European Americans Power and Responsibility

By: Vix Burgett-Prunty

Introduction: Understanding Privilege and Responsibility

As European Americans, we find ourselves inheriting a legacy of historical and systemic privileges that, often without our explicit consent or awareness, benefit us at the expense of Black, brown, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities. Whether through inherited wealth, access to education, or the protection of social and legal structures that favor us, we are situated within a framework of power that was built on the exploitation and disenfranchisement of others. This argument is not an indictment of individual European Americans, but rather a call to recognize the structures we uphold, consciously or unconsciously, and the moral responsibility that comes with this recognition.

The Legacy of Systemic Oppression and the Ethical Responsibility of European Americans

From the very foundations of this nation, European Americans have occupied a dominant position. The history of slavery, settler colonialism, and segregation was constructed by and for European Americans, creating institutions and practices that secured our economic, social, and political advantages. Whether we directly benefited from these systems or not, the structures they created persist today in the form of wealth gaps, racial disparities, and social inequality.

Philosopher John Rawls’ Theory of Justice urges us to consider the principles of justice as those that would be chosen under a veil of ignorance, where we do not know our position in society. If we genuinely examine our society through this lens, it becomes clear that European Americans, by our historical position, are disproportionately benefiting from a system that disadvantages others. We must confront the ethical implications of this—if we truly value justice and equality, we must acknowledge our role in upholding systems that perpetuate inequality, and thus take responsibility for dismantling them.

Complicity in Oppression: The Moral Consequences of Passive Participation

To deny complicity in systemic oppression is to ignore the reality of how power operates. Hanna Arendt’s concept of the banality of evil helps us understand how individuals, even those who may not consciously endorse oppression, can become complicit simply by upholding or participating in systems that perpetuate harm. The failure to act against the status quo—or worse, actively benefiting from it—means that European Americans are not simply innocent bystanders; we are, in fact, part of the machinery that keeps the oppression of marginalized groups in place.

This complicity is not just about personal actions but about our tacit approval of policies, systems, and cultural narratives that continue to privilege us while disadvantaging others. From wealth accumulation in ways that were historically racially exclusive to ongoing racial segregation in education and housing, our position as European Americans allows us to ignore or downplay the suffering of marginalized groups. If we are silent or passive in the face of injustice, we are complicit in sustaining the very structures that harm others.

The Myth of Meritocracy: Addressing the Illusion of Equality

A critical element in this argument is the dismantling of the myth of meritocracy. It is easy for European Americans to believe that our success is solely the result of hard work, individual achievement, and personal responsibility. This belief not only ignores the historical privileges that have been handed down to us through systems of inheritance, legal protections, and social capital, but it also obscures the ongoing barriers faced by marginalized groups.

Critical race theorist Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality demonstrates how race and class intersect in ways that create systemic barriers for people of color. The advantages that European Americans have—access to education, generational wealth, and institutional support—are not simply the result of individual merit, but of historical systems that have systematically favored us. The idea that anyone, regardless of background, can "make it" in the United States is a falsehood that serves to preserve our position and obscure the injustices that continue to disadvantage Black, brown, and Indigenous people.

By accepting the narrative of meritocracy, we perpetuate a system that allows European Americans to remain at the top while reinforcing the idea that those who fail to succeed are simply not trying hard enough. This not only harms marginalized groups but also hinders true social and economic mobility.

The Corrupting Nature of Power: A Call for Self-Awareness and Ethical Action

Friedrich Nietzsche’s notion of the will to power speaks to the corrupting influence of power and how those in positions of dominance often become detached from the suffering of others. As European Americans, we risk becoming numb to the inequalities that persist because our position of privilege creates a buffer between us and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. The more we accumulate wealth and power, the easier it becomes to justify our position, even if that means overlooking the exploitation and harm that others face.

This detachment is not only a moral failure but a threat to the cohesion and integrity of society as a whole. When power becomes self-perpetuating, it risks perpetuating ignorance, injustice, and inequality. European Americans must engage in self-reflection and challenge the structures that sustain our position, rather than allowing our privilege to blind us to the need for transformative social change.

A Call for Accountability and the Redistribution of Power

If we are to fulfill our moral responsibility as European Americans, we must confront the uncomfortable reality that our position in society is built on the exclusion and oppression of others. This recognition is not enough; we must act to rectify the harm we have perpetuated. This means actively working to dismantle systems of racial, economic, and social oppression, and pushing for policies that promote justice, equity, and inclusion.

Radical accountability requires more than just acknowledgment—it requires tangible action to redistribute power and resources. Political philosophers like Michel Foucault and Antonio Gramsci remind us that power is not only material but cultural. We must challenge the dominant narratives that maintain our social superiority and work to create new systems that are just and inclusive of all people.

This involves supporting policies that address economic disparities, such as reparations, wealth redistribution, and investment in communities of color. It means pushing for reforms in policing, education, and housing that create equal opportunities for all. Most importantly, it requires a commitment to share resources, networks, and skills, where European Americans use our privilege not just to demand change but to actively dismantle the systems that perpetuate oppression. Especially in our own lives.

The Moral Imperative of Change

As European Americans, we must confront the reality of our historical and ongoing role in upholding systems of oppression. We have the privilege and power to change these systems, but only if we take responsibility for the consequences of our actions and choices. The time has come to move beyond passive complicity and embrace active accountability. Only then can we begin to build a society where justice, equality, and true meritocracy are available to all.