White Privilege the New Original Sin

[Elizabeth3]

No one needs to accept a slogan in order to practice virtue.

 

[Nepperhan]

Proud to be born WHITE! I lived my life by doing what was the RIGHT thing to do…got and education, a successful Career, a beautiful home, and LOVE my God and Thank him every day for my many Blessings! And currently live in FEAR knowing how we are HATED by others! God Loves us all and created all of us…

I’m glad for you but sorry you feel that you are improperly hated by others. I don’t accept that as true.

 

[QContinuum]

One doesn’t need to buy into the political rhetoric to admit problems. It isn’t about ignoring a problem by focusing on terminology but rather ignoring divisive and condescending slogans so one is free to actually do something IRL and not contribute further to hate and disunity.

I believe this discussion to be free from condescending slogans or hatred. The article I have referenced several times now takes a historical viewpoint and is quite reasonable. It in fact was written two years ago and is looking back to the 1988 origins of the term.

What I am seeing are posters such as myself stating plainly and clearly that white privilege exists, what it means, and that it doesn’t mean white people are individually guilty of racism. And others who are objecting on their own experience or are simply deflecting. I am aware there are hateful, angry political people out there who would weaponize a truth just to score points.

None of them are here now. But there are those of us who recognize institutional racism exists and are secure enough not to be threatened by recognizing that fact.

 

[1ke]

How will this have BLM quit screaming about white privilege?

We don’t need to talk about it less. We need to talk about it more.

Tell me what needs to be done to get black to stop blaming white people?

Blaming white people for what, specifically?

 

[QContinuum]

You are saying the only difference is between these groups are the color of their skin?

I am not saying it, historians, federal whistle blowers, admissions of policy makers, several federal courts cases, and a repeated pattern targeting AA communities all have, along with other objective evidence, already established the existence of racial based discrimination. This should not be surprising, given a country where slavery, Jim Crow laws, and other targeted injustices were based upon the color of skin. It’s the logical result of American history since 1619 when the first slaves were brought to the colonies.

To recognize that white privilege exists does not mean you or I owe an apology to any given AA person. I’d guess they don’t want your apology. They just want a system that doesn’t block their opportunity to live, work, go to school, go to church, vote, volunteer, build communities and businesses in peace based on the color of their skin.

 

[QContinuum]

have always feared for my life around them…Materialism seems to be more important than life itself…it has been noted they will take your life for money, your car, and are mostly involved in “looting”…why? I have seen evidence of this…I do know that all are not that hateful

Is this fear of AA people extended to other people of color? If so, I’m wondering how you would ever tolerate icons of a Mediterranean Jewish Christ in your home.

But such fear is not rational. If Cardinal Sarah were to come to your parish, what would you do? Call the police on him for celebrating Mass while black?

They are people who bleed and cry just like you. Color of skin should not not induce terror. It’s just a pigment. Do you fear black dogs, black horses, more than white ones? This fear is irrational.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Agree and if you go to China, you’ll see that being Chinese has privileges that non-Chinese to get. In Japan, being Japanese has privileges non-Japanese don’t have. Heck, a white person in a black community doesn’t get treated the same as black people.

White people in Europe and in North America have been and still are the majority.

It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek fairness and equal opportunity for all. Instead, we see preference being given to anyone who makes people afraid. Standing up for what is right is no longer seen as a virtue, but as racism, sexism and any other kind of ism the media want’s to label you as.

BTW, Asian Americans generally do better than white people economically in the US, but we don’t hear of Asian privilege.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

if you go to China, you’ll see that being Chinese has privileges that non-Chinese to get. In Japan, being Japanese has privileges non-Japanese don’t have. Heck, a white person in a black community doesn’t get treated the same as black people.

Majority privilege is a better term. The term white privilege is a little racist, not to mention divisive. But, being divisive seems to be the MO of some activist groups.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I addressed this with America Magazine on Facebook, that the term, “white privilege,” fuels hatred of white people and even provides justification for the use of violence against white people.

The label divides rather than unites

 

[Elizabeth3]

I believe this discussion to be free from condescending slogans or hatred.

I believe the slogan “white privilege” is condescending. We have differing opinions on this. I agree this discussion is free of hatred but I’m talking about the division we see in our country right now. These slogans are being used to sow that division. They are used to provoke an emotional response that pits people against each other.

The article I have referenced several times now takes a historical viewpoint and is quite reasonable.

Is it reasonable though? It attempts to get people with white skin to notice that what is considered “the norm” has elements of racism that we are blind to. Here are some examples she uses…

Ethnic hair care products have their own section that is relegated to the side of the hair care section.

Is that really because there is some conspiracy of white privilege? Or could it be that ethnic hair care is a specialized niche market that serves a need but does not sell in as large a volume as general hair care products so does not get a large amount of shelf space. How does a larger, generalized hair care section that sells a variety of products that any and everyone, no matter their ethnicity, can choose from make it some kind of “white privilege?” What solution would need to be implemented for it to not be “white privilege?” To just have one hair care section and not acknowledge any ethnicity in relation to product? To put the ethnic hair care section in the middle of the general hair care section? How do those with black hair feel about it? Are they glad to have a hair care section that addresses their needs and that they can find their products quickly or would they rather have those products integrated into a larger generalized section that does not acknowledge a specific need?

The first-aid kit having “flesh-colored” Band-Aids that only match the skin tone of white people.

This is a marketing decision made by a corporation and I agree that it may have begun with a certain narrow view of what constitutes flesh colored. This was attempted to be remedied by several years ago by producing Band-Aids in various flesh tones. They didn’t sell well and were pulled from the market. It wasn’t a racist decision it was a business decision. Now Band-Aid is attempting it again and are getting backlash because it’s seen as just another way of trying to ensure they can make money and that it’s just a token offering. Maybe black people have bigger fish to fry at the moment and don’t need white people’s (especially whites in the elite class) token gestures that really do very little to make a difference.

If we are truly going to listen, maybe we can stop navel-gazing about white privilege and listen to what black people are saying-for instance, this woman who brings up very good points and I agree with her.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-...ut-white-privilege_b_59bfeeabe4b0390a1564dfb2

 

[Annie]

This is an excellent article that everyone should read.

 

[Annie]

But so many blacks blame white privilege as the reason they are poor.

White families in general have more “wealth” than do black families. A lot of his difference is due to the fact that black military personnel were denied the benefits under the GI Bill after they had fought in WW2. Those benefits helped people buy a house which they would have otherwise been unable to do, and the value of the house became a kernel of capital for homeowners.

Blacks were unable to benefit because they were unable to buy houses in many places because of restrictive covenants, and the places where they could buy were “redlined,” or made areas in which banks could not write mortgages.

ETA: BTW, for decades, black people continued to have difficulty getting mortgages even when their finances were as good as or better than white people’s.

 

[Elizabeth3]

More black voices talking about slogans and empty gestures…

 

[kainosktisis]

Don’t you speak English?

 

[kainosktisis]

I agree with you. In reading that article, I see no sources cited backing up statements. It’s all opinion - & bad opinion at that.

“ A person might become anxious if they perceive a black person is angry. That stems from a bias.”

Uh, NO. If I see someone who’s Black & the’re yelling at someone & getting up in their face angrily, are you telling me I’m crazy - & biased - for thinking they’re angry & getting nervous that this angry person might lash out? That’s crazy making - trying to convince others that reality isn’t reality.

Here’s a question for you because I’d experienced this myself long ago.

I was in the military in leadership training. Once a week different people were picked to handle certain leadership positions & assign details to squad members. Everybody had their turns to do the chores.

One week it was my turn. I had the bathroom detail. Everyone had turns doing the chores, & this got rotated. One of the women in my squad was refusing to do the toilets, pulling out the race card (“You just trying to make me do this because I’m Black.”) Uh, no, we ALL have had to do it, & it’s YOUR turn now. But she wouldn’t cooperate.

Was it ok for her to use her race to get out of doing her duty?

Another time my husband was also in a leadership position for a time, when someone accused him of racism for “making him do the toilets” (What is it about toilets? They have to get clean, & we have to get it done as a team…I know…must be a hard concept to some that they’re actually part of a team)…

This soldier angrily confronted my husband later, & he (this soldier) got laughed at by some of the members of his platoon on accusing my husband of racism in front of them. When requested by some of the platoon members, my husband presented a photo of me to the irritated soldier - & he only succeeded in making himself look foolish on seeing my picture because he realized his mistake.

Was it ok for that soldier to claim racism because he didn’t like/want to clean the toilets?

And I try to let it go. I lived in Germany. Sometimes I’d get nasty looks from people while out on the street. I guess they took me for Turkish? And some Germans don’t like Turks there…So I can’t win, but despite this, I still try to be respectful of others…

And this article - as far as I can see, is nonsense.

UPDATED to insert questions & clarify.

 

[kainosktisis]

I have heard this, & I remember something akin to this in “Raisin in the Sun” - neighborhoods where Black people weren’t welcome. But, my neighbor, who was a Black WAC - & proud to have served - had a nice home next door to us that was even nicer than our home. And she had CLASS. And I miss her. She was like a second mother to me. Great lady. And she’d called me “her daughter”.

 

[twf]

One conservative on this forum once told me that blacks were better off in the 1950s than they are now…

 

[kainosktisis]

Thank you for that. Greatly appreciated. Very enlightening, & it helps to know someone is also tired of things - & why. And I do agree with many of her statements.

Now…where do I go from here…?

 

[Shasta-Rose]

Well said, Phil. Nobody wants to hear that they are guilty of anything just because of their skin color—including white people.

 

[Katie777]

As soon as you show dignity education and proper verbiage that concept flies out the door.

And this is true of any human.
Ever heard of white trash? It’s the person not color that determines class and privilege.

And affirmative action