entitlement – Rev. Elizabeth Durant

Wait, I’m Not “Special” Because I’m White? Thoughts on Internalized Superiority

by lizcourage & vulnerability, entitlement, racial identity, systemic racism, white privilege October 8, 20152 Comments

I was privileged to have a conversation recently with a young Black activist who I deeply admire. I was surprised when she suggested that there is nothing remarkable about the white part of white supremacy. In different cultures around the world, in the past and present, groups have acted in similar ways, creating and maintaining brutal, dehumanizing and oppressive …

Free Speech: Only for White People?

by lizentitlement, history, language, white privilege January 17, 20123 Comments

Last week officials at Tucson Unified School District walked into classrooms and took books away from the students. The reason? Books which promote “resentment toward a race or class of people” are not permitted. While comparisons are being made to Nazi Germany, I am thinking instead about the books they didn’t take. The ones that evidently …

Talking Back to Great-Grandmother

by lizentitlement, white privilege October 1, 20112 Comments

As I write this, I’m tired and grateful. Tired because I have too much work and too little time, and grateful because yesterday I got a flat tire driving home from a doctor’s appointment. I hate tires. They smell like the oil they’re made of. But I love having a car. So I drove to …

Life’s not fair; get on with it

by lizentitlement, white privilege July 25, 20112 Comments

Some years ago at my women’s writing group I had an aha! moment while bemoaning the lack of women authors among the ranks of the literary elite. My friend Vanessa commented that, as a black woman, she isn’t surprised when the publishing industry ignores her. Of course she wants her work to be visible, and is a strong advocate …