White People is an American documentary film, created by and starring Jose Antonio Vargas, who tries to explore the issues of racial inequality and white privilege from the perspective of the white people (White People). He does this by interviewing White Caucasians about their views about the problems of race, their opinions, the extent of their knowledge, their preconceptions about minorities, and about the white race itself.
The video is attempting to be provocative, but it doesn’t do much to provide suitable thought-inspiring material. In a very divisive topic, it raises only the safest and tamest questions, and it rarely fully addresses them. Most of the interviewees lack any personal experiences with racism. They are often oblivious or dismissive of their racist views or mannerisms, and Vargas doesn’t do much to make them re-evaluate themselves.
While the film lacks the stimulation it strives for, it does show some interesting facts. First of all, since social circles of white people often don’t contain minorities, they don’t get to witness or participate in race-related issues personally. They don’t see themselves as a stakeholder in racial matters, don’t always have a clear concept of what is and what isn’t racist, and can be obliviously offensive as a result. Secondly, this film studies the perception of American students that they can be reverse discriminated against in favor of minority students in their education. It examines statistics that disprove this sentiment, showing that white students hold an undisputed leadership in the number of grants awarded. It shows the white people’s feelings of being a victim in such situations as a self-reassuring defensive reflex, which shows a lack of understanding of the privileges or lack thereof which come with race. Thirdly, the film studies the distrust the white immigrant community has for the members of other ethnic communities and explains it as grounded in prejudice, mostly as a result of a language barrier problem and “growing pains” of the first generation of new immigrants.
Racial inequality and white privilege are very relevant issues, but they require in-depth study, and improvement can only be achieved when white people’s preconceptions are challenged, and they are properly educated about the issues modern society has.
Notes
“What it means to be young and white?”
Most talks about race focus on the minorities’ perspective. The documentary attempts to find out what the “white people” perspective on race issues is, and what they know and think about “white privilege.”
The first subject of the film, Dakota, is a white gay man. He invites his black friends to dinner with his family. The conversations over dinner are led by the Vargas into topics of race. The meaningful conversation Vargas is attempting to make troubles the black friends and leaves the white family obliviously unfazed.
White privilege discussions. Feeling that things belong to you, you are one of the “good ones” by default.
A school in an Indian reservation. White teachers see themselves the minority and have to face being negatively stereotyped themselves.
“What are disadvantages of being white?” – “That’s like asking a rich person ‘Tell me how hard it is being rich’. Education reverse discrimination. Scholarships for race? Actually, no. White people at an advantage.
Discussion with family of a boy who does “white privilege” themed workshops. Parents have little concept of race issues, and see the privilege arguments as an attack on whites, rather than a defense mechanism. “I don’t want to be ashamed that I’m white.”
America is becoming “less and less white”. Studies show that now white Caucasians make up slightly less than half of public school students. Italian-American white neighborhood receives an influx of Asian minorities. White population finds it uncomfortable, sees Asians as unfriendly. Language barrier is discussed as the reason for this perception.
Works Cited
White People. Dir. Jose Antonio Vargas. MTV. 2015. Web.