Why I don't like the term "white privilege"

[LeftishBrit]

198. I think there is a possible difference here between the USA and other countries

In the UK, I would tend to agree, that though there is quite a bit of disgusting racism, the biggest barriers and disadvantages are based on class, not race.

However, I think in America with its long history of slavery followed by Jim Crow, race is more of a key issue.

As I think I've said before, I prefer the British phrase 'institutional racism' to 'white privilege', as the latter can imply that ALL white people are privileged, which is obviously not true.

As regards your last paragraph: by the time someone becomes a politician, they are generally by definition upper middle class if not frankly rich, whatever their original background. A partial exception used to be those Labour MPs who came to Parliament through positions of trade union leadership; but these hardly exist any more. Usually they don't represent poorer people too well, especially as really poor people are also less likely to vote, and in America are sometimes actively prevented from doing so. (I believe that Australia has compulsory voting for all -does that make any difference from this point of view?) A majority of politicians have no experience of poverty, and the minority that do, have managed to rise in social class and too often think that anyone can if they choose to; e.g. Norman 'Get on your bike' Tebbit .