White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. How does Peggy McIntosh define white privilege in her essay “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”?

A) As an earned advantage that is visible to everyone

B) As an unearned advantage that is visible to everyone

C) As an earned advantage that is often invisible to those who possess it

D) As an unearned advantage that is often invisible to those who possess it

2. Which of the following is an example of white privilege that McIntosh provides in her essay?

A) Being able to find bandages in a color that matches her skin

B) Being congratulated for belonging to a privileged group

C) Being called a credit to her race when she performs well

D) Being guaranteed an affordable house in a good neighborhood

3. According to McIntosh, why is white privilege often invisible to those who possess it?

A) Because it is a natural phenomenon

B) Because white people are taught not to recognize it

C) Because it is a very abstract concept

D) Because it is a controversial topic

4. What is one suggestion McIntosh offers for addressing white privilege?

A) Ignoring it

B) Acknowledging and understanding it

C) Denying its existence

D) Promoting it

5. How did McIntosh choose which items to include in her list of privileges?

A) They had to be situations that occurred on a daily basis.

B) They had to be things that only white people can understand.

C) They had to be based on very recent events in her life.

D) They had to be related more to race than to other factors.

6. What is the main purpose of McIntosh’s essay?

A) To deny the existence of white privilege

B) To promote the concept of white privilege

C) To explore and explain the concept of white privilege

D) To argue against the concept of white privilege

7. How does McIntosh support her arguments in the essay?

A) By providing personal experiences and examples

B) By citing statistical data

C) By quoting other authors

D) By using hypothetical scenarios

8. What is the tone of McIntosh’s essay?

A) Sarcastic and dismissive

B) Objective and analytical

C) Emotional and subjective

D) Humorous and light-hearted

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. Reflect on McIntosh’s argument that white privilege is often invisible to those who possess it. How does she support this argument in her essay?