General Discussion

apnu

(8,790 posts)

42. That's because of white guilt and white fear.

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 05:46 PM

Jul 2013

(Full disclosure, I'm white and male and in my 40s).

White people get uncomfortable talking about this stuff. Namely because they feel guilty about the racial situation in America. They feel bad that what's happened has happened, but they feel its not their fault that slavery happened. But this misses the point entirely. And they're afraid that America's color is changing and they know they've sat on the top of the heap for a long time and they know whites have been pretty shitty to everybody else and they fear that whomever rises to the top (probably latinos) are going to enact revenge on us. White people are paranoid and freaked out.

But then, who isn't these days?

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I tried to convince a friend such a thing as "White Privilege" existed [View all] Taverner Jul 2013 OP

"Embedding disabled by request" pops up Lifelong Protester Jul 2013 #1

Follow it... it's worth it Taverner Jul 2013 #2

"White advantage" certainly exists; "non-white disprivilege" is probably a better way to describe it Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #3

OK take a black person and a white person and give them each a Ferrari Taverner Jul 2013 #4

Yes. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #8

Agreed 100%. AverageJoe90 Jul 2013 #5

What they do is use the whites at the lower rung .. ananda Jul 2013 #35

Isn't that creative wordsmithing? Taverner Jul 2013 #9

You're against "creative wordsmithing"? Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #13

I don't know, too many negatives in that word Taverner Jul 2013 #37

I agree "disprivilege" is inelegant, but synonyms don't make the point so clear. Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #40

Or maybe 'white advantage'? Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2013 #45

I think the same arguments against apply. Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #48

In conversations on the subject, I've found it helpful... Orrex Jul 2013 #6

Has it benefited you? Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #21

Then it's the benefit of not being disadvantaged in that way Orrex Jul 2013 #29

That's because of white guilt and white fear. apnu Jul 2013 #42

There is a system of white privilege. There is no system of male privilege. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #7

Male privilege is a different beast Taverner Jul 2013 #10

True enough. Trayvon didn't have to worry overmuch about being raped. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #11

I know... Taverner Jul 2013 #12

As an exercise, let's suppose for the moment that maybe the victim did "try to start something" lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #15

Yes Taverner Jul 2013 #22

Black men are in jail because they're men and they're black Orrex Jul 2013 #30

11x and 6x are useful if, as we always do, view the privilege continuum as a matrix. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #41

Here's something to ponder... YoungDemCA Jul 2013 #14

Why do I think that is? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #16

Every time you speak on this subject, I am horrified at your ignorance. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #44

I understand both. One exists and the other does not. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #46

No, it's an almost cartoonish like ignorance. Male privilege exists in such vast quantity... Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #47

I'm inclined to disagree on both counts, I'm afraid. Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2013 #19

Two days ago, I was involved in a traffic incident. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #24

that's so true! males are at a complete disadvantage in all areas. CreekDog Jul 2013 #23

Are you joking? The entire system is set up for male privilege. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #43

Wow, in what alternative Universe are you living? NealK Jul 2013 #49

'Why do I have to explain this to every body over and over again?' Rex Jul 2013 #17

I hang with Libertarians sometimes Taverner Jul 2013 #20

Oh lord, yes I have a few libertarian acquaintances. Rex Jul 2013 #25

They are the people Thomas Hobbes was afraid of Taverner Jul 2013 #26

He didn't have much choice really. Rex Jul 2013 #27

True...ahhhh the English Civil War Taverner Jul 2013 #28

Mark Zuckerberg wears hoodies all the time. Zimmerman wouldn't have looked twice. JaneyVee Jul 2013 #18

White males have been enjoying affirmative action for over 200 years... polichick Jul 2013 #31

A hispanic man kills a black guy, is acquitted by a jury of six women, Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #32

If there were five black guys at a table with a fair-skinned hispanic man Orrex Jul 2013 #33

I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about White Privlege Taverner Jul 2013 #34

B-3 gollygee Jul 2013 #38

Can you believe it? LittleBlue Jul 2013 #39

I tend to think that the vast majority of people are aware in fact, of white privilege and male priv LanternWaste Jul 2013 #36