James Corden addressed the theme of white privilege in The Late Late Show on the night of Thursday, the management to make the lesson both fun and educational for the viewers. In a purpose satirical segment, he spoke with one of their show writers, Olivia Harewood, about what white privilege is exactly and how it can be used to help in the fight against racial injustice.
After a joke to interrupt your show, Olivia said: “You have an amazing tool to help combat structural racism.” James began to recite a couple of educated guesses as to what she was referring to . . . His fame? Your platform? Your charisma? But, unfortunately, she was speaking about her privilege as a white person. James replied, “we’re Going to do as an exercise, I am not 100 percent you know what that means, but I know that when I hear it, it makes me feel bad.” Olivia explained, “Having privilege is not your fault. It is something that is inherited, is not something that you did wrong.”
“What privilege means, specifically white privilege, is that the color of your skin does not make your life more difficult.”
James replied with a common defense: “I didn’t inherit anything. I was not raised in a rich home. I am not privileged in any way.” This led Olivia to establish the definition of white privilege with a clear, concise explanation. “One of the biggest misconceptions about privilege is that it says that it has is that it is said to have an easy life or that I had it easy growing up. This does not mean that. What privilege means, specifically white privilege, is that the color of your skin does not make your life more difficult.”
Olivia went on to share a couple of ways — big and small — white people can use their privilege to speak up and support people of color once first acknowledge its existence. To see the entire scene above to hear James and Olivia informative of the conversation, and if you have children and are looking for ways to teach about white privilege, we have useful tips on this here.
