Aaargh. Wading into it: I'm grateful for my "white privilege". I wish everyone had it.

[RainDog]

27. so the good news, then

is that there's no need for you to participate in any discussion of white privilege since you "don't believe it" - sort of like a creationist doesn't believe in evolution, with the same sorts of arguments put forth, with the same assumption that evidence is unimportant because you have formed an opinion that claims otherwise!

The entire point of discussing "white privilege" is to provide a critique of culture - in particular for those white people who operate within the cultural construct of white privilege - so, again, good news, because you do, in fact, understand what the purpose is - to overcome things like the recently posted data that indicated white people think they face more bias than people of color - when, again, it has been demonstrated, repeatedly, that this is not true.

It is seen as an attack because you did nothing to earn white privilege - the mere fact of your existence in this culture creates it. The use of the term white privilege is, indeed, meant to speak to those who are concerned about its existence - not the general (white) public who thinks it doesn't exist - while the general (people of color) public most definitely knows it does - so, again! you can rest easy knowing that you understand the concept of white privilege - you simply don't like it - as most white people do not because it makes them feel uncomfortable, if they're a basic, decent sort, because they don't want others to experience the degradation that goes along with assumptions made for no reason other than stereotypes that are not routinely applied to white Americans.

The brush with bigotry is more than occasional for people of color - as any of them could tell you - and have told you.

It doesn't require a cop to be crooked to harass someone when the society that cop operates within most always designates one or two groups as the sacrificial lambs to allow white people to justify their places in society at this time, no matter that an entire history exists where the same groups were targeted repeatedly.

The entire reason white privilege has been discussed is that the rights you think all should share in are not routinely shared by those who are not white.

But since you, as an individual cannot change this circumstance - it's easier to pretend it doesn't exist or it's only about personal criticism, rather than an attempt to examine culture by noting assumptions you get to make simply by the color of your skin.

Which gets to this point - if you dislike the idea of white privilege because it's criticism, but agree that all should have equal rights to be free of harassment or negative assumptions with no proof of the same - how do you think we should address the reality that this harassment and daily negative interaction occurs for people of color?

How can you address the need for white society to recognize the rights of people of color?