Ok, I acknowledge I have "white privilege". Now what?

[Lethargic Aptitude]

Mmm....no.

Let me point out that I am not a right winger, and that I acknowledge a lot of racism exists in the world.

You only mentioned statistics, statistically speaking doesn't always show the reality of the human condition. You would need to provide a massive amount of information along with those statistics to effectively make a point. Statically speaking being white is the majority race. This is true, but America (or Canada) isnt a statistic they are very complicated social structures that vary largely in different parts of the country. For example I live in an area where I am not in the majority race. The hallmarks of privilege are enjoyed by the dominate race here in this part of New Mexico, which is Hispanic. Most employers want someone who also speaks Spanish. Products in stores cater to Hispanics. More than once I have been the first so called white person that they have actually talked too (more than just in passing). They think that I cannot eat hot food, or cannot make good Mexican food because I am white.

 

[OlNate]

Let me point out that I am not a right winger, and that I acknowledge a lot of racism exists in the world.

You only mentioned statistics, statistically speaking doesn't always show the reality of the human condition. You would need to provide a massive amount of information along with those statistics to effectively make a point. Statically speaking being white is the majority race. This is true, but America (or Canada) isnt a statistic they are very complicated social structures that vary largely in different parts of the country. For example I live in an area where I am not in the majority race. The hallmarks of privilege are enjoyed by the dominate race here in this part of New Mexico, which is Hispanic. Most employers want someone who also speaks Spanish. Products in stores cater to Hispanics. More than once I have been the first so called white person that they have actually talked too (more than just in passing). They think that I cannot eat hot food, or cannot make good Mexican food because I am white.

First of all, thanks for not being a rabid lunatic or arrogant d-bag when explaining your point of view, and forgive me if I'm a little snippy as I try to change gears to more friendly conversation. It's been an awkward couple of days on this topic.

And you're right, speaking in terms of statistics will not address the complexity of individual circumstances, I totally agree. However it does help in the root cause analysis. At a national level, any curve analysis of disparities would smooth out regional outliers because of the data set size, and if, as some folks on here want to suggest, there is no such thing as white privilege, then when you overlay the curve of the black demographic on top of the white curve, they should be roughly in the same spot. However, that's not what we see, on many different issues. This tells us there is a problem. And that's about it.

The next steps, if one wishes to resolve the issue, is to do a deep dive on root causes, at which point adjustments can be made for regional outliers and factors, as well as coming up with region-specific solutions, if required.

That being said, though, there is plenty of low hanging fruit, such as the differences in the ways schools in poor neighborhoods are funded compared to rich neighborhoods, that will prove to even the playing field, regardless of regional outliers.

I get what you're saying, I do, but at some point one must look at parade of statistics that demonstrate black disparity and say "Ya, ok, maybe my neighborhood doesn't look that way, but clearly there is a massive problem here, and it's on the decent folks of this country to give our fellow citizens a hand to correct it, since these problems have persisted for so long".

 

[Cardinal]

Ok, I acknowledge I have "white privilege". Now what?

What am I supposed to do with that little piece of knowledge?

Am I supposed to be ashamed? Am I supposed to just shrug and move on with my life like I always have, only slightly more 'enlightened'? Something else?

You're supposed to give all of your money to me.

But seriously, it just means that in discussions about race, your race is the baseline, and your definition of normal is not the definition of normal for everybody else. In real world terms, your race doesn't have to be a point of contention in every day transaction. In other words, you can go through your life without your race being a "thing."

If you accept that point, what impact does that have on you, and what impact does have for you when you watch race issues in the news or participate in discussions on race?

 

[Brochacholomigo]

It's probably more due to the fact he lied on his application. It says so in the Wikipedia article.



And nobody knew he was a serial killer until he was finally caught for his crimes, after one of his victims survived and escaped.

He has had liar privelege.

 

[radcen]

You're supposed to give all of your money to me.

But seriously, it just means that in discussions about race, your race is the baseline, and your definition of normal is not the definition of normal for everybody else. In real world terms, your race doesn't have to be a point of contention in every day transaction. In other words, you can go through your life without your race being a "thing."

If you accept that point, what impact does that have on you, and what impact does have for you when you watch race issues in the news or participate in discussions on race?

Sure, but that goes for lots of things. Even white middle-class people in the same group differ regarding upbringing, home life, all kind of various factors.

To your second point, if you (generic 'you') are doing your best to be fair and neutral, it's still a "thing" if other people you're dealing with insist on making it a "thing". It's generally best to pass that by as much as possible, but it's still there.

 

[Cardinal]

Sure, but that goes for lots of things. Even white middle-class people in the same group differ regarding upbringing, home life, all kind of various factors.

To your second point, if you (generic 'you') are doing your best to be fair and neutral, it's still a "thing" if other people you're dealing with insist on making it a "thing". It's generally best to pass that by as much as possible, but it's still there.

It really isn't, though. I'm white, and as a white person, my whiteness isn't a point of discussion or contention, implied or implicit, in everyday life. I start at a neutral baseline and go from there. It only becomes a topic if we choose to take part in a discussion on race (such as here), but you also have the choice to leave that discussion you when you realize you've wasted too much time on DP and have errands to run at the bank, school, work, or if you're stopped by a cop for speeding. That's the privilege.

Think of it another way. You have a friend who's a great guy but he has a really weird mole on his face. Everywhere he goes he knows that out of the corner of his vision people are looking at him and his weird mole, doing double takes when they see it, children may stare and comment out loud about it. Every day in public is defined by the fact that he has a mole on his face and people are always noticing it.

You, meanwhile, don't have a super weird mole on your face. You get to go through life every day mole-free. That doesn't mean not having a mole automatically bestows you with great wealth, but you do have the certain advantage of not having to deal with a mole in the way that your friend does, and that does have an impact on how your lives shape out.

And to this you could say, "Oh, so am I supposed to feel guilty for not having a mole?" And the answer is, of course not. Just remember that as soon as this discussion ends you have the luxury of forgetting that you were ever compared to someone who has a mole, and your day can proceed as normal. The friend with the mole doesn't get to do that.

 

[Captain America]

In much of the black community, if you try to get educated, you are considered a sell out and "acting white". The number one killer of young black males are other young black males. most black childeren are born to single mothers, I think that's by far a much more of the actual problem than generations past of the slave trade or some ill concieved notion of "white privilege".


Now those are facts that cannot be denied.





How many former slaves are alive today?

Exactly....

Whereas, I acknowledged the past's history and it's residual effect, time has long past to still blame all their woes on whitey. That excuse doesn't fly anymore.

It's up to the individuals now.

Crying "poor poor pitiful me" or "you owe me" falls on this honky's deaf ears.

 

[YorkshirePete]

Ok, I acknowledge I have "white privilege". Now what?

What am I supposed to do with that little piece of knowledge?

Am I supposed to be ashamed? Am I supposed to just shrug and move on with my life like I always have, only slightly more 'enlightened'? Something else?

No, just aknowledge it.
As they say, would you rather be black or white?
Deafening silence usually

 

[YorkshirePete]

Exactly....

Whereas, I acknowledged the past's history and it's residual effect, time has long past to still blame all their woes on whitey. That excuse doesn't fly anymore.

It's up to the individuals now.

Crying "poor poor pitiful me" or "you owe me" falls on this honky's deaf ears.

Honky!
No slaves but plenty of genes.
You should come to my old white fart bar where nixxer is every 5 min.
Or you might prefer my educated black friends experience. He is pulled over every week because he has a Mercedes
Rather be black in these United States?

 

[AGENT J]

Exactly....

Whereas, I acknowledged the past's history and it's residual effect, time has long past to still blame all their woes on whitey. That excuse doesn't fly anymore.

It's up to the individuals now.

Crying "poor poor pitiful me" or "you owe me" falls on this honky's deaf ears.

This is a perfect example of a straw man and something nobody here is saying. It literally has nothing to do with white privileged

If somebody is blaming all their woes on whitey, they are an idiot. And them being an idiot doesn't negate the stop the reality that white privilege exists :shrug:
its a REALLY simple concept, Idiots crying wolf doesnt mean the wolf doesnt excist

 

[brothern]

1) Whites will have it easier? Why? Observing that average doesn't mean it is a "privilege." Does that mean whites are superior to blacks? That we white people "cheat the system?" I guess you believe in Asian privilege too then right?

We do, hands down. Like I've been in sticky situations before. Missed a bill payment. Tried to make a return at the store later than I should have. Been in a couple fender benders. I've seen tons of times where I had the late payment fee waived or the manager accept the return. Which is what white privileged is. It's not saying that white people are better. It's the fact that I, as a young white guy, am considered an "identifiable, normal guy" and someone who is of a different skin color is often times not.

However say my name was "Nithin Vanchipurakaly" instead of "Steve Smith" (an example) - I absolutely would have not been able to get away with as much I as have. I'm easy to identify with. Everyone has a friend who looks like me. If I were to have a name that most people literally cannot pronounce or I looked totally foreign to the average white Americans - that's harder to empathize with.

2) The existence IS in argument as you have already acknowledge...not every white person is privileged. Nor is every black disadvantaged. I will give you that there is an observable reality here about "privilege," but it isn't about skin color.

This bolded is true, but misses the point of white privilege.

Say you're a dumb, 22-year old standing in front of a judge, because you got hit with a drug possession charge - Would you rather be a white 22-year old or a black 22-year old? Likewise if you're a well respected cardiologist that stayed out late downtown - Would you rather be a white doctor trying to hail a cab, or a black doctor trying to hail a cab?

In both situations you have someone who is of equal "privilege" in their life, but given the choice, there are advantages of being one race vs. another.

3) A silly response predicated on your emotions. Essentially you are so offended by the notion that white privilege is crap...because it shatters a political word view. I guess it would be hard on me if I had to start accepting personal responsibility for my own position in life...rather than blaming others. Oh wait! I do that already!

4) Really? Nothing racist about acknowledging that black people are inferior and are completely incapable of succeeding and their skin color is what holds them back? That they ask individuals have no realistic control over their destiny. They will always be black and disadvantaged. :eye roll: See. You can pretend the personal responsibility crowd is racist...but at least we believe that someone is capable of anything regardless of color.

'Personal responsibility' as the decisive factor in someone's success is nonsense. The Midwest is full of small towns, nearly entirely white, that are seeing unprecedented rates of unemployment, poverty and opioid abuse (and deaths). Do you honestly believe this unemployment and drug abuse was initiated by a wave of "personal irresponsibility" and moral failings among white individuals?

Or the fact that everyone's high-paying, manufacturing job was exported overseas leaving all of these towns in chaos? Not personal responsibility.

5) Again. Flawed concept from the outset. 50 years ago? I would agree. I'm 2017 after we had a black president? I don't. Which leads me too...

There were qualified black Presidential candidates 50 years ago ... it took until 2008 for a black man to even get a nomination, let alone win a Presidential election.

6) Cultural values are far more valuable than race. Being white doesn't give you a leg up. The only way it does...is that you don't have an excuse for why you suck at life. And the reality here is that...plenty of blacks and other races have showed that to be true. They don't suck at life and have good cultural values and succeed.

Being white absolutely gives me a leg up. That doesn't mean that I'm not hard-working. I'm gobs more successful than my peers. Whereas I'm in middle management at a global company, I go to the Peet's nearest to my office and the baristas are older than me. However knowing that I've had an easier path is not something that detracts from the accomplishment I feel.

How does it give me a leg up? Well, to give you a demonstration, the top three levels of my organization are 1 CEO, 8 C-Levels and 42 global heads. None of the CEO or the C-Levels is a non-white person. None are female. Of the 42 global heads 3 are people of color and 10 are women. Nine of the women are in HR. We're a business unit of a Fortune 100 American company.

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

It really isn't, though. I'm white, and as a white person, my whiteness isn't a point of discussion or contention, implied or implicit, in everyday life. I start at a neutral baseline and go from there. It only becomes a topic if we choose to take part in a discussion on race (such as here), but you also have the choice to leave that discussion you when you realize you've wasted too much time on DP and have errands to run at the bank, school, work, or if you're stopped by a cop for speeding. That's the privilege.

Think of it another way. You have a friend who's a great guy but he has a really weird mole on his face. Everywhere he goes he knows that out of the corner of his vision people are looking at him and his weird mole, doing double takes when they see it, children may stare and comment out loud about it. Every day in public is defined by the fact that he has a mole on his face and people are always noticing it.

You, meanwhile, don't have a super weird mole on your face. You get to go through life every day mole-free. That doesn't mean not having a mole automatically bestows you with great wealth, but you do have the certain advantage of not having to deal with a mole in the way that your friend does, and that does have an impact on how your lives shape out.

And to this you could say, "Oh, so am I supposed to feel guilty for not having a mole?" And the answer is, of course not. Just remember that as soon as this discussion ends you have the luxury of forgetting that you were ever compared to someone who has a mole, and your day can proceed as normal. The friend with the mole doesn't get to do that.

So black people are like ugly moles? you literally said nothing

 

[Fenton Lum]

Ok, I acknowledge I have "white privilege". Now what?

What am I supposed to do with that little piece of knowledge?

Am I supposed to be ashamed? Am I supposed to just shrug and move on with my life like I always have, only slightly more 'enlightened'? Something else?

Doesn't sound like you have grasped anything at all.

 

[Fenton Lum]

This is a perfect example of a straw man and something nobody here is saying. It literally has nothing to do with white privileged

If somebody is blaming all their woes on whitey, they are an idiot. And them being an idiot doesn't negate the stop the reality that white privilege exists :shrug:
its a REALLY simple concept, Idiots crying wolf doesnt mean the wolf doesnt excist

Well yeah, but that's not the denial many are yearning for. American society must never be questioned, it cannot withstand the scrutiny.

 

[Captain America]

Honky!
No slaves but plenty of genes.
You should come to my old white fart bar where nixxer is every 5 min.
Or you might prefer my educated black friends experience. He is pulled over every week because he has a Mercedes
Rather be black in these United States?

Good question.

If I could drive a Mercedes, I probably wouldn't mind getting pulled over now and again.

Sounds like a fair trade-off to me. LOL!

But seriously, I hear ya.

That's not right.

I think part of the problem that leads to indifference, from the Caucasian point of view, is all the exposure to the pitfalls of the African American communities.

You are right. My African American friends are not the types of African Americans we see night-after-night, on the local TV channel, doing car jackings, drive-by shootings and other events of domestic terrorism. But you hardly ever see my type of African American friends on TV. They behave themselves much like I do. Really, the only difference between my African American friends and my white friends is skin color and who cares about that?

But I can assure you, tonight when I get home from work, there will be a news story of another senseless killing from 1/2 mile, either side of MLK Blvd.

I acknowledge the statistics that mathematically prove the concept of "white priviledge." I know I wouldn't want to be born a black person.

It's unfair. But it's not anything this ol' white guy can fix.

When the impression of the black communities become more like the African American's I call friends, rather than the killing, stealing, moral decay, that's on our TV's on a daily basis, perhaps the perceptions among white people might change and more focus will be put on making an honest effort to look upon all people as equals. But until then, a lot of people will just shrug and say, "Not my circus, not my monkeys."

 

[Cardinal]

So black people are like ugly moles? you literally said nothing

Was I talking to you?

 

[radcen]

It really isn't, though. I'm white, and as a white person, my whiteness isn't a point of discussion or contention, implied or implicit, in everyday life. I start at a neutral baseline and go from there. It only becomes a topic if we choose to take part in a discussion on race (such as here), but you also have the choice to leave that discussion you when you realize you've wasted too much time on DP and have errands to run at the bank, school, work, or if you're stopped by a cop for speeding. That's the privilege.

Think of it another way. You have a friend who's a great guy but he has a really weird mole on his face. Everywhere he goes he knows that out of the corner of his vision people are looking at him and his weird mole, doing double takes when they see it, children may stare and comment out loud about it. Every day in public is defined by the fact that he has a mole on his face and people are always noticing it.

You, meanwhile, don't have a super weird mole on your face. You get to go through life every day mole-free. That doesn't mean not having a mole automatically bestows you with great wealth, but you do have the certain advantage of not having to deal with a mole in the way that your friend does, and that does have an impact on how your lives shape out.

And to this you could say, "Oh, so am I supposed to feel guilty for not having a mole?" And the answer is, of course not. Just remember that as soon as this discussion ends you have the luxury of forgetting that you were ever compared to someone who has a mole, and your day can proceed as normal. The friend with the mole doesn't get to do that.

If you modify your behavior... even if said modification is simply not saying something when otherwise would... then their actions have affected you. Maybe not significantly, but it still is.

 

[Cardinal]

If you modify your behavior... even if said modification is simply not saying something when otherwise would... then their actions have affected you. Maybe not significantly, but it still is.

I don't understand.

 

[AGENT J]

Well yeah, but that's not the denial many are yearning for. American society must never be questioned, it cannot withstand the scrutiny.

I understand what you are saying but of course it can, this thread is proof. The majority here understand and recognize white privileged. They dont deny it or lie about it.
Now the conversation isnt always easy because that small group or people try to pollute the conversation but there will always be small groups of extremists.

 

[Fenton Lum]

I understand what you are saying but of course it can, this thread is proof. The majority here understand and recognize white privileged. They dont deny it or lie about it.
Now the conversation isnt always easy because that small group or people try to pollute the conversation but there will always be small groups of extremists.

A small group of extremists? The law murdering unarmed black folk in the streets with impunity? Our for profit prison system? Our societal sacrifice zones which also include "Indian" reservations and Appalachia? Our exclusionary health"care" system? Hell, even the ability of the citizenry to protest in the streets? Our deomonization of the poor?

No, this is systemic, institutional, and a founding principle of american society; woven into the fabric of who we are as a people. You'll note where we go war on folk post WWII.

 

[Critter7r]

He has had liar privelege.

Would it really be much of a stretch to say that majority advantage prevented anyone from delving very deep into the items on his application?

 

[Brochacholomigo]

Would it really be much of a stretch to say that majority advantage prevented anyone from delving very deep into the items on his application?

As much of a stretch as assuming employers assume every applicant darker than beige is a convicted felon.

 

[Fenton Lum]

As much of a stretch as assuming employers assume every applicant darker than beige is a convicted felon.

Yeah, that would make them like the real estate folks.

 

[Brochacholomigo]

Yeah, that would make them like the real estate folks.

Do you have evidence that real estate companies deliberately screen their minority applicants far more thoroughly than their white applicants, specifically to check for crimes they didn't admit to?

 

[Fishking]

You now have to pay reparations to every black person you meet.

Reparations for....?