What's the issue with "White Power"?

[Aldebaran]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”? Is it wrong for a person to be proud of their skin color or heritage? Is it really any different than a black person being proud of being black, or a Native American being proud of their heritage? Would it be somehow more acceptable if the white person said, “White Privilege”, as some are often fond of calling it? I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

It is quite common these days for people to be interested in where they came from and how their ancestors lived and what country they came from, which is why services for ancestor tracking have become popular. Knowing one’s roots often gives a person a sense of pride in knowing where they came from. If it’s socially acceptable for those of “racial minorities” to do so, is it any less acceptable for those who come from a Caucasian background to do the same?

 

[Lost4words]

Free speach, it seems, is only allowed if you belong to BLM

 

[Dansiph]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”? Is it wrong for a person to be proud of their skin color or heritage? Is it really any different than a black person being proud of being black, or a Native American being proud of their heritage? Would it be somehow more acceptable if the white person said, “White Privilege”, as some are often fond of calling it? I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

It is quite common these days for people to be interested in where they came from and how their ancestors lived and what country they came from, which is why services for ancestor tracking have become popular. Knowing one’s roots often gives a person a sense of pride in knowing where they came from. If it’s socially acceptable for those of “racial minorities” to do so, is it any less acceptable for those who come from a Caucasian background to do the same?

I don't think most mean "I am proud of my heritage" when they say that. On a lighter note I think a lot of societies are very similar anyway if you back back a few hundred years.

 

[miamited]

Hi aldebaran,

Well, the proclamation of 'white power' is a familiar chant of skin heads, neo-Nazis and members of the KKK. If that doesn't give you pause as to why a lot of people think it's a 'bad' identifier, I'm guessing you just choose to ignore the issue, or you are ideologically aligned with one or more of those groups.

To pump one's fist and declare 'white power' sends the message that 'white people' are, in the matter of race, more powerful. For those who need to declare power, let's go with 'people power'. Let's all stand on the corner and declare 'people power'. Let our chant be that 'people' are more powerful.

I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

White power is a slur against any race that isn't white. There's no problem with anyone being somewhat proud of their heritage, although even that should never come at the expense of someone else's heritage. Personally, I'm not particularly big on heritage, but I do realize that a lot of folks are. Question: what is 'white' power? When you say that to identify your heritage, as you say you would be using it, please explain what 'white' describes as a heritage? Then, if you wouldn't mind, explain what 'power' means for that heritage?

Let's go with 'people power'.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[GoldenBoy89]

White power is a chant commonly used by white nationalists, skinheads and neo nazi groups as a sort of rallying cry or common identifier. If you don’t have a problem with it it’s probably because you aren’t a target of their hate.

White power skinhead - Wikipedia

 

[PloverWing]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”?

Are you kidding me?

Assuming you're asking a serious question, there are at least two things that make it a big deal.

1. Regardless of what you may mean when you say "white power", your audience will hear "white power" as an assertion that it's good for white people to continue to dominate non-white people, and for white people to be able to hurt non-white people without getting in trouble for it.

2. "White" isn't really an ethnic or national identity. There's not really "white" food, "white" holidays, a "white" language, in the same way that there's Italian food, American holidays, a Welsh language. Celebrate your actual ethnicity or nationality instead of celebrating whiteness. Celebrate being American or Canadian; celebrate that your family came from Sweden or Germany or Ireland and brought their customs with them.

[ I see that my content overlaps somewhat with miamited's post in the points I'm making. We were writing at the same time, I think. ]

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”? Is it wrong for a person to be proud of their skin color or heritage? Is it really any different than a black person being proud of being black, or a Native American being proud of their heritage? Would it be somehow more acceptable if the white person said, “White Privilege”, as some are often fond of calling it? I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

It is quite common these days for people to be interested in where they came from and how their ancestors lived and what country they came from, which is why services for ancestor tracking have become popular. Knowing one’s roots often gives a person a sense of pride in knowing where they came from. If it’s socially acceptable for those of “racial minorities” to do so, is it any less acceptable for those who come from a Caucasian background to do the same?

It's word association.

It's kind of like how the bible teaches about God and love, but Jim Jones and a bunch of other cult leaders made people suspicious of the idea.

 

[Radagast]

Well, the proclamation of 'white power' is a familiar chant of skin heads, neo-Nazis and members of the KKK.

True, and nobody sensible wants to be associated with those.

To pump one's fist and declare 'white power' sends the message that 'white people' are, in the matter of race, more powerful. For those who need to declare power, let's go with 'people power'. Let's all stand on the corner and declare 'people power'. Let our chant be that 'people' are more powerful.

White power is a slur against any race that isn't white.

But that critique would also apply to those who shout "black power."

 

[Aryeh Jay]

There's not really "white" food,

Well, the flavorless, bland, and repetitive food of the Mid West, in particular Michigan, is pretty "white".

 

[Chesterton]

Saying "black power" and "white power" are equally wrong. I have a disdain for power generally.

There's not really "white" food, "white" holidays, a "white" language, in the same way that there's Italian food, American holidays, a Welsh language.

English is a white language, wiener schnitzel is a white food. I'm unaware of any skin color that has a holiday except the recently made up Kwanzaa, which was made up specifically for that purpose.

 

[Strathos]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”? Is it wrong for a person to be proud of their skin color or heritage? Is it really any different than a black person being proud of being black, or a Native American being proud of their heritage? Would it be somehow more acceptable if the white person said, “White Privilege”, as some are often fond of calling it? I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

It is quite common these days for people to be interested in where they came from and how their ancestors lived and what country they came from, which is why services for ancestor tracking have become popular. Knowing one’s roots often gives a person a sense of pride in knowing where they came from. If it’s socially acceptable for those of “racial minorities” to do so, is it any less acceptable for those who come from a Caucasian background to do the same?

Because it's historically associated with violent racist and white supremacist groups like the KKK. Just like there's nothing inherently wrong with the words "Sieg Heil" (German for "Hail Victory"), except it's considered offensive due to its link to the Nazi party.

I would think this would be obvious.

 

[public hermit]

White power = white supremacy, which is simply not good.

 

[JackRT]

If my wife comes to me in obvious pain and asks "Do you love me?" an answer of "I love everyone." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

If a co-worker comes to me iupset and says "My father just died." an answer of "Everyone's parents die." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says "Black lives matter." an answer of "All lives matter." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

~~~ Doug Williford

 

[Lord Vega]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”? Is it wrong for a person to be proud of their skin color or heritage? Is it really any different than a black person being proud of being black, or a Native American being proud of their heritage? Would it be somehow more acceptable if the white person said, “White Privilege”, as some are often fond of calling it? I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

It is quite common these days for people to be interested in where they came from and how their ancestors lived and what country they came from, which is why services for ancestor tracking have become popular. Knowing one’s roots often gives a person a sense of pride in knowing where they came from. If it’s socially acceptable for those of “racial minorities” to do so, is it any less acceptable for those who come from a Caucasian background to do the same?

Every non-white race is allowed to have organizations that advocate for their ethnic interests. For example, blacks have the NAACP and a multitude of other organizations that represent blacks as a group. But if white people form organizations that advocate for their interests, those groups are routinely labeled as white nationalist, white supremacist, racist, etc. Many people these days are so left-wing that they think being born white is essentially a sin. That's why leftists are constantly berating white people for "white privilege."

 

[Strathos]

Every non-white race is allowed to have organizations that advocate for their ethnic interests. For example, blacks have the NAACP and a multitude of other organizations that represent blacks as a group. But if white people form organizations that advocate for their interests, those groups are routinely labeled as white nationalist, white supremacist, racist, etc. Many people these days are so left-wing that they think being born white is essentially a sin. That's why leftists are constantly berating white people for "white privilege."

That's because white people are already ahead in western society. Starting an organization to advocate for white people is like starting a charity to help millionaires.

Of course there are white people, and groups consisting of white people, who are disadvantaged, but there are plenty of organizations to help all these different groups. But an organization dedicated to advocating for 'white people' in general is not only unneeded, but that kind of language is most commonly used by white supremacist groups.

 

[keith99]

White power = white supremecy, which is simply not good.

Usually made by whites that are far from superior or even average come to think of it.

 

[Radagast]

Of course there are white people, and groups consisting of white people, who are disadvantaged, but there are plenty of organizations to help all these different groups.

Not as many as you might think.

 

[DebbieJ]

Q: What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”?

A: Picture Hitler and Schindler's list.

 

[Sketcher]

What is the big deal about a white person saying “White Power”? Is it wrong for a person to be proud of their skin color or heritage? Is it really any different than a black person being proud of being black, or a Native American being proud of their heritage? Would it be somehow more acceptable if the white person said, “White Privilege”, as some are often fond of calling it? I could understand if we were talking about a slanderous term against a particular race or skin color, but “White Power” isn’t a slur against any other race. It’s simply a reference to their own race.

Being proud of being white isn't "White power."
Being proud of being black isn't "Black power."

 

[miamited]

But that critique would also apply to those who shout "black power."

Hi radagast,

Absolutely, which is why I have encouraged 'people power'. Then it's not about race. Yes, white power or black power is about race. However, the OP's question was what was so bad about 'white power'. Had he instead asked what was so bad about black power, I would have answered the same only using 'black' where I used 'white', and of course, I would not have been able to use the example of skinheads, neo-Nazis and the KKK, but the black panthers, Malcom X and the Nation of Islam.

I'm satisfied with 'people power'.

God bless,
In Christ, ted