The ultimate example of white privilege is when parents and/or school boards claim that white people have a right to not acknowledge or teach history in this country that might make white students feel bad or guilty about being white — if they learn about historical patterns of non-whites enduring inequality, injustice, and lack of access to healthcare, voting rights, education, jobs, healthy food, clean water and/or the opportunity to escape generations of poverty and disrespect.

We should teach our kids the truth about our country’s imperfect past and current conditions, the American values for which we strive, and the right and responsibility to vote in our fragile democracy.

Deb Lilly

Lowell