I definitely benefited from my white male privilege. Time and again we were told to “sleep it off,” “you better get yourself home,” “oh, you kids,” (seriously) and “boys will be boys” by police.
I’d be unemployable had I been caught.
Instead, I went to rehab. I relapsed. I went to rehab again—all on company health insurance.
My rebound was very easy. I have a clear narrative: I went through a tough time, now I’m better. People respond well: he’s heroic! Look at what he’s done, how he’s improved himself!
But I see their reactions to black men who have gone through the same experience: he’s an addict. What a waste on society.