White Privilege, by Rabbi Eli Garfinkel of Temple Beth El, Somerset - June 2, 2020
 

The events of the past week have been a terrifying wakeup call for millions upon millions of white Americans. We are spiritually deaf. How sad it is that our cities must burn for us to look up from our iPhones long enough to hear the sadness and rage of our African American brothers and sisters. Speaking only for myself but I hope for many others, I understand the concept of white privilege much more clearly than I used to.
 

White privilege means that nobody dares question the concept that my life matters. 

White privilege that when if I am ever pulled over by the police for speeding, I’m afraid of what my wife will say, not afraid of what the police might do if things go wrong.

White privilege means that I am invisible when I want to be, that I can pass when I do not want to be seen, and I can be visible when I want to be noticed.

White privilege means that if I am ever turned down for a job in the future, I am 100% sure that race will not be the reason.

White privilege means that if my kid gets into Harvard, nobody will sneer and say it was Affirmative Action.

White privilege means that when I see American institutions, I feel nothing but pride even when there is much about which we should be ashamed.

White privilege privilege means that I didn’t have to work hard to get an excellent education. It was practically served to me on a silver platter. I wasn’t born on third base, but I was definitely born on first or maybe even second.

Let me just conclude by saying, “We hear you, black America. Tell us what to do and what not to do, tell us what to say and what not to say so that the evil hands of racism will let your people go.”