Does white privilege exist in the US?

[98cwitr]

I heard the same growing up and so did my daughter.

Talk white
Dress white
Act white
Wanna be white

The notion is toxic and meant to impart a sense of shame and wrongness upon the intended. And challenge their cultural identity in the process.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

Agreed, all it does is drive division, not unity.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I heard the same growing up and so did my daughter.

Talk white
Dress white
Act white
Wanna be white

The notion is toxic and meant to impart a sense of shame and wrongness upon the intended. And challenge their cultural identity in the process.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

Define “talk white” What does that even mean?

Define “dress white”

Define “act white”

I’m curious how you define these parameters.

 

[bèlla]

Define “talk white” What does that even mean?

Define “dress white”

Define “act white”

I’m curious how you define these parameters.

I'm not perpetrator. I'm the recipient of said offenses. I assume it implies behaviors which contradict the cultural norm.

Talk white = proficiency in elocution and absence of Ebonics

Dress white = conservative or ladylike/gentlemanly attire

Act white = interest in activities predominately enjoyed by Caucasians. e.g., golf, opera, polo, sailing, horse racing, wine appreciation, etc.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

 

[BNR32FAN]

I'm not perpetrator. I'm the recipient of said offenses. I assume it implies behaviors which contradict the cultural norm.

Talk white = proficiency in elocution and absence of Ebonics

Dress white = conservative or ladylike/gentlemanly attire

Act white = interest in activities predominately enjoyed by Caucasians. e.g., golf, opera, polo, sailing, horse racing, wine appreciation, etc.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

That’s not talking white, dressing white, or acting white. Let me give you some examples. Let’s say I go in for a job interview and I say “Sup bro hows it hangin. Bro I’m totally stoked about getting this gnarly manager job like ya know” That’s an example of white talk that is unacceptable for a professional or management position. Same thing goes for red neck, hillbilly, valley girl, etc. all of which are “white talk” that is not acceptable in a professional work environment. Same goes for dressing appropriately. Unfortunately even tho we’re white we can’t just roll up in there wearing our t shirt with cut off sleeves and some daisy Dukes. One more question, did Martin Luther “talk white” or did he simply speak like an educated man?

 

[bèlla]

That’s not talking white, dressing white, or acting white.

I'm aware of that. I didn't say it made sense. Otherness is the problem.

One more question, did Martin Luther “talk white” or did he simply speak like an educated man?

Dr. King was highly educated and competed in oratory competitions when younger. He spoke eloquently for a reason.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

 

[Sketcher]

Just wanted to introduce a bit of actual data the discussion.

OK, gotcha.

 

[ViaCrucis]

"Does white privilege exist in the US?"

Does a bear poop in the woods?

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Sketcher]

There are a lot of problems in poor black communities that are perpetuated by ignorance of their potential. This is because our fathers and grandfathers have been subjugated by white society. Any individual can break free from this conditioning but it is not instilled in our culture that you can be anything you want to be like it is in white culture.

We depend on white business owners and government employees for jobs. Many speak in broken English and have mannerisms that make white people uncomfortable so the white candidate often gets the jobs we apply for. You even said yourself that we all have preconceptions of other people that we can't help. Those preconceptions create more challenges for people of color because ever since this land was colonized, it was Europeans that have controlled all industries. We need their approval to work and they would rather give it to someone they can relate to like anybody would.

It's not hate but familiarity that puts whites in a better position for good jobs and promotions.

Unfortunately, the political left in this country will not fix this. The more they can keep blacks scared and dependent, the more they can count on their votes. If they were going to actually make a major dent in solving these problems, they would have to abandon too many of their talking points and advocated policies. It sounds to me like business ownership, education, and intact families would be the three legs on the stool to step on to get out of this hole. But I really don't see the American left as truly interested in working towards any of them. They have too many special interests invested in the opposite of improvement in each of these areas.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I'm aware of that. I didn't say it made sense. Otherness is the problem.



Dr. King was highly educated and competed in oratory competitions when younger. He spoke eloquently for a reason.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

Amen my point is that there is diversity in every race.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Unfortunately, the political left in this country will not fix this. The more they can keep blacks scared and dependent, the more they can count on their votes. If they were going to actually make a major dent in solving these problems, they would have to abandon too many of their talking points and advocated policies. It sounds to me like business ownership, education, and intact families would be the three legs on the stool to step on to get out of this hole. But I really don't see the American left as truly interested in working towards any of them. They have too many special interests invested in the opposite of improvement in each of these areas.

How do you blame broken families on anybody but the family members themselves? And how can anyone work for intact families? I really don’t see how that’s possible.

 

[stevil]

2. After saying that you don't think we should look at things on the basis of an individual (which I did not), you're looking at things on the basis of an individual. Affirmative action is not afforded equally or universally.

Yes, I did that in order to show how, on an individual level that "white privilege" doesn't exist in many cases and that "affirmative action" is just appalling.

I do see why people push for "affirmative action" though. But I am not a supporter of it. I do not have a clear view of a better alternative.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Sure, it happens. But overall our country does not have good upward mobility the way it used to.

Long-term decline in intergenerational mobility in the United States since the 1850s

Clearly people born into the middle class have more advantages than people born into poverty. That’s indisputable. People who “overcome the odds” don’t change that fact.

Personally I think the military GI bill levels the playing field for those who are in poverty by making a way for everyone to receive a college education. Sure maybe it’s not the most desirable way of going about it but it does open up the door to a college education for everyone. Sometimes in life you just gotta take what you can get and do the best you can with it.

 

[Sparagmos]

Personally I think the military GI bill levels the playing field for those who are in poverty by making a way for everyone to receive a college education. Sure maybe it’s not the most desirable way of going about it but it does open up the door to a college education for everyone. Sometimes in life you just gotta take what you can get and do the best you can with it.

That’s a pretty crazy definition of leveling the playing field. Risk your life, be required to kill and maim people, and likely suffer from lifelong PTSD or other stress related issues so you can go to college? The military breaks a lot of people.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Yes, I did that in order to show how, on an individual level that "white privilege" doesn't exist in many cases and that "affirmative action" is just appalling.

I do see why people push for "affirmative action" though. But I am not a supporter of it. I do not have a clear view of a better alternative.

Affirmative action was absolutely necessary when it was instituted. It’s not a perfect plan but I still believe that it is necessary even today. Sure a person might miss out on a job or maybe an acceptance to a particular college for a semester but it’s not going to continuously affect the person’s life over & over again. There’s other jobs, there’s other colleges, there’s other semesters. Missing out on one of these opportunities is not going to affect the person’s entire career or life. Affirmative action is necessary to weed out businesses and organizations that are actually rejecting people by discrimination and that is something that will unfortunately always be necessary.

 

[bèlla]

It's like you got your notion of "white" from Hollywood.

I was asked to explain what the individual meant. I'm not articulating my personal feelings on the subject.

Yours in His Service,

~bella

 

[OddityCrisis]

Ya know, since Eminem hit the scene, there's been no shortage of white kids adopting black culture.

You don't adopt things you hate, from people you hate.

 

[Pommer]

Ya know, since Eminem hit the scene, there's been no shortage of white kids adopting black culture.

You don't adopt things you hate, from people you hate.

I’ve eaten sushi, I, however, do not know the experience of being a Japanese person.

 

[BNR32FAN]

That’s a pretty crazy definition of leveling the playing field. Risk your life, be required to kill and maim people, and likely suffer from lifelong PTSD or other stress related issues so you can go to college? The military breaks a lot of people.

If my choice is either living in the hood or going to the military, I’d definitely take my chances in the military. You have a lot better chance of surviving the military than living in the hood.

 

[Pommer]

If my choice is either living in the hood or going to the military, I’d definitely take my chances in the military. You have a lot better chance of surviving the military than living in the hood.

Please define “hood”. Thanks.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I’ve eaten sushi, I, however, do not know the experience of being a Japanese person.

That’s a great point and exactly why so many people have these misconceptions on what it’s actually like to be a white guy. I can’t count all the doors of opportunity that have been slammed in my face. Contrary to popular belief, the grass really isn’t greener on the other side.