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White Privilege as I've lived it in Uganda

10/9/2017

20 Comments

 
Picture#KoiKoiUG panel at Writivism 2017 in Kampala. Photo credit: Andrew Pacutho.
Ok, I think it’s about time for me to write about White Privilege in the context of Uganda. A little self reflection – and you don’t have to go deep – brought me to the conclusion that I am experiencing a lot more privileges than my Ugandan friends in their own country.
 
I don’t like the word “expat,” because Ugandans in Toronto are not called expats – they’re called “immigrants” - and also it sounds too close to “expert.” We cannot deny that many white people in Uganda are paid more than their Ugandan colleagues, regardless of some migrants' inferior expertise in their roles and responsibilities.
 
On many occurrences, I have been waved through security checks while the Ugandan people I’m with are asked to open their bags. I actually have to say: “here, check mine too.” I often joke cynically that the biggest terrorist threat in Uganda could be a muzungu’s purse.
 
I have traveled a lot with my Ugandan friends around the country, and I have one friend named Nvannungi who likes to tease me with the reminder: “Anne, your White Privilege is showing!” (This blog is dedicated to you, Leadership.)
 
Last year, I travelled upcountry with my housemate Zalwango, and we noticed that many of the hotel staff and other service providers would look me in the eye while speaking, and pretty much ignore her. They’d offer to carry my bags and not even notice when she held out hers. I tweeted about this and was advised that I was served better in the expectation of better tips - muzungu = $$$ - never mind the reality of the situation, which was that my friend and I were splitting the cost of the trip and deserved equal service. We were both upset, not at the people themselves, but at the injustice in that way of thinking.
 
I have worked on so many funding proposals and pitches of different kinds with teams of Ugandans, and we noticed that when a Ugandan teammate contacts a potential partner, they are often ignored, but the name Whitehead gets a reply. I understand the lack of trust in a market that can often be too “unserious” about professionalism and integrity, and I do good work, but my muzungu name also has a more positive prejudice.
 
When a Ugandan welcomes a muzungu into their country, they open doors (literally and figuratively) lead you in and offer you the best seat available. They are warm and receptive. They take time to talk with you, and offer you any food or drink they have. A Ugandan will speak their very best English with a muzungu, and then praise the migrant for even one or two words in the local language that they can fumble out. A Ugandan does not expect a foreigner to learn their languages the way a Ugandan would be expected to speak English in America.
 
Through a confluence of a trending news cycle and my relationships in Uganda’s media – and I think some White Privilege – I found myself this past week in the middle of a story that run faster than Kiprotich. Everyone was giving me credit for PR that I wasn’t doing, calling me a “manager” of someone I wasn’t even working with at the time, and no matter how many times I responded to this, people just believed I must be running things. I believe this was confirmation bias at least partly based on the assumption that a Ugandan man – mbu muyaye – could not express himself so eloquently and confidently without a muzungu writing for him, which is just not true.
 
This thinking is a symptom of the same mindset that believes “local” is an insult, and better things must come from outside countries. Meanwhile, so many amazing creators are making Uganda proud to be local! Mindset change is so needed to deal with these injustices that rob society of development, but people’s thinking is changing mpola mpola…
 
So, what can I personally do to remedy my situation of benefiting from cultural and systematic injustices? Well, I think it is my responsibility to make sure to treat everyone with respect, and to listen and learn from others. If I notice that my white privilege is showing, I should take a minute and consider whether I could make another choice to help bring more equity to the situation. As for opening doors that not everyone can, once I am inside I will do the best work I possibly can to stay there and make a positive impact. When I know Ugandans who have value to offer, I will recommend them for jobs, and if my clients ever try to underpay artists, staff, entrepreneurs, etc. I will argue on the behalf of the oppressed, because we all deserve that dignity.
 
It’s not so easy sometimes. Honestly, privilege of any kind – whether based on your gender, class, etc. – it can mess with your head and make you think you’re a VIP. But then look down at the world from space and all us humans and our drama are even too small to see. We are nothing, or we are all VIPs.
 



20 Comments
Kirabo Byabashaija link
10/9/2017 12:11:29 pm

Nice Read, Anne!

Although, I wonder if we would ever get to a place where "White privilege" is a thing of the past.

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Jaireh
10/10/2017 12:45:08 pm

Nice read. It is refreshing to read especially with the craziness that going on in the world about religion, race politics etc. It makes me proud as a Ugandan to hear that a vistor/foreigner is well welcomed in Uganda.

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Valerie
10/10/2017 08:42:39 pm

Wow. Deeply thought provoking. Good read.

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Omara Justin Morris link
10/10/2017 10:40:46 pm

You just hit the nail on the head, Anne! I'd love to share a little more with you on this surely.

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Ssuuna ivan
10/11/2017 02:56:16 am

I love your website Madam Ann

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Moses Semanda
10/11/2017 03:26:16 am

I am. Ugandan American, I was surprised when I reached Entebbe and realized that white people were passing customs without being checked while all black peopled being lined up for a thorough check! When I tried to complain to the manager on duty the security guys on duty became even more aggressive and my suit cases were literally torn apart since I had no keys to the locks! This stupid mentality I think i think is as result of colonialism and I don't really know what else,,,,,,,,

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Herman link
10/11/2017 08:16:01 am

Thank you for the blog Anne. Hoping you are enjoying every fresh food and nice people there in Uganda. Indeed it's a white privilege the so called Investors have access to all resources better than natives.

That's the so called Pearl of Africa!

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Emmy Kasujja link
10/11/2017 08:24:56 pm

I believe that "White privilege " stems from two aspects, (1) Its a strong pillar in our culture especially in Baganda where I hail from is to treat Vistors with the most respect let them enjoy the exceptional previlleges (privileges and immunities) that are not applied or given to the natives , e.g. The best seat, the cleanest plate, cup , glass, etc, you get served first, even if it means the hosts to go without.
(2) Ofcourse the expectation factor, ( which may be false sometimes) that all Muzungu are rich and considerate , expecting to be tipped generously.

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Andrew Mukasa
10/12/2017 10:31:01 pm

Ugandans in general are very hospitable people but there is a problem when it comes to the "muzungu". We always look at them like they are the makers of heaven and earth. This is not about to change unless we Ugandans, and africans at large, start instilling a culture of appreciating us.

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Rwothomio Gavr'iel
10/12/2017 01:44:40 am

It's funny how White privilege has becme a norm of the day.
i cant count how many times i have been on the receiving end of it.

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Andre Karr
10/12/2017 06:31:41 am

Thanks Anne!
You've shared your experiences as you have lived them, what would have made this blog even richer is an admission on your part that you have been tempted and even fallen for it many times.
How about you share some experiences where you've deliberately flashed your skin-colour-tone in hope for a favour or two or even more

Be honest, confront brutal facts.
We know that when things get tough in Europe many people that have had past experience in Africa and are bold enough to come will come to cash in on white privilege.

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Anne Whitehead
10/12/2017 07:37:35 am

You make a good point, and you know what? I do use my name with pride, and I do get in those doors. I usually feel wrong about leveraging my white privilege for my own benefit, but I don't mind doing it for my Ugandan friends and clients. I will offer "send me to talk to them," knowing that I can sweet talk my way into more benefits for the group, more easily than the others, because of my skin colour. Is this unethical? I am not sure... I try to be aware and humble and do what's right, but like I said, sometimes the privilege can mess with your head! That's why I so cherish friends like Nvannungi who keep it real with me, so I don't start thinking I am actually more valuable than anyone else!

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Simon Peter Tumwine
10/13/2017 02:44:28 am

Ann this is amazing that u've really appreciated Ugandans and hopefully the white privileged is stopped because it really makes one feel out of place..otherwise good share. Keep it real

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Augandani
10/13/2017 08:45:16 pm

More than “White privilage”, I think you have the special status of not only being a foreign visitor but a woman that is exotic and American. Not withstanding a whole host of other ulterior motives for the special treatment you get, especially from the opposite sex.

Just carrying an American passport has it’s privileges!

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ljbutungi
10/14/2017 11:02:27 pm

Thanks, Anne for posting. Very interesting post and hopefully now you understand our predicament. We value outsiders more than our own and most outsiders come with ulterior motives, mainly to make money. They come on projects where they are paid far much more than the locals and what they would not earn back home. I am always amazed at these organizations that bring in "expats" to work on literacy and numeracy (read USAID and it's surrogates) and you can't find a library in a 50 km radius in sight, but their expats earn top dollar and write these glossy reports. We can blame colonialism all we want but we do have a fiduciary responsibility not to sign off on such projects. Exploitation at its best!

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Augandani
10/15/2017 06:41:29 pm


For starters, I will reveal that I am a Ugandan naturalized American.
Which in a way privileges me to view this issue from two perspectives.

Correct me if am wrong, but I think USAID projects are sponsored by then USA. And if they they pay their people a little more it’s because the value of the dollar is more and Americans coming to a third world country need some incentive.

But more than that, and this is a blind spot that gets in the way of Ugandans that have never been to the west:

It’s in our interest that we have contact with the developed world. Because they have the experience and expertise in everything we desire to achieve. And I wish more Ugandans had the privilege of living in the USA like I do. Their perspective of the world would change for the better.

The excerpt below sums it up best:

“Consider Britain, thought the quintessence of colonial powers. At one time it was, along with most of Western Europe, a colony of sorts itself — of the Romans.
And, no doubt, this inspired many of the same complaints from some early-first-millennium Europeans that we had heard more recently from colonized Third Worlders: The colonizers were trampling their culture.
They were imposing their values.
They were foreign interlopers.
Yet the Romans brought more advanced technology and higher culture to Britain; they built aqueducts, bathhouses, and amphitheaters. The average Briton’s life arguably was better under Roman rule than it had ever been before. And when the last Roman troops had to leave Britain in 410 A.D. to defend Italy, it’s said that their departure was lamented by no small number of natives.

However the Romans’ exit was viewed, the results of their entrance are fairly clear. The fact is that no great civilization develops in isolation; in accordance with the “two heads are better than one” principle, peoples can maximize their knowledge only when they learn from one another, and this can happen only if they actually have contact.”

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Catalin Brylla link
10/17/2017 03:06:30 am

Thank you for the article. Very interesting and insightful. As having spent a tiny bit of time in Zanzibar (making a film), I can really relate to how the white privilege creates a rather uncomfortable social setup whenever I interacted with locals. However, this setup was not always privileged per se. It was often beset by being asked (sometimes harassed) for money, and being on the constant brink of being cheated or conned because I was white, whether by strangers or by people I actually knew. Besides, you frequently have the separate, higher fares and prices for muzungus (e.g. the Zanzibar-mainland ferry). So yes, I agree with you that the historical root of all this is white privilege, but I don't agree that the results (intellectually and affectively) are related to white privilege, too (i.e. making you feel like a VIP). You are a constant target for discrimination, which is of course based on stereotypes Africans hold against Westerners (which are the reverse equivalents of stereotypes Westerners hold against Africans). I think what we need to do is trying to deconstruct 'othering' stereotypes on both sides and challenge socio-cultural boundaries, rather than perpetuating the polarity of "privilege vs. victimhood". I am not denying this polarity, of course, but we need to go expand the somewhat myopic, post-colonial perspective, and look at more intricate socio-cultural mechanisms. I really admire people like you who spend time in Africa and interact with locals socially and professionally (unlike many of the so called "expats" who live in their guarded compounds). This cross-cultural interaction is the way forward, and hopefully in a few generations we can see the possibility of a convergence of social and economic differences.

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Augandani
10/27/2017 06:37:27 am

Thx Catalin! Very insightful, but because of of Africa’s politics & social economic current challenges, it will be generations before your cross cultural interaction is ever realized!

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skab Samson
10/19/2017 10:28:14 am

Thanks for putting it all together..
So long as the mindset is broke it will always practice "white privilege" because thanks to colonisation we have been groomed to think all good things come from the "white privileged"

So I guess we need to empower the black minds psychologically so as to liberate their thought process and empower self recognition as an equally fit people...

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Kwehangana Hamza link
2/22/2018 10:39:46 am

I think that the solution to this is, not until our people (Ugandans) and the whole society at large start to read, travel and explore the world, we'll will always think white skin color is king. Bambi, we are missing out. I am happy that i don't have to use any liquid to protect my skin against sun :-)

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