Does white privilege exist in the US?

[OldWiseGuy]

True -- but it would be wrong to forget why they had to make all that progress in the first place... or to automatically assume that there isn't still work to be done.

Blacks are at a crossroads. They can build their future house with brick and stone, or with stubble. They now have the means. I hope they make the right choice.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Blacks are at a crossroads. They can build their future house with brick and stone, or with stubble. They now have the means. I hope they make the right choice.

I think you're grossly oversimplifying the matter.

While it's true we've moved past the Jim Crow/Separate water fountains stage, we're still in the "hearts and minds" stage of dealing with racial injustice.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I think you're grossly oversimplifying the matter.

While it's true we've moved past the Jim Crow/Separate water fountains stage, we're still in the "hearts and minds" stage of dealing with racial injustice.

I'm speaking of the "dollars and cents" stage.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I'm speaking of the "dollars and cents" stage.

We're not at that stage yet. The playing field is a vast improvement over where it was a couple of generations ago, but there's still some debate over whether it's "level" yet.

 

[Pommer]

Blacks are at a crossroads. They can build their future house with brick and stone, or with stubble. They now have the means. I hope they make the right choice.

Are you gonna lift a finger to help?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

We're not at that stage yet. The playing field is a vast improvement over where it was a couple of generations ago, but there's still some debate over whether it's "level" yet.

It likely won't ever be. Whites keep moving ahead at an increasing pace. A good example is the exercise where you double a penny every day. At first very little gain is made, but after 20 days or so the multiples are astounding. The lesson is that you must patiently build on the small gains in the early days in order reap the huge gains later.

 

[rturner76]

Yes poor people have challenges. But those challenges are only things to be overcome. And they can be. There is no obstacle to going to school, studying hard and getting good grades.

So you agree poor people have challenges. That means it is not as easy for them as it is for others. That is the definition of privilege.

Racism is real, but it's not rampant. Not lke the WOKE culture wants you to believe. 40% of blacks reach middle class. So it's very possible. Stop playing victim to a culture that no longer exists. There are no more slaves and no more Jim Crow. You can get a job anywhere, live anywhere, go to any school become whatever you want. Having life easy doesn't build resilience. Overcoming life's obstacles does. That's a fact. You want success? Go get it.

I'm sorry but both of my parents were raised under Jim Crow. It wasn't all that long ago. According to what you say more than half of blacks live in poverty. I understand it that you blame them for their poverty you have your reasons. I would think that you were more educated on the causes of generational poverty after 35 years of working with the poor. Were all of the people you worked with 199% responsible for their circumstances? Maybe but I think the word challenge means it makes it more difficult. Not impossible.

I didn't get where I am because I'm white. I got here cause I worked hard and earned it.

I believe you but you don't actually know who hired you for what reasons. Maybe you got hired over someone black because they felt more comfortable working with a white than a black. You don't know, neither do I.

Life is filled with choices that have consequences. The choices you make usually determine the consequences. Have babies out of wedlock and there are consequences you AND your child will suffer. Join a gang, sell drugs all have serious consequences. Get married, get a job and stay together usually reap good consequences.

RIght, poor people choose to be poor.

Poor blacks do not have to stay poor. But too many do, because that's all they know. There needs to be leaders within the black community that preach success and how to get it and encourage it. Too many are calling for the white man to pay up, cause they just can't get ahead without it. But the real truth is that won't do it. What does it is hard work and perseverance combined with making good choices.

What if your mental illness or PTSD etc. hinders you from making good choices?

I'm going to jump in here because I am white AND absolutely have been treated differently by black people because I was. My wife has also suffered the same thing.

Blacks are as racist if not more so than white people.

My point is so what? One race being accused, reviled and hated is RACIST. And right now it's whites that are facing that. Including being punished for things they never did. JUST for being white. That is racist.

You only face that on social media, not in the workforce. Look up the stats. Whites are better off across the board in almost all categories. THat is your privilege not the black man's.

 

[rturner76]

3. So ask yourself a simple question: "Has my race ever been a problem or obstacle that's made things more difficult for me?" If you can say "no," then your life has benefited from "________ Privilege."

The heart of the argument is exposed. Kudos for efficiently cutting through the bull. It's a rare gift to have such a well-developed BS meter.

I said in another post that there are countless privileges one can be born with from money to education to intelligence to good looks and so on, all give advantages over others.

 

[Paulos23]

79 Christians with 0 discernment.
As much as the Bible impresses upon that Christians need to seek the truth, this is an embarrassing number to witness on a Christian forum.

Not all of them are Christians.

 

[Astroqualia]

Not all of them are Christians.

Well, considering you've been here much longer than I, as I haven't been active until about a week or so ago from my member start date, what percentage [rough guess] are nonchristians to proclaimed Christians on here?

 

[Paulos23]

Well, considering you've been here much longer than I, as I haven't been active until about a week or so ago from my member start date, what percentage [rough guess] are nonchristians to proclaimed Christians on here?

Given that we are in the open area of the Forum where non-Christians are allowed to post, it is around 30% to 70% depending on the topic. In other parts of the board only people proclaiming to be Christian are allowed to post.

That said, why is voting yes not Christian like?

 

[Astroqualia]

Given that we are in the open area of the Forum where non-Christians are allowed to post, it is around 30% to 70% depending on the topic. In other parts of the board only people proclaiming to be Christian are allowed to post.

That said, why is voting yes not Christian like?

I didn't say non-Christian like, I said they lacked discernment. There is no such thing as white privilege. It's a myth, and a very obvious race-bait tactic designed to keep different American ethnicities suspicious and angry at each other. We are all humans, and the government does its part to make us forget that. Thats why right wing news usually tends to show black folk killing white folk, and why left wing news usually tends to show white folk/cops killing black folk. Neither are what happens in every case, yet the portrayal of such is a huge reason why racism is still actually a thing in this country. And what is the source? The news. Who owns the news? That's a discussion for another day. The fact is, that outside of who owns most of the news conglomerates as a group of people, that the government under projects such as mockingbird as early as the 50s [continued under a different name now] have friendlies of alphabet agencies as news anchors and reporters in order to ensure certain coverage of events that flows with the government narrative. This isn't random, this isn't luck; it's seriously calculated in order to achieve a desired effect. The effect being, just enough discontent and destabilization between ourselves as citizens to not band together to pose a serious threat of reform to the corruption of this country.

 

[Paulos23]

I didn't say non-Christian like, I said they lacked discernment. There is no such thing as white privilege. It's a myth, and a very obvious race-bait tactic designed to keep different American ethnicities suspicious and angry at each other. We are all humans, and the government does its part to make us forget that. Thats why right wing news usually tends to show black folk killing white folk, and why left wing news usually tends to show white folk/cops killing black folk. Neither are what happens in every case, yet the portrayal of such is a huge reason why racism is still actually a thing in this country. And what is the source? The news. Who owns the news? That's a discussion for another day. The fact is, that outside of who owns most of the news conglomerates as a group of people, that the government under projects such as mockingbird as early as the 50s [continued under a different name now] have friendlies of alphabet agencies as news anchors and reporters in order to ensure certain coverage of events that flows with the government narrative. This isn't random, this isn't luck; it's seriously calculated in order to achieve a desired effect. The effect being, just enough discontent and destabilization between ourselves as citizens to not band together to pose a serious threat of reform to the corruption of this country.

As someone that benefited from white privilege, not knowing so at the time, I can attest is it a real thing.

 

[Astroqualia]

As someone that benefited from white privilege, not knowing so at the time, I can attest is it a real thing.

There is privilege, I never said there wasn't.
What I said that the color of your skin was not your privilege. The biggest privilege in the world that gives the highest rate of success for individuals has been narrowed down to who grew up with both parents. You and many others accidentally confuse this, because it's a statistical fact that there are WAY more 2 parents white families than 2 parent black families, unfortunately. This has been strongly theorized to have to do with the rise of the welfare system, that encourages single mothers with many kids, in addition to an artificial toxic rap/drug culture that acts as a terrible glorified male role model for those kids raised by a single mother to perpetuate the system.

In fact, why aren't we talking about minority privilege, where under the name of "diversity", less qualified individuals of a minority skin color will be hired over more qualified white folks? That's racism against white folks, and that happens all the time. What is right is to award positions based on whoever from any race is most skilled to perform the tasks of that job, not "well, we need more minority folks in order to qualify for this diversity quota".

 

[OldWiseGuy]

As someone that benefited from white privilege, not knowing so at the time, I can attest is it a real thing.

White privilege is only a factor when different ethnicities are involved in a common pursuit, in a white-dominant society. This is a simple fact of life that isn't going to change.

 

[TLK Valentine]

It likely won't ever be.

You're probably right -- perfection is an unattainable goal, but that's no reason not to keep trying.

Whites keep moving ahead at an increasing pace. A good example is the exercise where you double a penny every day. At first very little gain is made, but after 20 days or so the multiples are astounding. The lesson is that you must patiently build on the small gains in the early days in order reap the huge gains later.

When one person starts with $100, and the other starts with a penny (which they had to fight to get in the first place), the doubling analogy will never lead to equality, now will it?

...and that's assuming that the $100 guy doesn't occasionally reach over and steal a nickel out of the poorer guy's pile...

 

[TLK Valentine]

White privilege is only a factor when different ethnicities are involved in a common pursuit, in a white-dominant society. This is a simple fact of life that isn't going to change.

...unless it's no longer a white-dominant society.

 

[TLK Valentine]

The heart of the argument is exposed. Kudos for efficiently cutting through the bull. It's a rare gift to have such a well-developed BS meter.

I said in another post that there are countless privileges one can be born with from money to education to intelligence to good looks and so on, all give advantages over others.

Which is not to say that there aren't some legitimate reasons a person's race can be an obstacle...

The story goes that when the script of Harriet was first written back in 1994, some studio executive floated the idea of casting Julia Roberts in the title role (which eventually went to Cynthia Erivo).

When informed that the historical Harriet Tubman was, in fact, black, the executive responded with "Well... It was so long ago, no one is going to know the difference."

I don't know what race that studio executive was, but it doesn't matter. Idiocy knows no racial boundaries.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

You're probably right -- perfection is an unattainable goal, but that's no reason not to keep trying.



When one person starts with $100, and the other starts with a penny (which they had to fight to get in the first place), the doubling analogy will never lead to equality, now will it?

...and that's assuming that the $100 guy doesn't occasionally reach over and steal a nickel out of the poorer guy's pile...

Why compare the two. I never compared myself to anyone financially or otherwise. If I did I would always lose as there would always be someone waaaay ahead of me. And, why buy into the conventional mindset. For example most apply for Social Security benefits so they can retire. I applied to obtain another income for investing. I have been investing my SS money for the last 18 years. Why set a time limit on financial success?

I came up when 'no one had nuttin', so I can't really feel sorry for people today.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

...unless it's no longer a white-dominant society.

Whites will dominate financially long after they (we) are a minority. Anyway I'll be long dead when that happens.