From early childhood, we receive distorted and incomplete information about people who are different from us. We learn stereotypes from images in the media, we hear ethnic jokes from our family and friends, and at school we don’t learn as much about the accomplishments of people of color. This misinformation lays the foundation for prejudice, or the preconceived notions we have about other people. Living in a racist society is like living in a smoggy city—we all inevitably breathe the smog in. That is to say, we are all inevitably prejudiced. Although it is not our fault that we are prejudiced, we are responsible for doing something about it. By examining our own prejudices, reflecting carefully on what we say and do, and educating ourselves about marginalized groups of people, we can ensure that our children don’t inherit our polluted air.

In Tatum’s view, racism is not merely the expression of prejudice, but a “system of advantage based on race” (87). There are systematic advantages for White people in the United States, and systematic disadvantages for people of color. White privilege means being able to apply for jobs and housing without having to worry about experiencing racial discrimination.