Twitter Examines White Privilege

(The Root) — Much of the nation is still reeling from the not-guilty verdict handed down to George Zimmerman over the weekend. Though Zimmerman is half Latino, many rightly name white privilege as a factor in his acquittal.

Since the verdict was announced, white Twitterers have used their own stories to illustrate the way white privilege works. Using the tag #WhitePrivilege, they shared encounters they had with police officers when they were young — situations similar to Trayvon’s that ended much differently because they were not profiled as Trayvon was.

Hearing the privileged recognize and speak on their privilege imparts a bit of hope that maybe they can reach an audience that the rest of us can’t.

White people – we are NOT #TrayvonMartin. We are #GeorgeZimmerman. Recognize it. Own up to it. CHANGE IT. #WhitePrivilege

— me. (@aRedMosquito) July 15, 2013

https://twitter.com/luxtempo/status/356755920530837504

https://twitter.com/symphonydog/status/356695469080064000

https://twitter.com/ChristineLSloc/status/356669581118541824

https://twitter.com/patchworksoul/status/356504367353958401

I was also stopped a few years ago about 3am close to home, walking (car broke down and phone dead) and cop gave me a ride. #WhitePrivilege

— Trish Robinson (@trishrobinson) July 14, 2013

The other day #NYPD said “good evening” to me as I walked to my Harlem apt. No melanin, no profiling. #IamNotTrayvonMartin #WhitePrivilege

— Johnny Golightly (@JohnnyGolightly) July 14, 2013

#WhitePrivilege is when i can drive/walk anywhere and not be stopped by the police because i look "suspicious". #TrayvonMartin

— Gina (@loiseau_noir) July 14, 2013

https://twitter.com/StackWanderer/status/356468938009362432

Tracy Clayton is a writer, humorist and blogger from Louisville, Ky.