I think the case of this hypothetical white kid raised in a black neighborhood is actually a great example of how white privilege works. In their neighborhood, this white kid will be in the minority, and it is possible that this white person would have a difficult time gaining entry to many of the social, cultural, and economic institutions of the neighborhood. By learning the codes and behaviors of their neighborhood, this hypothetical white person may also forfeit access to certain white institutions that judge people on markers of white performance as well as appearance. In these ways, we see where white privilege falls to help this specific white person.
At the same time, when it comes to the police state in the USA, this white person is still less likely to be racially profiled, harassed on the street, and wrongfully arrested, and if they do commit a crime, they will likely face lighter sentencing than a black person would for that same crime. In this way, we see how white privilege has benefited this person, even though they grew up in a non-white neighborhood and may have had other disadvantages. |
