If you benefit from white privilege

[boston bean]

you'll never be told to get over it.




Benefitting from white privilege means you can walk the Earth unaware of your color.

[ananda]

1. To me, the fact that white privilege exists is not an issue.

How to heal racism and level the playing field is the only real issue.

[boston bean]

2. I agree to, but the issue here is some don't want it discussed from the

victims POV. They must derail with being the word police (privilege is the wrong word). I'm telling you, after a while, you may begin to think it's not really about the words being used, it's a mindset.

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. You cannot heal it if less than half their population accepts that it exists...

[AverageJoe90]

67. "How to heal racism and level the playing field is the only real issue." I agree.

Thought I'd give you some kudos for that, before I leave this thread.

[vi5]

3. I have this argument with my parents all the time.

I'm as white as they come. My dad grew up poor and worked his ass off to rise out of that and become a successful business man. It doesn't diminish his hard work at all, but despite being fairly liberal folks they don't see that because his hard work and success came in the 60's and 70's that it was still legal and acceptable for companies and colleges and everything else to discriminate against people of color and women. He thinks that pointing this out is saying he didn't work hard or had things handed to him, which he didn't. But he definitely still had a massive advantage being a white male.

They also get mad when I point out that a lot of my own success was because I had/have the opportunity of being a white male born into a financial successful white family who could afford tutors, who could afford college, who could afford to support me while I took unpaid internships, etc.

The problem is that the people who benefit from this privelige thinks that it negates the work they did put in or their own skills or intelligence, which it doesn't. It's just a matter of asking people to understand and appreciate the opportunities and privilges that they did have and not pretend that everyone has those same opportunities.

[boston bean]

4. Maybe if they thought about their own hard work and just realized

that for others, for reasons based on race and sex, it is harder to reach those goals or get those same opportunities, would go a long way toward healing and moving forward.

[vi5]

5. That's what I try to explain.

When I talk it through with them they get it and they agree. But if nobody is their keeping them in check about it they tend to go off on the "Well nobody handed me anything..." shtick. Which again, is true but I try to keep them remembering that not only didn't people of color and women not get handed anything either, they were actively prohibited or kept out of many of the same opportunities even if they put in the same amount of work.

[bravenak]

7. Clearly.

Problem solved now, you can pat yourself on the back.

Feel better now?

[bravenak]

15. Oh no!

You poor guy.

[boston bean]

9. .

[bravenak]

12. Good grief, does it have to happen everytime?

Starting to feel pity for them now, all the terrible things they are forced to read and reply to on the internet that oppresses them.

[boston bean]

18. I'm more along these lines..

[bravenak]

30. Well, at least you don't feel like this yet.

It's still early though.

[BainsBane]

50. I need that picture

Love it.

[heaven05]

65. this is a joke

right? It seems that if all that enjoy the privileges and entitlements that this society offers it's citizens, unencumbered by race, sex or sexual orientation, demand and make sure that all are entitled to the same privileges and entitlements, that would go a loooonnnnggg way toward leveling ALL playing fields. Am I wrong or is there not such a thing as 'white privilege' in this country? Stop being oppressed and make sure none are oppressed.

[heaven05]

59. prior comment

my mistake, reading posts too fast meant for someone else

[bravenak]

61. It's cool.

I figured.
Somebody got a pizza this morning.
The comments were so bad i saved them so i can read them again later.
Poor thing needed some attention.

[randys1]

11. racism is a function of power of the majority over the minority

period



bigotry is a personal act



the word racism EXISTS to distinguish from bigotry as it was practiced by societal groups and governments

When the so called liberals grow up and accept this fact, and are willing to deal with racism, then and only then do we get somewhere, surely you cant expect righwingers to do it if liberals cant

so sad

[randys1]

16. I give up, if liberals cant grow up and accept the reality of racism, it will never end, you win

I wont argue with alleged grownups anymore, who by denying the meaning of racism are DENYING their privilege...

[randys1]

19. Stop trying to insult me to win your argument, you cant win your argument with insults

You deny what racism and white privilege is, I dont...that is about it

[bravenak]

22. Condescending tone indicates lack of understanding of the topic under discussion.

Think about it.
Try to figure out what that means smarty mcmarty.

[randys1]

24. Is this DU or RU? Jesus, I now see what some have been telling me for years about progressives

it is sickening how so many of them arent progressive or liberal AT ALL

[bravenak]

35. What this is called is some bullshit.

Thats what this is.
You're seeing this shit right? Proof that i don't make this shit up. Everyday it's something different.
Either here a home i have white dudes telling me they want the country for blacks and whites only, because get this, " things were better for ALL of us when it was just us whites and blacks"

This was after he told me to go watch Roots, learn to shut up and stay in a womans place, tried to force his 100 pound girl friend to hit me, mooned me, called himself a viking,then he thinks i would want to live in a country alone with him.


Or i get the same damn question everyday and a dumbass websters dictionary definition.

There must be something about me that forces people to be asses.

Oh, woe is me!! Help!!!

[randys1]

62. You are not the one who needs help, sister...

The help these idiots need can be found in Obamacare, section IV, Mental Health...

[boston bean]

34. .

[bravenak]

39. Nobody knows what the hell you're talking about.

Barely just met you just like now, ok?

[bravenak]

20. Are you the new word nanny of the day?

Goodness, you do realize that this same argument has been had before and you guys lose everytime?
Like everyday someone new comes with their dictionary definition.
And everyday we do not care about your dictionary.
We are going to keep using the sociologists definition no matter how many times somebody comes in with a dictionary.

This is so funny.

Its like how creationists use the dictionary definition of theory to disprove evolution, because its just a 'theory' to them. They refuse to open a science book and read the scientists definition for theory.
Because what their dictionary says is what they're sticking to. No matter how many times they are told what the word theory really means.

[randys1]

28. This is what the word has meant from beginning of the word

a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

white privilege racists have managed to add meanings to the word to justify their horrid existence

[bravenak]

41. I get my mind blown on a regular basis.

After all the crap during the Zimmerman trial, i knew what time it was.

[randys1]

86. Wasnt here for either the Zimmerman Murder or Dunn Murder talks (Martin/Davis victims)

I assume 100% of DU members who claim to be Democrats agree that both are guilty of murder?

I remember OJ, and thinking that he was probably guilty, but to watch the anger of the white community over the fact that maybe once out of millions of times that a Black guy might just get away with something, it was astounding.

Millions of times that Black people have been found guilty, whether they were or not.

And then I ask myself, "why do you think he is guilty?"

I have a friend who is a lawyer who works to help people who have been brutalized by police, who told me that the evidence was so obviously and badly tampered with that a guilty verdict would be total injustice.


On Friday night fights on Sirius Mark Thompson/Mapfumo Matsimela on channel 127 he always turns the music up too loud...

and laughs about it, as I do with him

Would love to park outside the prison cell that pile of filth Dunn is at and turn the music up

[bravenak]

87. We had quite a few Zimmerman supporters here.

They made me cry i got so upset. I forced myself to forget the names so that i wouldn't take it out on them later.

People also like to call US the racist ones. And white dudes can use the n word but i myself have to literally say n-word. They can use the real word, but if i do, i get the alert.

If somebody writes a racist op, you will get your post hidden for saying the op was racist, even though the author admits to being racially 'insensitive', you saying something and hurting their feelings is much worse. They will bring in somebody of authority to give you a lecture.

I stay amused.

[AverageJoe90]

52. Sorry to break it to you, but..... yes, Minorities *can* indeed be racist on a *personal* level.

C'mon man, this isn't hard to understand. Not at all. Especially not for liberals.

If a person of, say, Thai or Saudi heritage says that he thinks that all black people are gangsters, or that all Latinos are drug addicts, or that all Native Americans are idiotic drunkards, or that all white people are greedy selfish know-it-alls.....then yes, that person is a personal racist. So too if they believe that their race is superior to all others(example: Louis Farrakhan); even if it isn't necessarily supported *institutionally*, in their case. Intolerance of a collective group, one of the most common forms of racism, is not limited to any one ethnic group or any one country. For example, in Israel, Palestinians may be a minority, and an oft maltreated minority, but a Palestinian who believes that all Jews are money-grubbing parasites, or part of a secret cabal to destroy the Muslim world, is also a racist, even if the "institution", as it were, may be stacked against them. So if we can acknowledge that a few Palestinians are anti-Semitic racists, then why can we not also knowledge that a few of minority groups are racist themselves, while also keeping the realities of structural racism in mind? It's honestly not that hard.

I hope this gives you some food for thought, if nothing else.

[bravenak]

57. This has been explained to you.

Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

Yet you still have that smug attitude while you talk down to people as if your intellect is just so very superior to theirs, and you act as if you are doing a person a favor by 'explaining' it to them every day. The exaspeation you must feel when nobody takes your advise, forcing you to jump back in there every day and fight the good fight.

I know you don't believe in WP. But you do resemble it in the forceful way you demand that people define term on your terms. And you seem quite offended that nobody listens. I mean, why don't we recognize the favor you are doing us by framing the narrative.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4945891
Funniest post ever?!

[AverageJoe90]

64. ......

I mean, why don't we recognize the favor you are doing us by framing the narrative.

I truly don't like to say this, but do you realize the irony in that? Do you? All I've done here is just pointed out what is pretty much universally accepted, including by most liberals, of both genders and many different ethnic groups. I honestly don't see why you take such umbrage towards this, no matter how opinionated I myself may be(which I'll admit is true).

But honestly, I'm not sure what I can point out that I haven't already. You and I are probably on the same page on perhaps 80% of the issues, including those involving ethnic issues.....but it's that 20% that seems to really bother you. Whatever exasperation on my part has been largely because of overreactions and, unfortunately, even some mudslinging thrown in my direction.

I didn't come here to start any fights but to chip in and offer some legitimate conversation. But perhaps it'd be better to bow out because nothing good will come out of it. Take it as you may.

[bravenak]

73. You refuse to accept the fact the we can decide what words mean with out your help.

You are quite vocal and arrogant when speaking on racial matters and it appears to me that you think you know more about racism than those affected by racism. And you don't.
Instead of listening to what we have to say, you argue all the live long day about what words mean and then you tell us ' you don't BELIEVE in white privilege, therefore it does not exist.

Heres what i think about that:http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4945891


Then you talk down to us in a better than thou manner and wonder why there is friction there.
Why would black people be mad that a young white male takes it upon himself to 'school' them on racism without realizing how that makes him look?


Do you understand how bad it looks for a young white male to be lecturing black people on racism day after day in a very agressive manner, while insulting their intelligence at the same time?

It looks bad, dear. You should stop trying to always have the last word and please stop trying to define words for us. Especially me. Never ever have i needed a young white make to explain what words mean to me and the fact that you continue doing it on a daily basis leaves me wondering what your intentions are.
You are speaking with generally well read and educated black people who have earned the right to speak for themselves without you playing word nanny.

Do you get it now?

[randys1]

68. you dont understand why the word and act exists, dont worry, seems most liberals here dont

[heaven05]

74. sorry to break it to you

you have not a clue. Very clever how all that you said was slowly moving away from THE FACT that those white males that are aware of their racial privilege, by and large, take advantage of those privileges while denying that those particular privileges are denied to others based on race usually, and/or sex and sexual orientation. Race is the key in this discussion. The amerikkkan way of denying white privilege, that you are using, is a prime example of american denial. The food is in front of you, eat some or continue starving.

[Gormy Cuss]

13. Don't confuse racism and bigotry. n/t

[redqueen]

21. It seems like some here are dead set against acknowledging the fact that they are different. nt

[boston bean]

25. It's a tactic to deny it, it's not misunderstood.

They just don't have the guts to say what they mean outright.

[boston bean]

36. I know us uppity persons, must obey and say what you want how you want it said,

or else!

[boston bean]

45. Only in your world would recognizing racism and describing white privilege

equal racism.

Reverse racism arguments, use to be looked down upon here... Now I'm not so sure, so you just might be ok.

[bravenak]

46. Dude, are you still going on about this?

Like get over it,seriously. No. You got your answer, whatever it is you want, no. Just no.

[KurtNYC]

48. Racism is the institutionalized system of holding down people based on their skin pigment

So things like red-lining by banks are racism.

People who have ill feelings toward others they perceive to be of a certain race is prejudice. Many people can be prejudiced but few have the power to practice racism directly.

[AverageJoe90]

58. Yes, there IS institutional racism. But it and personal racism aren't always the same thing.

Because all that's required for personal racism is a hate, distrust, etc., of a collective group, or the belief that one is superior to said group......whereas institutional racism is pretty much this, mostly, but practiced by people in power.

[Gormy Cuss]

49. I think that it's the casual use of them as synonyms that confuses some people

but for Pete's sake, the difference in usage has been explained here at least a thousand times. Ditto what "privilege" means in a similar context.

[AverageJoe90]

53. Yes, they are different. But not in the way that some may necessarily think, though.

For example, a recent immigrant from Mexico who may have had some nasty run-ins with, say, a Klansman or a neo-Nazi in Texas, Arizona or Mississippi, may not be terribly willing to trust Southern whites all that much. And so that *is* prejudice. But if he does not transfer that mistrust & fear to whites as whole, then he does not become a racist. But if he does, then he may, depending on the exact prejudices.

Similarly, perhaps a Vietnamese American born in California runs into a problem with some gang members in Oakland or Compton, who happen to be black. Now, he may feel uneasy around black folks from the West Coast, but, if he moves to, say, Brick Township, N.J., and he does not transfer those prejudices, he does not cross the line into outright racism, even if he does remain prejudiced against SOME blacks. But if he DOES transfer that hatred & distrust to ALL blacks, then he may also become a racist.

Of course, this is only a thought experiment, but I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.

[redqueen]

54. I understand that you're wrong. 'Racism' and 'bigotry/prejudice' are not synonyms...

no matter how much you or anyone else wants to believe they are.

Racism does not -- and cannot - go both ways. That would only be possible if the world were vastly different than it is.

[AverageJoe90]

56. " 'Racism' and 'bigotry/prejudice' are not synonyms..." Didn't say they were.

Or imply that. I would kindly suggest you read my post again, because I made it clear that they were *not* necessarily the exact same thing.

[bravenak]

60. LOL!

[redqueen]

69. I'm embarrassed for him at this point.

It is cringe-inducing stuff.

[bravenak]

76. We forced him to come and post on this thread. (Yeah right)

These are the consequences we must face. ( i wish it would stop)

I am seriously cracking up right now, i just can't.
Performance Art?!


How can you ask the same questions everyday and never remember the answer?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

70. thank you for this. because this

<---- is just not enough anymore especially where that one is concerned.

[bravenak]

77. I think it will end one day.

I hope. Please.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

78. one day, in the world, yes ... it could happen ... I have more hope for the world

than I do this place.

Which I guess is a good thing.

The world will leave DU behind.

Kind of weird to think what was once the greatest, biggest progressive, liberal, Democratic website will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into a better world.

[bravenak]

81. And he keeps using the word Ironic incorrectly.

Does it everyday, no fail.

This here is a joke. Somebody is laughing their asses off somewhere at my earnest replies.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

84. bravenak,

bless you for trying and, for doing it with tact and class.

You have patience, kindness and good will in you heart.

You are a treasure.

Also, you are pretty damn smart, too

[bravenak]

85. Thank you.

I try not to take certain people seriously anymore.

[heaven05]

79. geez

[whistler162]

10. NTSA

[Katashi_itto]

23. 53 threads later...oh yet another white privilege thread.

The DU angst of the month

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. Let me introduce you to "Auto-trash by Keyword"

If you don't wish to participate in a discussion (however, here you are!), you can simply go to your account, click on your trash can and add words/phrases. Voila! Done! No more hurting.

I currently have:

Pope
Duggar
Woody Allen
2016

Added to mine. Try it. You'll like it.

[Katashi_itto]

42. Nice!

Thanks!

[BainsBane]

51. trash by keyword, maybe?

Or is complaining just too irresistible?

[Katashi_itto]

63. Listening to your attempts at snark? Seriously?

[BainsBane]

71. As opposed to your substantive comments?"

Right. I forgot it's your mission to shut up people who don't seek your permission before posting something. How dare she--you know--be a liberal.

[Katashi_itto]

72. Project much? Now who can't let a conversation go?

[Nye Bevan]

26. Thanks for the reminder about the "Titanic" (nt)

[boston bean]

27. Your comment regarding the graphic

tells us so much more about you than you could ever know.

Thanks for being so transparent.

[Nye Bevan]

32. You're more than welcome.

Thank you for everything that you do here.

[pintobean]

37. Yes, it tells us

that Nye probably watched Sesame Street as a child.

[stage left]

43. Since the graphic depicts atrocities committed by human beings

the ship depicted would be the Lusitania, and not the Titanic. The Titanic struck an iceberg.

[UtahLib]

44. "Do you even hear the words I say?"

"The ones I like." With the slightest introspection, that should have some people squirming.

[redqueen]

47. "Should" being the operative word. nt

[rrneck]

66. What solution do you propose? nt

[hfojvt]

75. Congratulations on 20,000 posts

I think.

That's an awful cartoon though.

I mean suppose I had a black friend (a huge assumption right there - that I would have a friend) and he was called a thug by somebody and came to me for emotional support. And I went off on a rant on how it is not my purpose in life to ensure black people that they aren't thugs.

I mean, I kinda thought we were friends, not that I was "white people".

And who says "get over it"?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

80. "And who says "get over it"?"

Judge Judy

[hfojvt]

82. ah, the fount of all wisdom

but presumably not talking about slavery when she says it.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

83. She doesn't believe there are REASONS. Only "excuses".