Johnson-Chapter 3

In chapter three of Privilege, Power, And Difference, Allan Johnson concludes that capitalism has played a significant role in the trouble surrounding privilege. He argues that this is especially true of privilege based on race and gender.

Johnson begins the chapter by stating that white racisms hasn’t been around for all that long. In fact, this white racism didn’t come about until the development of capitalism as an economic system. Johnson then goes on to define exactly what capitalism is and how it works. The basic goal of capitalism, Johnson states, is to turn money into more money (42). He then explains how capitalism divides the wealth so unequally among the population, leaving the majority of people bordering poverty. We, the readers, are then informed on just how racism and capitalism are tied together. Johnson starts with the example of cheap slave labor on cotton and tobacco plantations. He then discusses the use of cheap Chinese labor on Western railroads. Johnson argues that whites developed the idea of whiteness to justify their actions and treatment of those they labeled non-white. Affirmative action and the outsourcing of jobs associated with capitalism also leads white workers to view those who are non-white as competitors. Johnson then goes on to explain the complexity of capitalism and privilege. How certain people can be in a privileged category, yet not feel privileged at all because of their membership in an oppressed category as well. He argues that the categories of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation cannot be separated, but are all connected in someway. Each category of privilege is related to another is some form.

What consequences does Johnson’s conclusion have on our world today? I believe there are many consequences associated with Johnson’s conclusion. Capitalism is the cause of many of our nation’s problems. The gap between the upper and middle class continues to grow. In fact, the middle class is actually beginning to disappear. We are also losing many jobs due to outsourcing. The racist feelings some people have are also causing numerous crimes in our country. Some of these feelings have definitely formed due to our country’s capitalist economy.

I was actually a bit surprised while reading this chapter. I had never really made a connection between capitalism and privilege previously. I had known about the huge profit plantation owners made with slaves on cotton plantations, but I wasn’t aware of the ways in which privilege is tied to capitalism yet today through affirmative action and the outsourcing of jobs. The chapter helped me to see some of the possible sources of racism in our society today.