Some Notes for Facilitators on Presenting My White Privilege Papers (2004, 2018) 1

As the popularity of “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” grew, so grew the misunderstanding and misuse of the essay. Beginning in 2004, McIntosh published “Some Notes to Facilitators” alongside the “Knapsack” in order to underscore key aspects of the short essay. In “Some Notes to Facilitators,” McIntosh reiterated that the “Knapsack” was written as a personal testimony and not a check list for all white people everywhere. She emphasized that discussions about privilege are not intended to create blame, shame, or guilt and, instead, must encourage participants to personally testify to their experiences and foster their capacity to understand power systemically. This chapter reflects the most recent updates to “Some Notes to Facilitators” in 2018.