General Discussion

yewberry

(6,530 posts)

31. This is bullshit.

Tue May 13, 2014, 03:28 PM

May 2014

Privilege does not exist in a vacuum. It makes no sense to try to divorce one kind of privilege from another.

Are you honestly arguing that people of color have no systemic, institutional disadvantages in comparison to the experience of white people? That poor people have no systemic, institutional disadvantages in comparison to the experience of wealthy people? That women have no systemic, institutional disadvantages in comparison to the experience of men? That people with disabilities have no systemic, institutional disadvantages in comparison to the experience of able-bodied people?

No one is saying that white people or men or rich people or able-bodied people hit some kind of genetic jackpot or that they as individuals by definition enjoy benefits based upon privilege. Understanding privilege is not about judging others and it's not some ridiculous one-upsmanship Olympics about who has it worst. It's about understanding that there are a variety of ways on an institutional level that privilege plays out invisibly, often running in the background, unnoticed by those who don't have to think about them.

So in response to your question: why not ask those poor white families if they think they'd be better off of they were African-American or in a wheelchair or undocumented?

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There are 5 million poor white kids in this country. Let's explain white privilege to their parents. [View all] Comrade Grumpy May 2014 OP

+10000! Katashi_itto May 2014 #1

the exception proving the rule alp227 May 2014 #2

Looks like an excellent article. thucythucy May 2014 #33

Threads on DU are intended for DUers. redqueen May 2014 #3

not my threads hfojvt May 2014 #42

"Your son won't get shot for buying skittles" Recursion May 2014 #4

im white and have been pulled over thrown over the hood of police cars (in my neighborhood) leftyohiolib May 2014 #12

Gender privilege also plays a role Major Nikon May 2014 #44

There's also an older white woman privilege which SheilaT May 2014 #54

this is my point as well- people telling me im privileged simply b/c im white (which is just racist) leftyohiolib May 2014 #5

I have to ask... you don't feel that not in one way you have it better than a poor black person? boston bean May 2014 #13

I don't think it means shut up about your situation treestar May 2014 #52

Another thread by you to try and find a way to stop people from discussing white privilege. boston bean May 2014 #6

You are part of the problem. Comrade Grumpy May 2014 #23

Much as creationists find Tyson's Cosmos to be unnecessarily hostile and confrontational approach LanternWaste May 2014 #25

+1 laundry_queen May 2014 #65

What gives you the right to determine what words can be used in a discussion? boston bean May 2014 #32

Tim Wise looks like a white boy to me hfojvt May 2014 #46

Is it REALLY THAT difficult to understand the difference between institutionalized/macro and micro? uppityperson May 2014 #7

No, it's not. TroglodyteScholar May 2014 #51

The numbers breakdown mn9driver May 2014 #8

i suppose you could ask them if those parents if they would rather be black el_bryanto May 2014 #9

Do most poor black people wish they were white? hfojvt May 2014 #47

I call bullshit TroglodyteScholar May 2014 #55

I didn't put any words in anybody's mouth hfojvt May 2014 #60

No. bravenak May 2014 #56

why doesn't it? hfojvt May 2014 #58

Because tea is cheap in China. bravenak May 2014 #59

and cottleston pie to you too. hfojvt May 2014 #61

You know what i have to say to that!!!!! bravenak May 2014 #63

Trash thread option is your friend. PeteSelman May 2014 #10

. Tuesday Afternoon May 2014 #11

Really? You can't understand it? sinkingfeeling May 2014 #14

All these Whites need to understand their roles in racism SaltyBro May 2014 #15

Sure, explain to them how their kids are less likely to be profiled by police, potential landlords, Guy Whitey Corngood May 2014 #16

And 11.5 million poor children of color gollygee May 2014 #17

Here. Iggo May 2014 #18

"white privilege" is a needlessly negative term to describe how everyone should be treated. reformist2 May 2014 #19

How is it a negative term? SaltyBro May 2014 #20

Explain that there are cultural assumptions about them based on their skin color? NuclearDem May 2014 #21

As a former poor white kid, let me give it a shot. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #22

You Nailed It In One, Sir The Magistrate May 2014 #26

Excellent post. thucythucy May 2014 #34

+1 myrna minx May 2014 #35

It is nice how you keep trying. redqueen May 2014 #43

I wish I had your patience. Starry Messenger May 2014 #48

except in the real world of today hfojvt May 2014 #49

Why list all the disadvantages? Because it's reality. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #50

there's simply no way to know that hfojvt May 2014 #66

I don't want to point to poor whites but that was the OP's challenge. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #67

but it IS the discussion here hfojvt May 2014 #71

Billionaires have more wealth privilege than millionaires. Gormy Cuss May 2014 #72

I agree there are disadvantaged White Folk. Xyzse May 2014 #24

My white husband grew up in extreme poverty me b zola May 2014 #27

race privilege and class privilege are two different things PeaceNikki May 2014 #28

Threads like this are proof positive the left isn't much different than the right on race... Drunken Irishman May 2014 #29

This would have been an alright post..... AverageJoe90 May 2014 #39

It's true. Just look at this thread... Drunken Irishman May 2014 #40

You nailed it. Number23 May 2014 #64

for this and other reasons... RainDog May 2014 #68

+1 gollygee May 2014 #73

Send them out in a nice car Capt. Obvious May 2014 #30

This is bullshit. yewberry May 2014 #31

you continue to show you don't know what this is about or even care JI7 May 2014 #36

are people saying things like food stamps and other govt help should not go to whites ? JI7 May 2014 #37

This.....times infinity. Bravo. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #38

Yeah, put a black kid in the same exact situation. You're telling me RedCappedBandit May 2014 #41

That is class BainsBane May 2014 #45

Understanding white privilege requires the right perspective. NutmegYankee May 2014 #62

"That doesn't mean racism doesn't matter, or that LGBT American's aren't discriminated against.".... AverageJoe90 May 2014 #70

Yeah, there will never be white privilege so long geek tragedy May 2014 #53

Come on. Even though they're poor, they will NEVER be profiled like minorities are. catbyte May 2014 #57

deny male privilege to the 65% of single moms who live in poverty next bettyellen May 2014 #69