A Developing Thought ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

It seems that some would have a/the lack of opportunity based on what one is to be equal to a a/the lack of opportunity based on what one does, and/or how well one does it.

[Android3.14]

1. The detours are a little distracting

I think I see where you're going with this, but you might tighten it up a bit.

This'd look pretty silly on a t-shirt.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

2. Huh?

Sorry, sometimes my brain just goes to jelly

No idea what you are trying to say, but I want to have

[kwassa]

3. My version of your statement

It seems that some believe that

The lack of opportunity based on what one is

To be equal to the lack of opportunity based on what one does, and how well one does it.

Is this correct?

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Yep ...

that's pretty much what I'm thinking.

The biggest obstacle to success is a lack of opportunity ... some are denied that opportunity because of who they are (be it, their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other immutable trait), others are denied access to opportunity because of geography or other changeable factor ... the two are not the same.

[kwassa]

5. and the biggest problem with racial lack of opportunities ...

is that race is and always will be visible. Some other forms of identity can be hidden, but race, at least apparent race, cannot.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. True ...

I was in a discussion about this with someone that called the lack of opportunities endemic to Appalachian systemic and institutional discrimination. I guess this poster doesn't realize that these people can remove the "discrimination" by simply moving (and, perhaps, not telling anyone where they are from).

Once, while in college, I was in a discussion of discrimination with a white Fraternity Brother (the Fraternity is historically and predominantly Black). He was saying he knew all about discrimination ... in fact, he had been the victim because (white) people took one look at him, with his earring, style of haircut, and manner of speech and dress, and they made unfair negative judgments about his character and competencies.

He got really upset with me when I told him, that he could prevent that/those judgment(s) simply by removing the earring, and changing his manner of speech and style of dress ... and by doing so, he would be just another white guy, to be judged on what he did and how well he did it.

His response was, "Why should I have to change how I appear?"

My response was, "Why would you not? But that's not the point ... the point is, you have the choice; other do not."

[kwassa]

7. and this comes up in endless discussions around here.

Where white people talking about their ethnic group ancestors being discriminated against, not realizing that those same ancestors eventually developed the privilege of simply being considered white here in the US. They can disappear into the rest of the white population.

and even in the most discriminatory phase, whites of any ethnicity were still held as superior to blacks.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. This was very well put -

I don't think I've ever seen it in writing before.


not realizing that those same ancestors eventually developed the privilege of simply being considered white here in the US. They can disappear into the rest of the white population.