When did the concept of "White Guilt" start? (drugs, Christmas)

[Felix C]

I read that a great deal here on the forums since joining.

I turned 18 in 1982 and do not recall this term at any time prior. I had read regarding Busing, Affirmative Action,hiring quotas and preferences to under representated applicants(fill in the institution) but never heard the phrase White Guilt associated with those endeavours

I think I heard/read it in the news about the mid-1990s.

Where does it come from? I mean as opposed to how the rationaliztion to end Segregation and impose the actions mentioned above?

When did it become a condescending term?

[David Alleyne]

White guilt has always been around. Check this out: Everyone feels guilty about something and White people have been around for a long time (the term was first used in the 1600s in this country, I think). Just put White people with guilt and you'd have White Guilt. It's so easy, a caveman can do it.

[itshim]

Probably around the era of "free love", when white people wore tie dye shirts, and spent their time smoking weed in bongs and doing cartwheels on grassy knolls.

Honestly, it probably took flight in the days when communism became sort of fetish for intellectuals in the U.S. Academics sort of gelled the ideals of the working class struggle with the exploitation of other cultures, races and classes. The puzzle seemed to fit more than one picture, so to speak. People like Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn became standard academic reading in most college classrooms around that time, especially in the more hoity toity schools. Eventually a lot of those students went on to become politicians, judges, journalists, college professors etc etc.

[David Alleyne]

"Silver Guilt"
"Purple Guilt"
"Pink Guilt"
"Orange Guilt"

What's the difference?

Okay, I'm done. I just wanted to play dumb for a little while like some in the "Reparations" thread (y'all know the posts that were being facetious).

[LuckyGem]

It comes from the belief that because white people have had the benefit of their skin color (because life is supposed to be so easy when you're white) this has afforded white people privileged status in American society and as a result, they should feel guilty of this fact and show deference in all manner of social and educational free passes to people who were born with melanin because if you've got melanin you're automatically considered to be disadvantaged in status.

You should feel guilty... don't you?

I think it started somewhere in the 1970's. Definitely after school desegregation and busing. Rooted in liberal suburbia.

[culturedmom]

If someone feels guilty, that's their issue and their problem. I don't believe in ____ Guilt and I think it is a way for that group of people to push aside the responsibility for the guilt they feel.

[culturedmom]

Originally Posted by LuckyGem

It comes from the belief that because white people have had the benefit of their skin color (because life is supposed to be so easy when you're white) this has afforded white people privileged status in American society and as a result, they should feel guilty of this fact and show deference in all manner of social and educational free passes to people who were born with melanin because if you've got melanin you're automatically considered to be disadvantaged in status.

You should feel guilty... don't you?

I think it started somewhere in the 1970's. Definitely after school desegregation and busing. Rooted in liberal suburbia.

I get where you think it came from but it is just a silly concept. I don't think anyone expects anyone else to feel guilty for things they cannot control. The idea of White Privilege is not about guilt or blame but about awareness. If that makes soemone feel guilty then maybe it'sbecause they preferred to stay ignorant to their priviledge and now that they are aware are uncomfortable in this revelation. Feeling guilty doesn't do anyone a damn bit of good.

[ElizaTeal]

I think the concept came from liberal academia. I don't see any blacks feeling responsible as a group when other blacks commit crimes. Why should whites as a group feel responsible for events like slavery that took place before any of us were born?

Just like the game "Telephone" as time goes by the stories of slavery told by people who never lived through it, will become more distorted and exaggerated, only to create a further chasm between black and white relations which is a true disservice to all of mankind.

[Racole]

[quote]

Originally Posted by zonababe

I think the concept came from liberal academia. I don't see any blacks feeling responsible as a group when other blacks commit crimes. Why should whites as a group feel responsible for events like slavery that took place before any of us were born?

I do not think that anyone should feel guilty for their ancestors. We cannot change what they did. Unless your family were immagrants from Europe we all have some type of mixed race due all the rapes that happen during slavery.

Also as a black women, I know that Africans were not that innocent either. They were the ones that sold their people to be slaves. And I do not feel any 'black' guilt about that.

Zonababe, in regards to your comment. Black people do not feel guilty when other blacks commit crimes just like white people do not feel guilty when whites commit crime. What my friends feel is embarassment when we watch the news and someone black did something crazy. It is almost like having have a brother or sister on drugs. You probably would not feel guilty about their situation but they will not be accompying you to the Christmas party at work.

[Tourian]

I get put on edge any time I see a term like that. White slavery is another. Guilt is guilt is guilt and slavery is slavery - it doesn't need a qualifier to make people sit up and take notice.