97: “He is white and balks at the word ‘privilege’…”

I wonder how to re-frame the perceived threat often voiced by white male working class. My brother in law for example, a fantastic guy with a heart of gold who thinks it’s unfair that white football presenters on match of the day lost their jobs recently to black presenters in the BBC’s diversity drive. He’s open to discussion but doesn’t see positive discrimination as fair. He is white and balks at the word ‘privilege’ because of its connotation with class not race.

I want to do more to end racism, I know it if I see it on the street but institutional racism is much harder to identify. I think the first step is visibility, employing more black and minority ethnic lecturers, doctors, lawyers and police is a good start, white must not be the default. We must start talking about privilege, especially in art school, not as a threatening put down but as bridge to building a more inclusive and ultimately richer environment.