Some comments I have received indicate that there is a misunderstanding about what white privilege is. First let me say what it is not. White privilege is not “white shaming” or “white guilt.” White privilege is not liberal or conservative. It is not Democrat or Republican. It is not a political issue. It is a human issue.

My only purpose in writing is to bring awareness to the reality that people of color do not have the same privileges, the same advantages or the same opportunities that white people have. There is inequality that people of color experience on an ongoing basis that white people do not experience.

If the concept of white privilege makes you feel uncomfortable don’t pretend it doesn’t exist. Instead, ask yourself, what can I do to level the playing field? What can I do to make sure the same standards of justice and equality apply to all people? What can I do to make sure hate speech is not tolerated? What can I do to make a difference?

This holiday season offers an opportunity for reflection, gratitude and generosity. Can we be generous in our attitudes towards all people even people who may be different from us? Can we look at every person and see them through the eyes of God?

— Carol Pomeroy