White privilege is real in the United States. There are those who disagree, especially white folks having trouble making ends meet. Doing well in life isn't easy. White privilege isn't about life being easy, it is about life being fair.

Non-whites, or people of color, are often treated with suspicion while white people are not suspect. People under suspicion are monitored, watched, and not trusted to do the right thing. They are often the first suspected when things go wrong, guilty or not.

That suspicion, whether based on outright racism, or implicit bias, results in consequential treatment that is inherently unfair. That is why I believe the term white privilege is legitimate.

With that in mind, this story is about a time when I was representing California's Superintendent of Public Instruction at a graduation ceremony. The California School Age Consortium (CalSAC) designed a program to enhance the management skills of people of color. All the graduates were exemplary citizens striving to improve the lives of children, especially children who look like them, enhancing their chances of success.

The graduation ceremony was in an industrial area of Los Angeles. Since I was representing the Superintendent of Public Instruction, I was dressed to the nines. I had on a pin-striped suit, red power tie, shiny black shoes, and didn't have a hair out of place. I felt awkward when I realized I was the only person wearing a suit and tie.

When it came time for the speeches, sponsors and advocates spoke first and were very inspirational. Next were two of the graduates, selected by their peers, to represent the class. The first speaker spoke about how overcoming challenges and never giving up were keys to her success. She stressed how important it is to get that message to the students they teach.

The second graduate spoke about his role in helping students of color succeed in the face of white privilege. To do this, he stressed the importance of strengthening the community and teaching the children to support each other just as the white community supports each other. It was a great speech and right for the times.

As the honored guest, I gave the last speech. As I stood there in front of the graduating class, I couldn't help feeling like a shining example of the benefits of white privilege. I felt a tinge of anxiety when I noticed the furrowed brows of nearly every graduate watching me.

My imagination? Maybe, but white privilege doesn't mean life is easy, and I knew they would relate to how I overcame challenges to be successful. Challenges that were overcome because of one or two people, like them, who positively influenced my chances of success. My point being that, someday, their students will be making speeches because of their influence on them.

By the end of my speech, their faces softened, some even cried. They related to my story and accepted my expression of gratitude, of behalf of the Superintendent, for making the world a better place.