My privilege rant. It bugs the hell out of me to read these

[HiPointDem]

8. What's wrong with the 'privilege' meme is that it 'disappears' the role of the ruling class in

Last edited Wed Feb 27, 2013, 07:07 PM - Edit history (2)

creating social and economic divisions and discriminatory practices, policies and institutions that maintain them.

"Privilege" also 'disappears' the fact that elites are and were the prime beneficiaries of those policies and practices.

Elites prefer a meme that makes all whites, all men, all straight people, all -- whatever -- equally responsible, equally 'guilty' for these policies and practices, even though the 'privilege' for most individuals, and their ancestors, was slight & fleeting, while gains for the ruling class were large and multi-generational. Even though discriminatory attitudes and practices were maintained and fostered by institutionalized practices imposed by the ruling class.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022429092


and i'll add to that the historical role of the ruling class in destroying any mass movement or leader who attempted to create multiracial coalitions focused on economic justice.

MLK is just one recent example. What happened to the "Poor People's Movement" after he died?

It died with him and a good chunk of the civil rights leadership was coopted, that's what. Money and position for the 'talented tenth,' jail and continuing poverty for the proles.

There have been many such attempts through history; it seems to be the one thing the rulers will not tolerate.