"On White Privilege"

[super animator]

There's an app for that.

That's nice, however that didn't answer my original question.

 

[rturner76]

Forget white privilege. I want black privilege.

Black privilege is the belief that the government owes you free stuff, that you're not responsible for your failure or the consequences of your actions, and that anything bad that happens to you must be the result of some conspiracy by the white man.

I think there are some people who think this way but I don't think society operates under this notion.

 

[rturner76]

No...in fact racism doesn't exist. It did...and it may still exist in some rare and remote locations - but, I am proud to say - my generation (growing up in the '60s and 70s) we whipped it! People of color went from minority status to hero status, in everything from industry, to medicine, to education, to movies, and music.

No, what exists now is strictly political, or a self-imposed, unfounded inferiority complex, or worse: a white on white guilt trip.

We ARE different - we are - so what? My generation made it cool. No, what we got here, is a different problem entirely.

To think racism is a thing of the past is pure fantasy. I have experienced it first hand and it's ugly. I've been called names which is pretty benign but I have been chased by a group of skinheads which is terrifying. I used to be afraid of the woods at night when I was a kid because I thought the KKK was out there. That stuff is not all that long ago this stuff was front and center and still to this day in many families racism is not only tolerated but encouraged. Now it's not legal to be racist so I can see what you mean there. You can't legally discriminate in business. You can take actions in underhanded ways. Also there is a system in place with a pecking order and the white man is at the top of the pecking order.

 

[Ken-1122]

Seriously!

@nightflight maybe this will help. Here's a Venn diagram showing the things any white man might have had to deal with during the great depression, and the things any black man might have had to deal with during the great depression.

View attachment 173956

Notice something? While both sides have some significant issues (starvation, freezing, polio), there are a great many issues that are unique to black people. The fact that white people never had to deal with any of those issues? That's white privilege.

I don't think most black people have to deal with those things either.

Ken

 

[ArmenianJohn]

No...in fact racism doesn't exist. It did...and it may still exist in some rare and remote locations - but, I am proud to say - my generation (growing up in the '60s and 70s) we whipped it! People of color went from minority status to hero status, in everything from industry, to medicine, to education, to movies, and music.

No, what exists now is strictly political, or a self-imposed, unfounded inferiority complex, or worse: a white on white guilt trip.

We ARE different - we are - so what? My generation made it cool. No, what we got here, is a different problem entirely.

It's nonsense to say "racism doesn't exist". Anyone saying that is trying to fool either himself or others or both. I see it all the time. I work for a major Wall Street firm and it's very clear where I work. In fairness, a lot is done to help blacks and other minorities and in many cases they are given fair opportunities and achieve success. But the racism is still there also. I wouldn't say it's rampant, but there is an endemic racism that permeates the corporate culture. The whole thing about "black names" is entirely true. I have seen hiring managers dismiss resume's with "black" names - Jamal, DeAndre, Tasha are ones I specifically remember being rejected because of the name for lesser qualified resume's with less "ethnic" names. It also happens where people with exotic names like Eastern European or Asian (South and East) names are discriminated either against or in favor of. "White sounding" names, however, are judged solely on the content of the qualifications their resume's list.

But forget the workplace - I see it everywhere. In stores, on the streets - blacks are passed over by taxis, followed and monitored in stores, hawked by cops, talked down to by vendors and salespeople. I see it very clearly when I am with my black and latino friends. I don't see how anyone can say they don't see it unless they're lying to themselves or others or both.

 

[ScottA]

To think racism is a thing of the past is pure fantasy. I have experienced it first hand and it's ugly. I've been called names which is pretty benign but I have been chased by a group of skinheads which is terrifying. I used to be afraid of the woods at night when I was a kid because I thought the KKK was out there. That stuff is not all that long ago this stuff was front and center and still to this day in many families racism is not only tolerated but encouraged. Now it's not legal to be racist so I can see what you mean there. You can't legally discriminate in business. You can take actions in underhanded ways. Also there is a system in place with a pecking order and the white man is at the top of the pecking order.

It is important to put things in perspective. What you are referring to are the "exceptions" to the rule...which we will always have. But we do not live in an age of prejudice and racism, nor should we allow the exceptions to rule the day.

In reality, there are criminals and saints and hateful people and nuns and doctors, etc...of every color - and the majority of ALL people don't care what race the person is who makes their burger, performs their surgery, etc., their heroes come in every color - and THAT is the rule of the day.

 

[ScottA]

It's nonsense to say "racism doesn't exist". Anyone saying that is trying to fool either himself or others or both. I see it all the time. I work for a major Wall Street firm and it's very clear where I work. In fairness, a lot is done to help blacks and other minorities and in many cases they are given fair opportunities and achieve success. But the racism is still there also. I wouldn't say it's rampant, but there is an endemic racism that permeates the corporate culture. The whole thing about "black names" is entirely true. I have seen hiring managers dismiss resume's with "black" names - Jamal, DeAndre, Tasha are ones I specifically remember being rejected because of the name for lesser qualified resume's with less "ethnic" names. It also happens where people with exotic names like Eastern European or Asian (South and East) names are discriminated either against or in favor of. "White sounding" names, however, are judged solely on the content of the qualifications their resume's list.

But forget the workplace - I see it everywhere. In stores, on the streets - blacks are passed over by taxis, followed and monitored in stores, hawked by cops, talked down to by vendors and salespeople. I see it very clearly when I am with my black and latino friends. I don't see how anyone can say they don't see it unless they're lying to themselves or others or both.

See reply #526 ... and stop letting the exceptions rule your outlook on life - it makes you part of the problem, not the solution. Love your neighbor.

 

[tatteredsoul]

It's nonsense to say "racism doesn't exist". Anyone saying that is trying to fool either himself or others or both. I see it all the time. I work for a major Wall Street firm and it's very clear where I work. In fairness, a lot is done to help blacks and other minorities and in many cases they are given fair opportunities and achieve success. But the racism is still there also. I wouldn't say it's rampant, but there is an endemic racism that permeates the corporate culture. The whole thing about "black names" is entirely true. I have seen hiring managers dismiss resume's with "black" names - Jamal, DeAndre, Tasha are ones I specifically remember being rejected because of the name for lesser qualified resume's with less "ethnic" names. It also happens where people with exotic names like Eastern European or Asian (South and East) names are discriminated either against or in favor of. "White sounding" names, however, are judged solely on the content of the qualifications their resume's list.

But forget the workplace - I see it everywhere. In stores, on the streets - blacks are passed over by taxis, followed and monitored in stores, hawked by cops, talked down to by vendors and salespeople. I see it very clearly when I am with my black and latino friends. I don't see how anyone can say they don't see it unless they're lying to themselves or others or both.

Institutional Racism as opposed to overt racism: deeply ingrained in practices, laws, and organizational conduct.

Institutional racism is passive aggressive, but like passive aggressiveism, it is deceptively destructive.

 

[rturner76]

It is important to put things in perspective. What you are referring to are the "exceptions" to the rule...which we will always have. But we do not live in an age of prejudice and racism, nor should we allow the exceptions to rule the day.

In reality, there are criminals and saints and hateful people and nuns and doctors, etc...of every color - and the majority of ALL people don't care what race the person is who makes their burger, performs their surgery, etc., their heroes come in every color - and THAT is the rule of the day.

True, however the article isn't talking about overt societal racism. It talks about white privilege basically saying, all things being equal, white men have it a little better than the rest of society.

 

[ArmenianJohn]

See reply #526 ... and stop letting the exceptions rule your outlook on life - it makes you part of the problem, not the solution. Love your neighbor.

Your opinion that racist events and occurrences are "exceptions" is extremely wrong. White privilege is endemic and it is spurred by racism, much more than "exceptions". It is endemic to society at all levels. Burying your head in the sand and making up stories about "exceptions" is also part of the problem that many are guilty of and don't even realize it. And I still can't help but think that people don't realize it because they voluntarily WANT to not realize it. It's the same as how atheists deny the existence of God and/or the spiritual - it's denial.

 

[SummerMadness]

If it was an exception then there wouldn't be a "racial gap" in anything. However, we see it in everything from airbnb to police stops.

 

[ScottA]

True, however the article isn't talking about overt societal racism. It talks about white privilege basically saying, all things being equal, white men have it a little better than the rest of society.

Which...of course must be entered onto the exception column also...and seriously discouraged.

 

[nightflight]

True, however the article isn't talking about overt societal racism. It talks about white privilege basically saying, all things being equal, white men have it a little better than the rest of society.

So you want white men to start having it a little worse?

 

[Chesterton]

True, however the article isn't talking about overt societal racism. It talks about white privilege basically saying, all things being equal, white men have it a little better than the rest of society.

Doesn't affirmative action alone more than make up for the band-aids?

 

[ScottA]

Your opinion that racist events and occurrences are "exceptions" is extremely wrong. White privilege is endemic and it is spurred by racism, much more than "exceptions". It is endemic to society at all levels. Burying your head in the sand and making up stories about "exceptions" is also part of the problem that many are guilty of and don't even realize it. And I still can't help but think that people don't realize it because they voluntarily WANT to not realize it. It's the same as how atheists deny the existence of God and/or the spiritual - it's denial.

If that were true - and it's not - no one could go outside without being assaulted.

The reality that seems to be escaping you, is that we all [generally] function in public and in private, and get along quite well. Life is a rainbow of different people everywhere you go and look. In fact, it is very commonly just the opposite of what you have described. I was at the airport a while ago...and if anything, whites were the minority. Everywhere you go it is multiracial and mostly civil, people just getting along with no hard feelings. You just need to open your eyes.

Are there exceptions? Yes...I said that.

 

[Chesterton]

True, however the article isn't talking about overt societal racism. It talks about white privilege basically saying, all things being equal, white men have it a little better than the rest of society.

Doesn't affirmative action alone more than make up for the band-aids?

At least there aren't any ravenous hyenas around here.

 

[Paidiske]

So you want white men to start having it a little worse?

How about there being no appreciable difference in experience, no matter what sex or ethnicity you are? Not better or worse?

I don't know why you keep wanting to turn this around into somehow being made into a victim.

 

[SummerMadness]

How about there being no appreciable difference in experience, no matter what sex or ethnicity you are? Not better or worse?

I don't know why you keep wanting to turn this around into somehow being made into a victim.

When you live in a world where you think someone else's gain is your loss, then you get attitudes like that. It also comes with the repeated lie that you want someone to feel guilty or expect them to apologize. People fight sexual harassment and then you hear folks saying, "Why do I need to apologize to women?" The statement makes no sense, but it makes sense to them, they don't want to have the discussion because they see life as a zero-sum game.

 

[Paidiske]

... because they see life as a zero-sum game.

Oh. But we're not working within closed systems, so it's not a zero-sum game.

 

[SummerMadness]

Oh. But we're not working within closed systems, so it's not a zero-sum game.

Tell that to the people that believe they're entitled to all the slots in colleges or chairs on the board. They see someone get ahead and reply, "But that's supposed to be mine!" But this attitude only applies racial minorities and women. A rich white male swoops in and they think, "Well, that's the way it is." I think part of it is they believe if they were rich like that person, they would do the same thing.