Dawn Cutaia is a bankruptcy attorney in York, Pa. Her OpEd in the York Daily Record, “Being white is awesome, so how could we be racist?,” apologizes for her “unearned privilege” of being white. “Being white is pretty awesome,” she begins, but she doesn’t want you to get her wrong. “If I were a white male instead of a white woman, my life would be even more awesome, but being a white female is still powerful.”
She is seriously misinformed about the “privilege” she enjoys by virtue of her hue, claiming that “my white skin gives me power and credibility.” I’m not sure how much power she wields, or what proportion of any of it may come from her whiteness, but any sentient reader of this piece will see that her claim to “credibility” is, well, incredible.
I mention this drivel not to suggest that you read it. Take my word for it. In this case you don’t have to read the whole thing, unless of course you are curious about what Ms. Cutaia, Esq., has to say about “the whole slavery thing” or you’re the sort to be impressed by analysis such as “[y]ou don’t have to be a member of the KKK to be racist, but not being a member of the KKK does not mean you aren’t racist.” I mention it only because it is linked (at least as of this writing) on the first page of the Washington Post online today (the last item under the “More Headlines”).
The only thing interesting about this piece, in short, is that some Washington Post editor thinks it’s interesting. Actually, that’s not interesting; it’s sad and depressing.
Exactly what was “incredible” about her piece?
–Cobra