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I remember during the run-up to the New Hampshire primary the news was that heroin addiction was at epidemic levels in white New Hampshire.

When I think of a heroin problem I remember heroin going through Paterson in the 70s where I grew up. My father and others helped develop Northside Addicts Rehabilitation Center to help people get off heroin. Most involved in the program were poor, black or Hispanic and got caught up in it at a young age. Now we see this in very white New Hampshire and also among men and women well into middle age, presumably people who have some knowledge of what drugs can do to your life. This is what is catching sociologists by surprise.

But What About White Privilege?

Now all of this happens in the context of another movement trying to expose white privilege.

It is simply the case that being white in America is easier than being black.

• You don’t get stopped by the cops for the color of your skin
• You don’t get followed through the store keeper fearing you’ll take something
• You get to buy a house in any neighborhood you want
• You don’t pay more for your car or the car note

But lots of white people will also note that being white doesn’t pay for food, or keep the lights on or pay the credit card. Lots of white people here about privilege and ask “when they were handing out those privileges where was I because I’m struggling here!”

The Life We Assume and Expect Continue reading →