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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy “Well-Meaning” White People Like WTAE-TV’s Wendy Bell, The White Privilege Turducken
Wendy Bell is a lead anchor for WTAE-TV, Pittsburghs ABC affiliate. Ive never met her in person before, but I know many people who have. And shes generally regarded as a pleasant, kind, and professional woman.
And, like many otherwise pleasant, kind, and professional White people, Wendy Bell is utterly clueless about race, White privilege, and how her privilege contributes to her tone deaf myopia in regards to race. This was made clear earlier this week, when the anchor took to Facebook to share her thoughts about the massacre in Wilkinsburg.
Now, before I continue, I want to note that what Im doing today isnt coming from a place of outrage. I am more exhausted and sobered by this than angry or offended. I do not wish for Bell to be fired. Plus, if possessing White privilege and existing unaware of that possession was just cause for termination, the White unemployment rate would be 394%. America has a unique talent for mass producing Wendy Bells like they were sheet metals or hot dog buns. Instead, Im just using her words to articulate how virulent (and damn annoying) this particular strain of back-pattingly well-meaning Whiteness can be....
Oh boy. This paragraph is so perfect so emblematically, contextually, problematically, and specifically Privileged Ass White American that I want to kiss it. I want to take it out for a nice seafood dinner and never call it again. I would drink this paragraphs daddys bathwater. With a straw.
And, like many otherwise pleasant, kind, and professional White people, Wendy Bell is utterly clueless about race, White privilege, and how her privilege contributes to her tone deaf myopia in regards to race. This was made clear earlier this week, when the anchor took to Facebook to share her thoughts about the massacre in Wilkinsburg.
Now, before I continue, I want to note that what Im doing today isnt coming from a place of outrage. I am more exhausted and sobered by this than angry or offended. I do not wish for Bell to be fired. Plus, if possessing White privilege and existing unaware of that possession was just cause for termination, the White unemployment rate would be 394%. America has a unique talent for mass producing Wendy Bells like they were sheet metals or hot dog buns. Instead, Im just using her words to articulate how virulent (and damn annoying) this particular strain of back-pattingly well-meaning Whiteness can be....
Oh boy. This paragraph is so perfect so emblematically, contextually, problematically, and specifically Privileged Ass White American that I want to kiss it. I want to take it out for a nice seafood dinner and never call it again. I would drink this paragraphs daddys bathwater. With a straw.
"white privilege turducken" FTW!
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Why “Well-Meaning” White People Like WTAE-TV’s Wendy Bell, The White Privilege Turducken (Original Post)
KamaAina
Mar 2016
OP
MisterP
(23,730 posts)1. well-meaning, eh?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)2. New Yorkers often say 'S/he means well."
Similar to the Southern classic 'Well, bless your li'l ol' heart!".
MisterP
(23,730 posts)3. or "that's one bed you can't unsoil"
gollygee
(22,336 posts)9. When she was writing that Facebook post
She thought she was being a nice kind person, doing a good deed. She meant well. And yeah the term "well meaning" kind of assumes it wasn't actually good. Like you meant well but failed.
LuvLoogie
(7,027 posts)4. Thank you for posting. I'm glad I read that. Very enlightening
Prism
(5,815 posts)5. This is some amazing cringe right here
How does anyone, and a news anchor to boot, wander through life that utterly, utterly clueless?
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)6. Good article
the comments were excellent as well. Had me
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)7. Update:
gollygee
(22,336 posts)8. That is a beautifully written rant. ROFL.
I'll have to read that again later.