Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?[W: 356]

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

CanadaJohn said:

Good afternoon to you as well Lady P - hope you're having fun too.

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I just got back from Houston this afternoon after visiting new grandchild over the weekend. Now I'm back to a "normal" life which includes Debate Politics, and that is not only fun, but educational as well! What our forefathers might have given for the opportunities we sometimes take for granted, not only in travel, but in technology!

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

polgara said:

I just got back from Houston this afternoon after visiting new grandchild over the weekend. Now I'm back to a "normal" life which includes Debate Politics, and that is not only fun, but educational as well! What our forefathers might have given for the opportunities we sometimes take for granted, not only in travel, but in technology!

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Congrats on the new addition to the fold - a grandchild? - you were a child bride, were you?

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Back to the subject. I'm just waiting for TPD to complete her idiocy with "in chess, white goes first - PRIVILEGE". It'd be par for the course.

She already has a laughable view at this. I'm just trying to squeeze out another chuckle.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Graffias said:

"White privilege (or white skin privilege) refers to what some individuals perceive as advantages that white people enjoy in certain societies beyond those commonly experienced by people of color in the same social, political, or economic spaces (nation, community, workplace, income, etc). The controversial term connotes both obvious and less obvious unspoken advantages that white individuals may not recognize they have. These include cultural affirmations of one's own worth; greater presumed social status; and freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely. The concept of white privilege also implies the right to assume the universality of one's own experiences, marking others as different or exceptional while perceiving oneself as normal. It can be compared and/or combined with the concept of male privilege. Does this still exist? If so, should it be corrected and fought against?

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You lose me on your definition - we try to ensure that everyone has all of those freedoms (move, buy, work, play, speak freely) - this isn't privilege that one race has over another (maybe it was back in the days of Jim Crow - but most certainly not today).

Today I'd define privilege (white, sex or otherwise) as being: the ability to use your born-with aspects to further yourself in life irregardless of your actual abilities and knowledge.

This application is both accurate - and applies to all races/both sexes . . . because some people will never find a benefit in being black/white/male/female whereas others- because of maybe where they live, what hey do for a living (etc) - will always find it to be applicable to them.

Further - I don't believe in the 'you benefit but you don't know' - I think if people benefit from some type of privilege they very well might know. I don't like how often people suggest that 'ignorance of your perks in life' is a necessity to being 'privileged' - you don't have to be ignorant of the fact for it to be occurring.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

CanadaJohn said:

Congrats on the new addition to the fold - a grandchild? - you were a child bride, were you?

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....sigh...I sure can't claim I'm 39 anymore, although it is the truth! ..... :lamo

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

While the disparity has decline markedly in recent history, Yes, whites have enjoyed societal and economic priveledges that weren't and in some cases still aren't available to various minority groups. The disparity is greater still when you further dissect demographics such as religion and gender in some cases.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Every time Affirmative Action gives a job to a black person less qualified than the white person going for it, every time the Rooney rule causes someone to hire a black man due to pressure, every time a lawsuit gives credence to empty cries of racism - you marginalize the impact of blacks who succeeded by their own merits, within the system. You spit in their face, and the work of white race apologists and people who push for "tokens" set them back and make them question the validity of their own work.

Congratulations. This bud's for you.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Of course this exists, centuries ago "whites" had the position and wealth in most countries....A logical result that can only be changed by enough so-called race mixing which will take millennia.
I think this may be ever so slowly changing, even today...
Why was the "other" option missing ?

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

I wish, maybe I would not have had to work so hard for everything.

but no never did any of my relatives hand me a big stack of money and tell me not to let brown people have it. every advantage I have I struggle for.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

It's only a privilege if you have money. The only color that matters is green. If you're poor or even middle class, it doesn't matter what color you are. You're just a means to an end, and if you got the money, all those means will line up to suck your **** for a little piece of that pie.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

digsbe said:

Someone that happens to be white may come from a wealthier background which helped them out (assuming their parents paid for college or something), but I don't think white privilege exists. If anything being white has only hurt me.

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Yes, I once wanted to "friend" you on DP until I found out you were a white guy.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Surtr said:

It's only a privilege if you have money. The only color that matters is green. If you're poor or even middle class, it doesn't matter what color you are. You're just a means to an end, and if you got the money, all those means will line up to suck your **** for a little piece of that pie.

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Sounds like the first paragraph of "Everything I Learned Hanging Out At Interstate Rest Stops". :shock:

Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

There is a middle class privilege. I know plenty of well off blacks. I know a bunch of lazy ones too.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

earthworm said:

Of course this exists, centuries ago "whites" had

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Thanks for confirming my opinion of progressives, earthworm. Appreciated.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Yes, No, Other.
It's complicated.

Some of it exists just because of skin color and some exists because of inherent cultural attitudes/practices.
That doesn't mean that a white person didn't work hard for what they got and that they automatically had privilege, it doesn't mean that a black person got to their position because of legal privilege.
It's just complicated.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

I know this will probably not go over well, mainly because it's the truth.

black people are poorly represented, rappers that objectify women and talk about money as if that's the only thing is in this world. black children grow up with these role models and believe it that's how they should act. the stereotype is perpetuated by the entertainment industry but only because the demand for that kind of thuggery is there.

Asians are portrayed as intelligent and ambitious, so really it's asian people who have the cultural advantage.

the only fix is the culture has to change, if this pissed you off then you're happy with the culture you live in.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

First, I think the effects of Affirmative Action are over stated in most people's politics--there are not that many industries where you run into it unless you are employed by someone who does government contracting.

Second, I know a lot of blacks who lived the real deal discrimination and I take time whenever I can to discuss their experiences with them--not the politics, but what it was like for them.

Third, I still encounter on a somewhat regular basis those old "No colored" covenants in land--not just suburban houses, but farmland too, to believe that blacks' lot in life have suddenly changed for the better. I have heard people sitting around spinning stories tell me in passing about people they were not able to promote even though they were the hardest workers because they were black.

Is there a white privilege? No. Is there a black stigma? Yes.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Risky Thicket said:

Sounds like the first paragraph of "Everything I Learned Hanging Out At Interstate Rest Stops". :shock:

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May as well be. People change when they find out how much money you have.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Surtr said:

May as well be. People change when they find out how much money you have.

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Truer words were never spoken. :thumbs:

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Surtr said:

It's only a privilege if you have money. The only color that matters is green. If you're poor or even middle class, it doesn't matter what color you are. You're just a means to an end, and if you got the money, all those means will line up to suck your **** for a little piece of that pie.

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It's not just money or money at all sometimes.
I've learned that connections play a larger role in the employment, than probably anything else.

I've probably had the hardest time moving up in this world because I don't know anyone.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Harry Guerrilla said:

It's not just money or money at all sometimes.
I've learned that connections play a larger role in the employment, than probably anything else.

I've probably had the hardest time moving up in this world because I don't know anyone.

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I've done pretty well, simply because I'm wealthy enough to not have to know anybody.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Gipper said:

Are you kidding? If anything, I'm at a DISadvantage today as a white male.

Revoke Affirmative Action and actually judge men by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. And quit giving women everything they want.

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You specifically? Explain please.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Surtr said:

I've done pretty well, simply because I'm wealthy enough to not have to know anybody.

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I'm not saying money doesn't talk, it certainly does.
I'm just relating my experience with moving out of my "where I grew up area" to a completely different and largely unfamiliar rural setting.
The community I moved to, is heavily reliant on the "who you know" system.

I've been here for 8 or 9 years and really just started making head way.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

Wiseone said:

You specifically? Explain please.

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I go to college and apply for scholarships...oops, not this one, that's for blacks. Not that one, it's for women. Not that one either...Hispanics. Oops, another black scholarship.

I go take a civil service exam. Wow I got a 97. Aw crap, LaShequah got an 84...plus 10 for being black...plus 10 for being a woman. Well, I can apply somewhere else.

I'll go apply for another job. Hmm...seems okay. Wait, you mean you get a tax break for employing that person over there, even though not as qualified? Well damn.

You must have blinders on to how the world works, "wise" one.

Re: Does "white privilege" exist? If so, should it be corrected?

The second option is a loaded answer...

I think it exists in some kind of fashion. Nowadays it's starting to be a disadvantage due to all the minority only opportunities and laws.

What the government should do... is to treat ALL people equally. The government should be the one to set the example that every person is considered the same and that ethnic backgrounds and genetics have nothing to do with your rights or benefits. Right now, this system supports racism, it forces us all to think of people in terms of races.

Please, tell me, what is the difference between a poor white person and a poor black person? According to the government there is a HUGE difference. You should value ALL people the same, who are YOU to justify that poor black/hispanic people have it harder than a random poor white or asian family. You have no idea of their family history, what injustices have been in their past, etc.

If the reason of giving minorities extra opportunities is because they are more poor on average, whynot give those opportunities to ALL poor? YOU are literally valuing human beings higher than others.

Going with all this... OF COURSE we should have STRICT anti-racism laws, and every case should be considered very seriously. THAT is where you make the difference. If a particular district or county in poor and is not receiving equivalent funding for schools than other areas... then MAKE funding the same for ALL counties/districts!

having anti-equally laws preserve racism. It is literally built into law on what a black man is and how he has different access to benefits and opportunistic. According to government there should be no such thing as a "black" person... just person.