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This is from a US standpoint. First off, the term White Privilege is inaccurate since the US Census' designation of "White" ethnic groups is based on whether someone is European, West Asian, or North African.
Now, if we look at history, we can't really call most of these people privileged, nor can they be called privileged based on their status in the US itself.
Groups like the Eastern Europeans didn't descend from slave owners, their ancestors didn't colonize the world. The same can be said of those of North African and West Asian descent. Really, if White privilege affects anyone, it would probably be those of English and other Western European lineages.
Even in modern days, groups like Slavs are more of the working class variety living in poorer Rust Belt cities. To say they belong to the same group of privilege as those whose ancestors colonized the world and owned slaves is really unfair. You can't say a person who came from a poor village in Romania has White privilege like someone whose descendants are the settlers of the US.
I think this term is very inaccurate and doesn't describe the situation of many US Census Designated White people.
This is from a US standpoint. First off, the term White Privilege is inaccurate since the US Census' designation of "White" ethnic groups is based on whether someone is European, West Asian, or North African.
Now, if we look at history, we can't really call most of these people privileged, nor can they be called privileged based on their status in the US itself.
Groups like the Eastern Europeans didn't descend from slave owners, their ancestors didn't colonize the world. The same can be said of those of North African and West Asian descent. Really, if White privilege affects anyone, it would probably be those of English and other Western European lineages.
Even in modern days, groups like Slavs are more of the working class variety living in poorer Rust Belt cities. To say they belong to the same group of privilege as those whose ancestors colonized the world and owned slaves is really unfair. You can't say a person who came from a poor village in Romania has White privilege like someone whose descendants are the settlers of the US.
I think this term is very inaccurate and doesn't describe the situation of many US Census Designated White people.
White privilege is not really based on one's current socioeconomic status. You can have privilege and still be poor. An example might be the working class white guy in Ohio not having to worry about the police following him because he's white. The black guy driving the same car past the same group of cops might get tailed and pulled over. There are plenty of statistics regarding names and how they're viewed on job applications. Let's also remember that if a white dude and black dude have the same criminal history and commit the same crime, the black dude is anywhere from three to nine (depending on the study) times more likely to receive prison time or a harsher sentence.
White privilege is based on the idea that a white person never has to think about race and how it affects them, when compared to a non-white (especially black) person with similar education, skills etc.
The real question, is why can't working class/middle class whites and blacks get together and unite? They have common interests and views, but the elites in both parties seem to benefit from keeping them apart.
From little I have read, white privilege refers to psychological satisfaction of being white, feeling good about simply being white was cultivated by the upper classes to prevent camaradery between low class whites and minorities (not necessarily colored, they did the same with irish, catholics, slavs). The logic is following, hey you and me are the same white blood, we should stick toget her against those uncivilized folks, it is not about money.
Another term - wage of whiteness. It is not about any particular perks that comes with color of your skin. Color of skin by itself is a privilege thus you don't need better wage etc. to feel special.
There is no such thing as "White privilege." That's a talking point for agitation and subversion.
There are assumptions based on general behavior of various subgroups, and suspects.
(A long haired white hippie got plenty of grief in the 1960s - 1970s, from "The Man.")
As to the opposite, racial discrimination, that, too is misplaced.
Quote:
General Ackerby: I see you’re not anti-Wog.
Col. Rodney Savage: I never called the Indians Wogs. I never hate in the plural.
- - - Bhowani Junction (1956)
Racism is based on “plural hatred.” When a bad experience with an individual is transferred to the plural, it becomes suspect. Intolerance of predators and evil doers is one thing, intolerance of a whole class, culture or ethnicity is another. Predators are adept at camouflage. To use sweeping generalizations to ascribe bad behavior to a whole class, culture, or race only drives the innocent to defend the predators hiding among them. And that is exactly the wrong thing for all concerned.
We should all strive to be intolerant of predators, for it is unmerciful to their next victim to do otherwise. But we should not be fooled into over reaction, nor false accusations, based on “plural hatred.”
Remember, tolerance of predators, just because they're part of one's own subgroup, is to embrace evil and its consequences. Predators, individually, are the bane of mankind.
Unfortunately, it has always been and will always be. a race to stay one rung above the bottom and feeling satisfied with that "achievement."
The lower income classes are either despised, patronized, or simply excluded..
I have not seen a single leader from these classes who has celebrated their toil (unless if it was purely for political gain). Such an individual would be a sight to see!
S.
Last edited by Oldhag1; 11-24-2014 at 02:22 AM..
Reason: Deleted quote
The real question, is why can't working class/middle class whites and blacks get together and unite? They have common interests and views, but the elites in both parties seem to benefit from keeping them apart.
Because they are both fighting over the same crumbs left by the haves. The have see to it.
Slavs got that name because their behavior toward their rulers appeared slavish to the first western Europeans who encountered them. They retain that attitude even today: look at Putin's Russians. They are differ little from their great-grandparent serfs when it comes to their attitude toward the state.
Persians, Kurds, Turks of most stripes are white people in the sense they are Caucasian. Obviously, they share little culturally with western Europeans, as is evident from their art and music. And they don't share western European's ideas about the relationship between the rulers and the ruled.
Ethnicity is not destiny.
There is privilege in western European societies and in all other societies. The 1st Estate, English peers, German Junkers, all were privileged groups. But they also had a sense of duty and performed it towards their peoples. Beyond those, whatever social distinctions exist are the reflection of the various levels of striving and of the abilities evinced by the people who compose them.
You also have to be somewhat attractive. Unkempt hair, yellow teeth with gaps, being heavy, etc. will make it harder to get white privilege (or any privilege for that matter).
Coincidently, I've noticed that in the black community, we tend to discriminate against one another particularly if their hair is unkempt, their overweight, dry/ashy skin, big nose, big lips, etc.
ETA:
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgn2013
The real question, is why can't working class/middle class whites and blacks get together and unite? They have common interests and views, but the elites in both parties seem to benefit from keeping them apart.
I can only speak for the black community. There's a lack of trust and no interest in befriending whites. Don't believe me? Read this thread. It's a predominately black female forum, with a few males.
Privilege is a really simple concept that many people just can't grasp. Those who can't grasp it tend to be the move privileged.
Imagine everyone is standing on a line in a field with a goalpost at the other side of the field. If you are a man, take one step forward. If you are white, take a step forward. If you are of the majority religion of your area, take a step forward. If you are the first in your family to go to college, take a step back. If you have a chronic health condition, take a step back. At the end of the exercise, you see the starting line has changed for everyone. Some people will start out halfway across the field. Others start out way behind.
And then everyone runs to the finish line. Some of the people at the back will pull ahead. Some of the people in the front will fall behind. Others will trip on rocks in the field. A handful will fall. But the people who start ahead tend to finish ahead. Those in the back have to work 10x harder, have more talent, and more luck to get ahead. Being privileged is like playing life on easy. It doesn't mean you won't have struggles or won't fail, but it impacts the prism in which society views you. And just because you lack privilege doesn't mean your life is doomed to failure, but there's an implicit understanding of challenges to overcome.
Privilege is subconscious in action. Few people go out there thinking they're going to favor any class of people. But they do. We all do.
White privilege is not really based on one's current socioeconomic status. You can have privilege and still be poor. An example might be the working class white guy in Ohio not having to worry about the police following him because he's white. The black guy driving the same car past the same group of cops might get tailed and pulled over. There are plenty of statistics regarding names and how they're viewed on job applications. Let's also remember that if a white dude and black dude have the same criminal history and commit the same crime, the black dude is anywhere from three to nine (depending on the study) times more likely to receive prison time or a harsher sentence.
White privilege is based on the idea that a white person never has to think about race and how it affects them, when compared to a non-white (especially black) person with similar education, skills etc.
The real question, is why can't working class/middle class whites and blacks get together and unite? They have common interests and views, but the elites in both parties seem to benefit from keeping them apart.
Have you noticed the racial category "white hispanic" is showing up as a choice on paperwork of various kinds here in Florida. Usually grouped in with the box to check if you are of the white race . They mark a difference between someone who is hispanic who has very light skin and someone who is hispanic who does not. Are they viewed as hispanic people who happen to look white or white people who can speak fluent spanish?
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