To consider the Book “The White Bonus”. Is this for Guilt or Justice?

CNN reported on April 22 that a Michigan woman, Tracie McMillan, wrote about what a “bonus” it is to be white in the United States; how this helps her. An independent reporter, her book is called “The White Bonus”. 

With a dysfunctional, addicted and abusive home, research indicated that her family profited from racial housing covenant, allowed her parents to build and pass on wealth. This somehow led to Ms. McMillan going to an elite college. 

She told CNN that she had been curious about what she had received and what helped her because she was white.

To ponder the advantage of whiteness in the United States is old news. Robin DiAngelo wrote “White Fragility” and Minnesota author David Mura wrote “The Stories that Whiteness Tells Itself” amid Trump in the White House, and the unrest after George Floyd was murdered. Mr. Mura’s book fascinated me. His research revealed evidence of the zealous and eager self-delusions which white Americans conjured and exploited to maintain a system and neuter any guilt.

As a racially ambiguous biracial Black man, it’s clear that I can’t stop being as Black as I am. White Americans can stop their interest, retreat to white comfort if they feel too exposed without the cover of their “white bonus”. Whites have that choice. That luxury. Those who aren’t white or can’t pass for it haven’t that luxury.

Being skeptical, I wonder: how much of this examination is fueled by White American Liberal guilt, how much is a search for understanding and justice?

Comfort zones are vital, especially when we feel stress. If you’re fragile or thin-skinned, then to reach for your comfort area can also connote the choice/raising of the white flag of surrender.

Around the 1980s scholars began to concentrate on Whiteness Studies; until the 2000s I’d heard of “no one” bothering with it. Ms. McMillan might be noble. Most notions have their moments. White Americans’ curiosity about their privilege will end when?