General Discussion

CSStrowbridge

(267 posts)

15. One time...

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 04:31 AM

Feb 2014

One time a couple of summers ago I had to walk to get groceries. It was hot and sunny, so I wore a baseball cap pulled low over my eyes. But I was also wore a bulky jacket, because I needed separate pockets for my keys, wallet, phone, mp3 player, etc. I also have a full beard. I had two grocery bags that I have the bottom of boxes in, to keep them stable. Before I could get groceries, I had to go to a bank to get some money.

I walked into a bank with my baseball cap pulled low and a full beard, so you couldn't see my face. I was wearing a jacket that was obviously too warm for the weather and I was carrying two empty bags. If I were any ethnicity other than white, security in the bank would have been on full alert. As it was, they didn't even pay attention to me.

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Why I don't like the term "white privilege" [View all] shaayecanaan Feb 2014 OP

I will just say ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #1

I'm not sure I follow (nt) shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #2

Very diplomatic. Warpy Feb 2014 #3

Great post. ZombieHorde Feb 2014 #6

The police hardly ever do random breath tests in Chinese suburbs... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #10

i would say it's more due to numbers of drunk driving related traffic accidents in the area JI7 Feb 2014 #12

Bingo... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #18

bad analogy , if a chinese person was in an area they were testing for drunk drivers JI7 Feb 2014 #22

no, because they assume white people have more money Gormy Cuss Feb 2014 #128

This would be Chinese priviledge: A police officer witnesses driving that is consistent with okaawhatever Feb 2014 #19

Arab privilege? shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #24

you don't seem to understand the concept and are arguing republican talking points JI7 Feb 2014 #25

I don't think that you ever understood the concept... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #91

dlc has nothing to do with white privilege, the history of this country goes back hudreds of years JI7 Feb 2014 #96

The NBA situation wouldn't necessarily be considered tall privilege because height is a factor in okaawhatever Feb 2014 #27

Lone Star Gas wanted employees that were at least six feet tall. Downwinder Feb 2014 #45

*****BINGO!!!***** uponit7771 Feb 2014 #50

Why do you think the Chinese hardly drink? nt okaawhatever Feb 2014 #20

I've known quite a few prodigious Chinese drinkers Warpy Feb 2014 #29

One time... CSStrowbridge Feb 2014 #15

But another time Token Republican Feb 2014 #58

And then you and your friends showered sufrommich Feb 2014 #60

Yup Token Republican Feb 2014 #69

"not being on welfare was completely outside the sufrommich Feb 2014 #72

I think that was their point, that that sort of racism was shocking and not ok. uppityperson Feb 2014 #74

Yes, thank you Token Republican Feb 2014 #78

The white foster kid would have been handed the same set of options Gormy Cuss Feb 2014 #129

What proportion of the US ruling class originally made their family fortunes directly or indirectly El_Johns Feb 2014 #104

Guess you were lucky. Separation Feb 2014 #171

I always love the part about African governments being corrupt malaise Feb 2014 #31

Don't forget who they learned it from malaise! JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #36

And neo-colonialism is worse malaise Feb 2014 #38

I think you know JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #43

You know the really sad truth is that there are lots of decent human beings in many of the malaise Feb 2014 #49

Thank you for this post. nt redqueen Feb 2014 #63

Subtle. n/t defacto7 Feb 2014 #8

I think the poorest county in the US is in South Dakota progressoid Feb 2014 #4

4 of the 5 poorest are in SD Bluenorthwest Feb 2014 #46

The US government considers you white. Heidi Feb 2014 #5

Very charitable of them (nt) shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #7

I see what you did there..... VanillaRhapsody Feb 2014 #9

Well it's true JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #37

It does not matter how our Government defines white or any other race as wocaonimabi Feb 2014 #35

Very insightful Thank you for putting this together. gtar100 Feb 2014 #11

More so than that... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #16

I appreciate your thorough academic approach. defacto7 Feb 2014 #13

"We're different" shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #21

Have you spent time JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #39

Thank you for sharing your experience and family history with us. It's very moving. myrna minx Feb 2014 #52

I swear I haven't been able to find it in the archives yet, but... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #163

I'd love to see that JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #172

Found it...Not quite the same as I remembered it Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #173

It's the way of thinking JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #174

You know, I remember that post. M0rpheus Feb 2014 #175

You seem to think I disagree with your statement defacto7 Feb 2014 #122

Excellent post. Racism is indeed different in different cultures ... kwassa Feb 2014 #157

There is NOTHING "academic" about the OP's analysis... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #162

Was I too subtle? defacto7 Feb 2014 #164

You have no idea what you are talking about trublu992 Feb 2014 #14

Those who have the money control the institutions (nt) shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #17

so indian americans are controlling the institutions ? JI7 Feb 2014 #30

the ruling class controls the institutions (nt) shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #32

in your op you mentioned that indian americans make the most money JI7 Feb 2014 #33

I was not asserting that the ruling class consists entirely shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #79

what is absurd is you claiming no racism and then in the thread excusing racism JI7 Feb 2014 #97

I would note hfojvt Feb 2014 #62

exactly, WHY do certain groups tendto have more than others, it ignores this question JI7 Feb 2014 #23

Exactly! The Indian American reasoning is job and credit extended to them uponit7771 Feb 2014 #51

Climate, largely... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #83

Oh boy. geardaddy Feb 2014 #201

Thank you. I said pretty much the same thing down thread. Number23 Feb 2014 #93

your arguments are pretty much "how can there be global warming, it's cold and snowing" JI7 Feb 2014 #26

As someone who grew up in America... BaronChocula Feb 2014 #28

People think Blacks are sneaky... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #81

You say that your family made its vast fortune in the gem trade in Africa. Out of curiosity, Tanuki Feb 2014 #34

All fair questions JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #42

Very fair question for 'something of a Marxist' wealthy from trading stones in Africa Bluenorthwest Feb 2014 #48

+1 redqueen Feb 2014 #65

Exactly, could you even imagine a marxist growing up in a wealthy family. hughee99 Feb 2014 #73

would a marxist excuse racism and use "they have more money" as justification for discrimination ? JI7 Feb 2014 #98

Would a ruling class flunky wrongly accuse people of racism? shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #101

you have excused it and made lame comparisons to tall basketball players, chinese who don't drink JI7 Feb 2014 #102

To be honest, I probably would walk the tall comment back if I could... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #110

*the term* "white privilege" doesn't destroy class consciousness, but *white privilege* does fishwax Feb 2014 #40

It didnt matter... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #82

Of course it mattered. African Americans were systematically excluded from much of labor's gains fishwax Feb 2014 #135

You don't like the term "White Privilege" WestIndianArchie Feb 2014 #41

Maybe you should start reading this shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #100

Just because you do not like the term does not mean it does not exist. Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #44

Of course white privilege exists and every attempt sufrommich Feb 2014 #47

Dishonest title, it is not that you dislike the term, it is that you deny the thing exists. Bluenorthwest Feb 2014 #53

White privilege is actually a very accurate description of the situation it describes. Squinch Feb 2014 #54

OK so let's see gollygee Feb 2014 #55

I think that's it in a nutshell. sufrommich Feb 2014 #56

+1 redqueen Feb 2014 #67

Complete bullshit... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #86

I actually have LESS privilege than whites as a well off black man. I STILL have to answer to the... uponit7771 Feb 2014 #185

Spot on. geardaddy Feb 2014 #202

There's a problem with your post... 1awake Feb 2014 #57

Apparently I am a racist shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #99

Here's the best personal example I can think of to sum up "white privilege". Spider Jerusalem Feb 2014 #59

It's ALWAYS been about class warfare. Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #61

Largely agree - TBF Feb 2014 #66

I agree that we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #68

I can't argue with that - TBF Feb 2014 #71

Great post Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #64

Using misguided terms like "white privilege" is foolish. gulliver Feb 2014 #70

"White privilege" is not a "sneaky" term. It quite openly states what it is saying. Squinch Feb 2014 #77

In a word Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #149

I think a lot of people don't get the Marxism. kjones Feb 2014 #75

Thank you shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #80

Well, that's probably a little much. kjones Feb 2014 #85

"Marxism is all about the class, material conditions and production" Starry Messenger Feb 2014 #166

Maybe it's not stated right. kjones Feb 2014 #168

"Writings on the U.S. Civil War" Starry Messenger Feb 2014 #170

None of them really seem to discuss racism itself. kjones Feb 2014 #176

"Labor in the white skin can never free itself as long as labor in the black skin is branded.� Starry Messenger Feb 2014 #191

I experience White Privilege because I look white. Iggo Feb 2014 #76

Maybe this guy says it better shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #84

Thanks for that. westerebus Feb 2014 #90

Of course there's white privilege steve2470 Feb 2014 #87

I am not denying that racism exists... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #88

Caucasians founded the USA steve2470 Feb 2014 #89

LOL- the circular reasoning bit in order to deny reality. you have out the cart - "material bettyellen Feb 2014 #94

"Barack Obama, for example, did not come from the same social class as "traditional" African America Number23 Feb 2014 #92

I'm not sure why you posted this response, to be honest... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #95

In the history of America when talking about white privilege, it's race not class. bravenak Feb 2014 #103

and it's often non wealthy whites who support these things JI7 Feb 2014 #105

It's wealthy whites who are pushing, demagoging and enacting them. El_Johns Feb 2014 #107

yes, like koch brothers, but they get support from whites including many who aren't wealthy JI7 Feb 2014 #108

They do, from some, but poorer people are more liable to 1) vote less and 2) vote democratic than El_Johns Feb 2014 #112

the top would then include middle class people who often vote for 1 percent over 99 JI7 Feb 2014 #114

Yes. that's my point. The political base for racist dogwhistles is not "white trash," it's the El_Johns Feb 2014 #117

And poor whites that support them and vote in those candidates to office who will do things bravenak Feb 2014 #111

Not the case. El_Johns Feb 2014 #116

Of course they do. bravenak Feb 2014 #109

Yes, those damn Republicans and their appeal to class struggle shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #137

they appeal to their racism , this is why it was after civil rights that many turned against social JI7 Feb 2014 #138

That's my girl... Number23 Feb 2014 #115

It's the same damn rec list everytime! bravenak Feb 2014 #121

I'm just going to laugh, and move on. Me too. I find myself doing that more and more these days Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #124

I'm over it. bravenak Feb 2014 #133

+10000 JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #179

So in other words... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #118

Yep. bravenak Feb 2014 #119

You do realise shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #120

Why should the black woman give up her bently for social change? bravenak Feb 2014 #123

Short answer: because she has far more money than she could ever possibly need... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #130

How much money do I make? bravenak Feb 2014 #132

Us wealthy non-whites call that the "passenger mentality"... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #140

you are posting a lot of racist shit JI7 Feb 2014 #142

Post removed Post removed Feb 2014 #145

hmmmm.... El_Johns Feb 2014 #148

Slave narratives are a set of writings from the WPA. bravenak Feb 2014 #152

Thank you JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #180

you do realize upper income blacks are regularly stopped by police and seen as suspicious at stores JI7 Feb 2014 #125

(a) what an interesting example and (b) you seem completely unaware of spooky3 Feb 2014 #155

lol You're "not sure" why I posted a response saying I "wasn't sure" why you posted this nonsensical Number23 Feb 2014 #106

+1 bravenak Feb 2014 #113

+1000 NOLALady Feb 2014 #134

You noticed the OP suddenly has nothing to say, huh? Number23 Feb 2014 #136

THIS!!! And thank you. I cannot believe this got 27 recs. Sounds like Limbaugh or O Keefe Lite. bettyellen Feb 2014 #141

it is, i wonder if people actually read it , i guess people just saw him claim to be a marxist JI7 Feb 2014 #143

I think it'ss knee jerk agreement with a dislike of the term- they'd be embarrassed if they read on bettyellen Feb 2014 #151

I made largely the same post about a week ago... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #144

people have posted actual facts and numbers that there is racism and you want to deny it JI7 Feb 2014 #147

That post has nothing to do with mine. And certainly nothing to do with your naive Number23 Feb 2014 #153

I dropped the rope on this thread yesterday JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #178

Thanks Number23 Feb 2014 #186

Two days later JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #199

Oh good grief. Number23 Feb 2014 #204

+1, and pls see my post #155 spooky3 Feb 2014 #156

Awesome response. geardaddy Feb 2014 #203

a very interesting perspective. But I do think the African-American experience is somewhat different Douglas Carpenter Feb 2014 #126

That may be true. AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #160

Thank you for such an in depth post about Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #127

As you can see from the responses ... Bok_Tukalo Feb 2014 #131

Yeah... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #150

Wow. Absolutely astonishing how proudly clueless you are Number23 Feb 2014 #154

+1000 JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #181

You just proved my point. bravenak Feb 2014 #184

Good post Harmony Blue Feb 2014 #139

I think a lot of bourgeois liberals misunderstand that term... shaayecanaan Feb 2014 #146

Not so sure about "elitism", to be honest. AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #159

A very interesting perspective here. AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #158

Two comments ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #187

Two responses. AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #188

"Used to believe" ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #189

..... AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #190

So ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #192

Not all racism is systemic, though. AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #194

There is no such animal as "Interpersonal racism" ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2014 #195

A few decent points, but you're kind of all over the place... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #161

Be careful Blue JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #169

Confused about white privilege? Chakab Feb 2014 #165

What a hot mess. Starry Messenger Feb 2014 #167

The OP's last paragraph doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Obama didn't grow up with his father catbyte Feb 2014 #177

Thank you thank you thank you JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #182

Thank you, JAG. My mom lived through Jim Crow laws in northern Michigan when she was catbyte Feb 2014 #183

i'm having a hard time respecting this post Quayblue Feb 2014 #193

Your insight into the racial politics of America is highly flawed. kwassa Feb 2014 #196

Access to highly paid JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #197

I'd be interested to hear you expand on the "very different reasons" whites and blacks are poor. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #200

I think there is a possible difference here between the USA and other countries LeftishBrit Feb 2014 #198