Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Back Pocket Play: Revealing White Privilege And Its Contribution To Institutionalized Racism, Sonia Michelle Goldberg

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Black lives matter. This phrase incites intense and polarizing emotions in our community: with it brings images of police brutality. It forces the topic of racism to the forefront of the listener’s mind. And when that listener hardly ever considers issues of race in their daily life, “Black lives matter” easily becomes a hostile phrase, one to shrink away from. Why? This ability to dissociate – to write off uncomfortable situations – is a privilege. In predominately White communities like Butler University, individuals are often hesitant to have a conversation about race, because they believe firmly it is not their …