White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Activity 1: “Exploring Privilege Through Personal Reflection and Discussion”

In this activity, students will reflect on their own experiences with privilege and engage in a discussion about how privilege impacts their lives and society.

To begin, students should read Peggy McIntosh’s essay “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” and reflect on the following questions:

• How do you see privilege operating in your own life?
• Can you identify examples of privilege in your community or society?
• How does recognizing privilege impact your understanding of social inequality?

Next, students should engage in a group discussion about their reflections. Encourage students to share their thoughts and listen respectfully to others.

Finally, students should write a short reflection about what they learned from the activity and how it has impacted their understanding of privilege.

Teaching Suggestion: Facilitate the discussion in a way that encourages all students to participate and share their thoughts. Remind students to be respectful of others’ experiences and perspectives. This can be a sensitive topic, so it’s important to create a safe and respectful environment for discussion.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or those with attentional learning differences, consider providing additional resources or scaffolding to help them understand the concept of privilege.