African Americans still do not have many of the privileges, like McIntosh said. When African Americans try to voice their opinions to public they have been shut down and sometimes in violent ways. In McIntosh's article she explains that whites as a race will not put down for voicing their opinions but that all African Americans might be even if it is just one person acting out. It is also true that some of the newer generations of African Americans are acting out and putting themselves out there to be treated differently. Many of the points that McIntosh listed are still true today; one being that they can swear or dress down they are not see as having bad morals. In today's society if African Americans dress down and talk in a foul language they are noticed and judged immediately just because of their appearance and race.