"On White Privilege"

[A2SG]

One suggestion I've heard (would probably only work for large companies) is that when applications come in for a job, the education and experience section should be passed on to be examined, while the names/sex/birth date-type biographical data should be replaced by a number. So that when applications are assessed, they really are only looking at merit. Then when they've chosen interviewees on that information, the number can be matched back up to the biographical data.

Kinda like when an orchestra hires a new player, they audition from behind a screen so no one sees the individual, they only hear how well they play.

Not a bad idea.

-- A2SG, would that such measures weren't needed, but that would mean people have to be aware of the issue before they can think past it.....

 

[pakicetus]

Groups look out for their own. That's been the way it is for thousands of years, and that's the way it will keep on being. White progressives pleasure themselves with the thought that they are angels, going against the grain of human experience, lifting us all up to a higher plane.

The cynicism in this thread is pretty bewildering, considering the amazing success of progressive movements over the last few hundred years. Our civilization is much more inclusive than it's ever been. Black people aren't enslaved, women can vote, gay people can marry and adopt without most people suspecting they're child molesters, official segregation is over, and almost every kind of prejudice (racism, sexism, etc.) has become measurably less common just in the last few years. There's no reason to think people can't keep getting more inclusive in the future.

 

[dzheremi]

No...you missed the point entirely. I was pointing out that there are places, probably found in every major city, where my white privilege ends and black privilege begins.

Since when is getting to assault people a privilege that anyone has?

I could also give you examples of how in the great American southwest...I noticed my white privilege disappeared and latino privilege begins.

I just spent several years living in Albuquerque, NM myself, which was more than enough time to observe that the demographics of a given neighborhood or the city as a whole did not magically change the structural inequalities found in the entire country (or even that particular city or state).

I don't really see what you're talking about with your examples of religious minorities in Egypt...this is a discussion about racial privilege, not religious.

Copts are an ethnoreligious group, so in a sense they are both, but anyway the point was in answer to another person's assertion that it's only do-gooder white liberals who pretend that we can somehow rise above our (inherent?) need to look out for our own kind at another's expense. I used the Coptic fight for a secular, multi-confessional Egypt as a counterexample to that idea, because you'd think if everyone who wasn't white had this sort of "I got mine; too bad for you" attitude that the poster claimed, then you wouldn't find examples of people who are already discriminated against (like the Copts) sticking their necks out for others who have even less recognition. And yet that's exactly what they do. Hence that poster is wrong.

Ever been to Japan? I promise if you're not Japanese...you don't have any privileges. It's really the same just about everywhere you go...and there are many many places in the U.S. where I'm the minority.

So what? Being a minority in a particular context does not prevent you from being privileged in other contexts. Again, it has to do with how the society that you are in is organized. To use your example of Japan, the fact that the Japanese have an entire country to call their own where they run the shots (and not the indigenous Ainu, for instance) doesn't really help Japanese who are discriminated against for historical and cultural reasons in Korea. Similarly, your white skin may make you a target in some non-white neighborhood, but is likely to open doors for you in some Latino communities where lighter skinned people may be quite indiscreetly preferred to darker skinned people, etc.

This is where you're wrong...context absolutely matters. Do you think that I really stand a chance of getting a job cutting hair in a barber shop in Harlem? Even if I'm more skilled than a similar black applicant?

Why are you quoting this part of my post to make an entirely irrelevant point about whether or not they'd hire you at a barber shop in Harlem? They'd still call you by your name, more than likely.

The truth is there are lots of situations where our society puts me at a disadvantage for being white. One of them is this very conversation. I can imagine right now you're on the other side of that screen shaking your head because I've merely suggested that my whiteness might be a disadvantage in some situations.

So you're somehow structurally disadvantaged because I, a nobody on the internet, disagree with you? What?

It's not a topic I get to discuss and get taken seriously...because I'm white.

What are you even talking about? Am I not discussing things with you, or do you want to claim that the world is somehow against recognizing the reality of you having any problems because you're white? Of course you have problems or issues. Everybody does. What we're actually discussing, though, in talking about privilege is what type of problems you have or don't have and why.

As Stokely Carmichael put it, "If a white man wants to lynch me, that's his problem. If he's got the power to lynch me, that's my problem. Racism is not a question of attitude -- it's a question of power." While I know we are not talking about lynching, the question of who holds the power in a structural sense in the United States needs to come into play in order to understand how it is that the individual white person can have a less charmed life than it would seem they should have if it were as simple as "white people don't/can't have any serious problems because they're white".

And when you look at how the USA is, you find a society that is structured around the preferences, ideas, attitudes, goals, and values of white people.

So for me...these problems are mine, they're the facts of life, and I have to learn to deal with them.

If that's what you feel is best, then okay. Best of luck, I suppose.

 

[The Cadet]

The cynicism in this thread is pretty bewildering, considering the amazing success of progressive movements over the last few hundred years. Our civilization is much more inclusive than it's ever been. Black people aren't enslaved, women can vote, gay people can marry and adopt without most people suspecting they're child molesters, official segregation is over, and almost every kind of prejudice (racism, sexism, etc.) has become measurably less common just in the last few years. There's no reason to think people can't keep getting more inclusive in the future.

Yeah, this is really on point.

 

[benedictaoo]

I don't believe it exists here in California where I live.

I'm white, and I'm a minority.

Just some more white guilt propaganda. The question is, does white guilt exist? Does white shaming exist?

 

[benedictaoo]

Well for one thing, and I mean no disrespect I have had black friends with "black sounding names and have no issue, but the problem is that some black sounding names can be hard to pronounce. As for white people not having to "deal with it" the culture is such that it is not as if white people could not choose to name their child such a name it is that they do not. This is not privilwge it is simply that they choose to name kids things that people ( for the most part) know how to say, but any race can choose to name their kid or kids whatever they choose.

They choose to name their kids those names because they want to dissociate from 'white man' names even though their surname is a white man's name or a name that was given to them. They dislike that and that is very understandable, I can understand that. They want their own culture, identity.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

I'll be blunt. There is no white privileged really. We are all equal. Only blacks make it out like they are not equal. Here are some points I want to make.

1. Blacks lacking in things
I am so tired of hearing about things like the Oscars where "Its racist, no blacks won!". Really they are just saying "No blacks won this year!". Because blacks have won in the past. The year prior 12 Years a Slave won lots of Oscars! Problem is there are just tons of white actors, politicians and so on. Not that many black. Is that because of racism? No. Its because its just how it is. Maybe "whites" out number blacks. Its not a racist thing. After all we had a black president.

2. Other minorities
Extending sort of from point 1, blacks fail to see how silly they look, especially the BLM thing. Do they realize for example with the Oscars in comparison to blacks, there are almost NO asian winners? Probably any number of others that have won less then black actors. And this applies for everything. President and so on.

3. What is white?
If you notice its only ever blacks and whites. But with every other "race", no one uses terms anymore. Your spanish, russian...etc. But when it comes to blacks they don't say jamacia, chad....etc. Just as whites aren't labeled as italian, british, irish...etc. Every culture has its goods and bad so to speak. I'm italian american (Well 50% other stuff). Not white. My friend is Kenyan, not african/black. Yes we have silly stupid race labels but they do not help with situations like this "white privilege" thing. If we were to break down races into their culture, maybe numbers would be different when it comes to black deaths vs white deaths. Who cops pick on more. Because if you notice, in any case with a cop attacking someone, the word "black" is simply used. When it comes to anyone else you tend to find out what they are. Mexican, chinese, moroccan. I'm sure people who are of "latino" or "arab" decent get alot of cop harassment too.

4. What is privilege?
This white card I hold supposedly gets me the world. It means I never get looked at. I never get judged. I get the world handed to me. Everyone loves me. Right? Wrong. I'm disabled (not physically), I get picked on because of my weight. Or how I walk. Or because I prefer talking to girls more then guys since I am not into most "male" things like sports. Police have watched be before, I've been almost arrested once (it was a false accusation and they let me go). I've been beat up. I've been abused by women because I am overly nice. I live at home while married. I get discrimination when I try to work on because of my disabilities. My life isn't the best. So whatever this card is I hold. I don't have it.

5. Blacks have the real privilege
Ok so I can say yes, cops target blacks more. Maybe this is just because blacks speak up more about it then whites. Hence it makes the news. Or maybe cops really do target them on purpose, which I agree is not good. But blacks have the card here. Just as with certain "same sex" people, they have the privilege of being who they are. If your black and someone hires you, they did it because they are racist and need to meet a quota. If they don't hire you its because they are racist and don't want blacks. If your fired, its because a company is racist. If you even look at a black man wrong, they yell racism. And they get away with it. They get others fired because the racist card plays well for them. Which is why many whites try to say nothing because we can't win. Even in cases where its obviously not about racism.

Such as when a black guy pulls a gun on a cop and the cop shoots him. The news say "white cops kills black man!". Blacks say the black man was innocent, nice, outgoing...etc. Despite police records showing hes part of a gang, has a record of assault, drug possession...etc. Despite he lived in a ghetto where he ran with a gang beating up people. Despite the fact he owned a gun to show off and to scare people. Despite the fact (in one case) he just came from a store where he beat up a store owner. Black card lets you get away with that and be shown as innocent. Now, obviously in some cases of course a black man is killed for no reason. Such as that poor guy in new york who the cops sat on as the guy wheezed out "I can't breathe!". I do agree cops need better training.

6. Southern USA
I do feel as any real racism is MUCH bigger down south. Trace it back to the civil war if you want. Most cases are always in southern states. And while not everyone is racist down south of course, there are plenty that are and admit it. Having been south many times I seen it alot. Which is all the more reason not to say "whites" when that makes it about as bland as possible. Maybe say "Alot of southern white men, particulary of the eurpoean decent have a white privilege card.". Then that isn't even really fair to say.

7. History and stats
Lets not forget when people mention history, many blacks were slave owners themselves. Just as many blacks sold other blacks from other countries to make money on them. Out west even though we picture white guys, alot of them were actually black cowboys. Many facts people forget. In terms of stats, black on black death is the majority killer among blacks. I wish that would be mentioned instead of bringing up white cop to black death ratios.

8. Black culture change?
Perhaps the BIGGEST point I want to make here and the biggest issue is that there needs to be change from inside black culture. And yes, maybe a a tiny bit on the "white" end of it too. Now what I am about to say refers to "some" blacks. Not all or the majority (since I am terrible with words).

The culture of blacks needs change from the inside out. Many blacks (from regular people to politicians to christians...etc) have even said this. The culture to the outside world seems to consist of the same old thing. Gangs, violence, sex and so on. Alot of blacks movie tend to embrace this normally "stereotype" thing. In movies and tv the black person will speak with a (forgive this word) ebonic way. They talk about being tough, having lots of sex, killing off competition, having guns, fights and so on. Theres even a show made by blacks with blacks in it about a music empire (I think it is called Empire). In the shows its the whole negative black culture thing. This needs to change. They need to stop caring about those things. Most "Whites" do not stay in poverty places like a ghetto because "Its all we got". We try to get out of such places. We work hard. We do not roam around in gangs with our pants half down and pistols on us. We do not threaten people.

Because of the culture they created, it adds to the problem of white cops doing stupid things towards them (which yes, that means the culture for cops would have to change along with the black culture). I have many blacks friends of all ages who agree with me. Some were raised poor. Some had a silver spoon. Some fought very hard to get a degree, a good job and so on. None of them do anything from the stereotype black culture. They don't speak in a certain way. They speak proper. They don't believe in gangs, or violence as a tool. Or sex or women as meat. So it shows change is possible. I am all for that change.

Again alot of what I said about blacks is "some", not all or the majority. As for me? I treat blacks no different then I do anyone else in real life. When at the store I don't see one and think "Obviously a thug, avoid them!". I don't even notice the color. We are all the same. I'd actually like to see a great exercise here in response. What ethnicity (if thats the correct word) are you? I'm 50% italian. The other 50% consists of british, scottish, french, german, australian, hebrew (of course) and some other smaller ones.

 

[benedictaoo]

Of course it wasn't just "black people who did it"; people of all races elected Obaba....twice. There is no "white privilege".

and allow me to just say this; because of Obama opening up those wounds of racism and being THE most divisive president we have ever had. He has pit everybody against each other. There will never be another black president elected thanks to him.

 

[benedictaoo]

I'll be blunt. There is no white privileged really. We are all equal. Only blacks make it out like they are not equal. Here are some points I want to make.

1. Blacks lacking in things
I am so tired of hearing about things like the Oscars where "Its racist, no blacks won!". Really they are just saying "No blacks won this year!". Because blacks have won in the past. The year prior 12 Years a Slave won lots of Oscars! Problem is there are just tons of white actors, politicians and so on. Not that many black. Is that because of racism? No. Its because its just how it is. Maybe "whites" out number blacks. Its not a racist thing. After all we had a black president.

2. Other minorities
Extending sort of from point 1, blacks fail to see how silly they look, especially the BLM thing. Do they realize for example with the Oscars in comparison to blacks, there are almost NO asian winners? Probably any number of others that have won less then black actors. And this applies for everything. President and so on.

3. What is white?
If you notice its only ever blacks and whites. But with every other "race", no one uses terms anymore. Your spanish, russian...etc. But when it comes to blacks they don't say jamacia, chad....etc. Just as whites aren't labeled as italian, british, irish...etc. Every culture has its goods and bad so to speak. I'm italian american (Well 50% other stuff). Not white. My friend is Kenyan, not african/black. Yes we have silly stupid race labels but they do not help with situations like this "white privilege" thing. If we were to break down races into their culture, maybe numbers would be different when it comes to black deaths vs white deaths. Who cops pick on more. Because if you notice, in any case with a cop attacking someone, the word "black" is simply used. When it comes to anyone else you tend to find out what they are. Mexican, chinese, moroccan. I'm sure people who are of "latino" or "arab" decent get alot of cop harassment too.

4. What is privilege?
This white card I hold supposedly gets me the world. It means I never get looked at. I never get judged. I get the world handed to me. Everyone loves me. Right? Wrong. I'm disabled (not physically), I get picked on because of my weight. Or how I walk. Or because I prefer talking to girls more then guys since I am not into most "male" things like sports. Police have watched be before, I've been almost arrested once (it was a false accusation and they let me go). I've been beat up. I've been abused by women because I am overly nice. I live at home while married. I get discrimination when I try to work on because of my disabilities. My life isn't the best. So whatever this card is I hold. I don't have it.

5. Blacks have the real privilege
Ok so I can say yes, cops target blacks more. Maybe this is just because blacks speak up more about it then whites. Hence it makes the news. Or maybe cops really do target them on purpose, which I agree is not good. But blacks have the card here. Just as with certain "same sex" people, they have the privilege of being who they are. If your black and someone hires you, they did it because they are racist and need to meet a quota. If they don't hire you its because they are racist and don't want blacks. If your fired, its because a company is racist. If you even look at a black man wrong, they yell racism. And they get away with it. They get others fired because the racist card plays well for them. Which is why many whites try to say nothing because we can't win. Even in cases where its obviously not about racism.

Such as when a black guy pulls a gun on a cop and the cop shoots him. The news say "white cops says black man!". Blacks say the black man was innocent, nice, outgoing...etc. Despite police records showing hes part of a gang, has a record of assault, drug possession...etc. Despite he lived in a ghetto where he ran with a gang beating up people. Despite the fact he owned a gun to show off and to scare people. Despite the fact (in one case) he just came from a store where he beat up a store owner. Black card lets you get away with that and be shown as innocent. Now, obviously in some cases of course a black man is killed for no reason. Such as that poor guy in new york who the caps sat on as the guy wheezed out "I can't breathe!". I do agree cops need better training.

6. Southern USA
I do feel as any real racism is MUCH bigger down south. Trace it back to the civil war if you want. Most cases are always in southern states. And while not everyone is racist down south of course, there are plenty that are and admit it. Having been south many times I seen it alot. Which is all the more reason not to say "whites" when that makes it about as bland as possible. Maybe say "Alot of southern white men, particulary of the eurpoean decent have a white privilege card.". Then that isn't even really fair to say.

7. History and stats
Lets not forget when people mention history, many blacks were slave owners themselves. Just as many blacks sold other blacks from other countries to make money on them. Out west even though we picture white guys, alot of them were actually black cowboys. Many facts people forget. In terms of stats, black on black death is the majority killer among blacks. I wish that would be mentioned instead of bringing up white cop to black death ratios.

8. Black culture change?
Perhaps the BIGGEST point I want to make here and the biggest issue is that there needs to be change from inside black culture. And yes, maybe a a tiny bit on the "white" end of it too. Now what I am about to say refers to "some" blacks. Not all or the majority (since I am terrible with words).

The culture of blacks needs change from the inside out. Many blacks (from regular people to politicians to christians...etc) have even said this. The culture to the outside world seems to consist of the same old thing. Gangs, violence, sex and so on. Alot of blacks movie tend to embrace this normally "stereotype" thing. In movies and tv the black person will speak with a (forgive this word) ebonic way. They talk about being tough, having lots of sex, killing off competition, having guns, fights and so on. Theres even a show made by blacks with blacks in it about a music empire (I think it is called Empire). In the shows its the whole negative black culture thing. This needs to change. They need to stop caring about those things. Most "Whites" do not stay in poverty places like a ghetto because "Its all we got". We try to get out of such places. We work hard. We do not roam around in gangs with our pants half down and pistols on us. We do not threaten people.

Because of the culture they created, it adds to the problem of white cops doing stupid things towards them (which yes, that means the culture for cops would have to change along with the black culture). I have many blacks friends of all ages who agree with me. Some were raised poor. Some had a silver spoon. Some fought very hard to get a degree, a good job and so on. None of them do anything from the stereotype black culture. They don't speak in a certain way. They speak proper. They don't believe in gangs, or violence as a tool. Or sex or women as meat. So it shows change is possible. I am all for that change.

Again alot of what I said about blacks is "some", not all or the majority. As for me? I treat blacks no different then I do anyone else in real life. When at the store I don't see one and think "Obviously a thug, avoid them!". I don't even notice the color. We are all the same. I'd actually like to see a great exercise here in response. What ethnicity (if thats the correct word) are you? I'm 50% italian. The other 50% consists of british, scottish, french, german, australian, hebrew (of course) and some other smaller ones.

You know you will be called a racist for this?

One thing about the south. It's going to vary depending on where in the south. I live in one of the most diverse and dangerous southern cities in America The most black on black crime is here and it's shocking and BLM...where are they? They should be concern with the this. They need to truly care about these black lives, black children that are shot and killed getting off a school bus or just sitting in the living room. You know what the main issue is right now? Taking down very, very historic civil war monuments. BLM want to be there for that. As if that is what is causing black on black crime. This is why I can not take seriously articles like this. They do not really care about black people. They care about politicizing and using them and shaming whites so they can monopolize the voting in america.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

You know you will be called a racist for this?

One thing about the south. It's going to vary depending on where in the south. I live in one of the most diverse and dangerous southern cities in America The most black on black crime is here and it's shocking and BLM...where are they? They should be concern with the this. They need to truly care about these black lives, black children that are shot and killed getting off a school bus or just sitting in the living room. You know what the main issue is right now? Taking down very, very historic civil war monuments. BLM want to be there for that. As if that is what is causing black on black crime. This is why I can not take seriously articles like this. They do not really care about black people. They care about politicizing and using them and shaming whites so they can monopolize the voting in america.

I'm sure I will. Racist card at play along with black privileged. Heck just saying I have black friends means I'm racist according to blacks. Because only racists say that. So apparently most people on the planet who are not black, but have blacks friends are obviously racist too.

Yeah I agree. They need to focus on whats going on in their own world. The big urban city I live near is where most of the local news comes from. And half the time its of a person (even child) who almost always is black being killed by another (almost always) black person. Sometimes its a drive by, sometimes over drugs. Sometimes just to act tough. Forget any "white problems" for now and fix the bigger issues. I can't recall how many innocent black children have been killed from gun violence in our urban city. >.<

 

[Ken-1122]

Oh, I know that both of those stats are bad (I no longer live there, but I still have family there). But at least those things are not state-sanctioned.

But you know what? They weren't great before either. A great deal of crime went unreported, because what was the point? The police weren't going to act unless it suited them.

So which is better? An apartheid state with (arguably) a lower crime rate? Or a non-apartheid state with (arguably) a higher crime rate? Oddly enough, only some bitter whites seem to think the current state of affairs is worse!

So why would anyone see the dismantling of apartheid by "progressives" as evil? I'm honestly not seeing the angst here. Why be so opposed to people wanting to make the world better, even if you think they will never be able to succeed?

For some people, no matter how much is accomplished; it will never be recognized, their world view is built on things being bad.

Ken

 

[The Cadet]

I'll be blunt. There is no white privileged really. We are all equal.

...Seriously. We're going to go down this route?

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2015/05/06/institutional-racism-is-our-way-of-life

When juveniles hit the court system, it discriminates against blacks as well. Black children are 18 times more likely to be sentenced as adults than white children, and make up nearly 60 percent of children in prisons, according to the APA. Black juvenile offenders are much more likely to be viewed as adults in juvenile detention proceedings than their white counterparts.

In the workplace, black college graduates are twice as likely as whites to struggle to find jobs - the jobless rate for blacks has been double that of whites for decades. A study even found that people with “black-sounding names” had to send out 50 percent more job applications than people with “white-sounding names” just to get a call back.

[...]

A black man is three times more likely to be searched at a traffic stop, and six times more likely to go jail than a white person. Blacks make up nearly 40 percent of arrests for violent crimes.

Blacks aren’t pulled over (and subsequently jailed) more frequently because they’re more prone to criminal behavior. They’re pulled over much more frequently because there is an “implicit racial association of black Americans with dangerous or aggressive behavior,” the Sentencing Project found.

The numbers get ridiculous in certain parts of the country, the project found. On the New Jersey Turnpike, for instance, blacks make up 15 percent of drivers, more than 40 percent of stops and 73 percent of arrests – even though they break traffic laws at the same rate as whites. In New York City, blacks and Hispanics were three and four times as likely to be stopped and frisked as whites.

But the disparities become appalling in court.

If a black person kills a white person, they are twice as likely to receive the death sentence as a white person who kills a black person. Local prosecutors are much more likely to upgrade a case to felony murder if you’re black than if you’re white.
​

The article goes on and on and on, listing issue after issue where African-Americans are discriminated against on an institutional level. You can find dozens of articles like this, pointing out disparities where there really should be none, disparities based on a person's race. Simply pretending that white privilege doesn't exist, pretending that racial disparities aren't real, pretending that racism doesn't exist any more... You'd have to stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes, and hum really loudly.

​

 

[Chesterton]

Is that the way you see it? I've been to places in the U.S. where whites are the minority...and frankly, I didn't feel privileged. I learned at a young age that being white in the wrong neighborhood is reason enough to be victimized. I've been beaten up for being white in a predominantly black community.

Same here. Had car trouble in a black neighborhood one night, they snuck up behind me and hit me in the head with a large glass bottle. I was able to run away though as they chased me hurling racial insults. Yep, white boy managed to outrun about 10 young black guys. Amazing what adrenaline can do for one's athleticism.

To literally add insult to injury, after I ran I saw them milling about my car with the trunk open and there were a couple of items of small value like a friend's skateboard, and they didn't even steal stuff. Just a pure hate crime.

 

[SummerMadness]

If it's a complaint that the color is called "flesh-tone"...then it's certainly relevant those complaining should have an alternative name to call the color.

Otherwise, what's the point?

Really? I'm no art major...but I think that's a different color.

The reason why I offer no color name is exactly because this is the type of answer I expect. That doesn't look peach to me, it looks like flesh tone. The fact is that peach crayons and peach hues are closer to light skin tones.

We could get more specific and say peach yellow, peach cream, sugared cream, etc., but the chosen name is subjective, the fact that flesh tone does not reflect that flesh has many tones is the problem people point out.

Economic privilege is very prevalent in US society and it is often mistaken for white privilege. If you have money, you will experience perks those without money will not have access to. Because white people often have more money and people of (other) color often have less, some people will attribute those economic perks for being white rather than not being poor.

Even controlling for income and socioeconomic status, there is still a disparity, that's the point.

 

[SummerMadness]

Same here. Had car trouble in a black neighborhood one night, they snuck up behind me and hit me in the head with a large glass bottle. I was able to run away though as they chased me hurling racial insults. Yep, white boy managed to outrun about 10 young black guys. Amazing what adrenaline can do for one's athleticism.

To literally add insult to injury, after I ran I saw them milling about my car with the trunk open and there were a couple of items of small value like a friend's skateboard, and they didn't even steal stuff. Just a pure hate crime.

Nothing like taking a story about being a victim of crime and filling it with racist commentary and racial stereotypes.

 

[Ken-1122]

...Seriously. We're going to go down this route?

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2015/05/06/institutional-racism-is-our-way-of-life

When juveniles hit the court system, it discriminates against blacks as well. Black children are 18 times more likely to be sentenced as adults than white children, and make up nearly 60 percent of children in prisons, according to the APA. Black juvenile offenders are much more likely to be viewed as adults in juvenile detention proceedings than their white counterparts.

In the workplace, black college graduates are twice as likely as whites to struggle to find jobs - the jobless rate for blacks has been double that of whites for decades. A study even found that people with “black-sounding names” had to send out 50 percent more job applications than people with “white-sounding names” just to get a call back.

[...]

A black man is three times more likely to be searched at a traffic stop, and six times more likely to go jail than a white person. Blacks make up nearly 40 percent of arrests for violent crimes.

Blacks aren’t pulled over (and subsequently jailed) more frequently because they’re more prone to criminal behavior. They’re pulled over much more frequently because there is an “implicit racial association of black Americans with dangerous or aggressive behavior,” the Sentencing Project found.

The numbers get ridiculous in certain parts of the country, the project found. On the New Jersey Turnpike, for instance, blacks make up 15 percent of drivers, more than 40 percent of stops and 73 percent of arrests – even though they break traffic laws at the same rate as whites. In New York City, blacks and Hispanics were three and four times as likely to be stopped and frisked as whites.

But the disparities become appalling in court.

If a black person kills a white person, they are twice as likely to receive the death sentence as a white person who kills a black person. Local prosecutors are much more likely to upgrade a case to felony murder if you’re black than if you’re white.
​

The article goes on and on and on, listing issue after issue where African-Americans are discriminated against on an institutional level. You can find dozens of articles like this, pointing out disparities where there really should be none, disparities based on a person's race. Simply pretending that white privilege doesn't exist, pretending that racial disparities aren't real, pretending that racism doesn't exist any more... You'd have to stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes, and hum really loudly.

Most of that is the result of black people who live in poor, violent, high crime neighborhoods. Black people living in affluent low crime neighborhoods don't have such problems

Ken

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

I

...Seriously. We're going to go down this route?

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2015/05/06/institutional-racism-is-our-way-of-life

When juveniles hit the court system, it discriminates against blacks as well. Black children are 18 times more likely to be sentenced as adults than white children, and make up nearly 60 percent of children in prisons, according to the APA. Black juvenile offenders are much more likely to be viewed as adults in juvenile detention proceedings than their white counterparts.

In the workplace, black college graduates are twice as likely as whites to struggle to find jobs - the jobless rate for blacks has been double that of whites for decades. A study even found that people with “black-sounding names” had to send out 50 percent more job applications than people with “white-sounding names” just to get a call back.

[...]

A black man is three times more likely to be searched at a traffic stop, and six times more likely to go jail than a white person. Blacks make up nearly 40 percent of arrests for violent crimes.

Blacks aren’t pulled over (and subsequently jailed) more frequently because they’re more prone to criminal behavior. They’re pulled over much more frequently because there is an “implicit racial association of black Americans with dangerous or aggressive behavior,” the Sentencing Project found.

The numbers get ridiculous in certain parts of the country, the project found. On the New Jersey Turnpike, for instance, blacks make up 15 percent of drivers, more than 40 percent of stops and 73 percent of arrests – even though they break traffic laws at the same rate as whites. In New York City, blacks and Hispanics were three and four times as likely to be stopped and frisked as whites.

But the disparities become appalling in court.

If a black person kills a white person, they are twice as likely to receive the death sentence as a white person who kills a black person. Local prosecutors are much more likely to upgrade a case to felony murder if you’re black than if you’re white.
​

The article goes on and on and on, listing issue after issue where African-Americans are discriminated against on an institutional level. You can find dozens of articles like this, pointing out disparities where there really should be none, disparities based on a person's race. Simply pretending that white privilege doesn't exist, pretending that racial disparities aren't real, pretending that racism doesn't exist any more... You'd have to stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes, and hum really loudly.

​

If you read my post I didn't say there isn't discrimination, there is. But I think part of it has to do with black culture (as I said in my post). If a culture is perceived a certain way due to its negative people in it, of course people are going to discriminate. Is that right? No, of course not. Hence I said black culture needs a change.

A good example is my wife has been in america over two years now. And usually all she sees on tv, movies, facebook, news....etc is alot of blacks doing negative stereotypical things. Even some of her black coworkers act like the stereotype. So she thinks there something wrong too. Mind you in her country there are no blacks really, not in the african sense. Dark skinned asians maybe, but no blacks. Outside of the foreigners who come on occasion to marry a girl and whatnot. So if an outsider sees that and starts to have a negative view, then obviously its not just an americans imagination. And yes she knows about blacks past. I had her watch movies like To Kill a Mockingbird, Gettysburg, Selma....etc (which obviously no racist would do). Shes confused as to why blacks blame everyone else for how their culture acts.

 

[SummerMadness]

Most of that is the result of black people who live in poor, violent, high crime neighborhoods. Black people living in affluent low crime neighborhoods don't have such problems

Ken

Um, racism is still a problem, even if you're black and have money. Race trumps class.

Poor white kids are less likely to go to prison than rich black kids

 

[SummerMadness]

If you read my post I didn't say there isn't discrimination, there is. But I think part of it has to do with black culture (as I said in my post). If a culture is perceived a certain way due to its negative people in it, of course people are going to discriminate. Is that right? No, of course not. Hence I said black culture needs a change.

If a majority population perceives a minority population inaccurately, then it is up to the minority population to change to suit the majority? That makes no sense, perhaps the majority population should change their incorrect perception of the minority population.

A good example is my wife has been in america over two years now. And usually all she sees on tv, movies, facebook, news....etc is alot of blacks doing negative stereotypical things. Even some of her black coworkers act like the stereotype. So she thinks there something wrong too. Mind you in her country there are no blacks really, not in the african sense. Dark skinned asians maybe, but no blacks. Outside of the foreigners who come on occasion to marry a girl and whatnot. So if an outsider sees that and starts to have a negative view, then obviously its not just an americans imagination. And yes she knows about blacks past. I had her watch movies like To Kill a Mockingbird, Gettysburg, Selma....etc (which obviously no racist would do). Shes confused as to why blacks blame everyone else for how their culture acts.

Or it's simply confirmation bias. She sees when black people do negative stereotypical things, but ignores it when they do not (what are these negative stereotypes?). Since we want to use anecdotes, as an African American in the STEM field and higher education, I often find myself called "not black" because I do not follow a set of stereotypes. In essence, the fact that I do not follow the stereotype excludes me from the group, and this allows the person to continue to hold an extremely idiotic view. For them, black people fit a specific stereotype, rather than there are many types of black people, some fit the negative stereotype.

 

[nightflight]

The cynicism in this thread is pretty bewildering, considering the amazing success of progressive movements over the last few hundred years. Our civilization is much more inclusive than it's ever been. Black people aren't enslaved, women can vote, gay people can marry and adopt without most people suspecting they're child molesters, official segregation is over, and almost every kind of prejudice (racism, sexism, etc.) has become measurably less common just in the last few years. There's no reason to think people can't keep getting more inclusive in the future.

I have no idea what all this has to do with the notion of "white privilege".