General Discussion

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

10. Well

Mon Sep 1, 2014, 09:47 PM

Sep 2014

I have seen a few people say they want more "productive" terminology, but that seems to mean in at least some cases that they want language that makes them feel better. I guess by productive they mean that it will make other white people feel better. I just don't think that's the most important factor to this whole issue, and I think too many white people (not necessarily anyone here at DU) want to have it be more comfortable so they don't have to think about it or deal with racism - they want to opt out of the whole discussion. I don't think that's healthy, or that we should enable that. I like the term white privilege because it does make people think and wonder and discuss and consider. It forces us to wonder how racism affects us. I find that more productive than using language white people find easy.

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My problem with "white privilege".... [View all] daleanime Sep 2014 OP

How about discrimination? pipoman Sep 2014 #1

Definitely..... daleanime Sep 2014 #3

According to some on DU whistler162 Sep 2014 #20

I know that there is institutional racism pipoman Sep 2014 #26

but some people do get unearned advantages noiretextatique Sep 2014 #76

So this example is indicative of white people in general? pipoman Sep 2014 #90

of course...but you will never see a black bush as president noiretextatique Sep 2014 #96

deaf, dumb... pipoman Sep 2014 #100

You don't get it at all. White people have inherent, invisible advantages that people of catbyte Sep 2014 #27

I have to disagree FLPanhandle Sep 2014 #51

Sorry, I don't buy it. Class plays a role, but even an elegantly dressed dark skinned person catbyte Sep 2014 #53

Not denying there is racism FLPanhandle Sep 2014 #54

But you fail to appreciate that to stop it from happening to you, all you need is a change catbyte Sep 2014 #66

No difference FLPanhandle Sep 2014 #67

You know, people of color can be poor too gollygee Sep 2014 #68

Maybe it's the word "privilege" FLPanhandle Sep 2014 #69

You're quibbling about semantics. Fine. I obviously can't help you see the difference, I won't try. catbyte Sep 2014 #70

I think it also depends on location. Rhiannon12866 Sep 2014 #91

Yep, pipoman Sep 2014 #107

I agree that we've come miles since then Rhiannon12866 Sep 2014 #110

Short-cuts to rational H2O Man Sep 2014 #88

yup, no one is advocating taking anything away Skittles Sep 2014 #2

True... daleanime Sep 2014 #4

Inequality pipoman Sep 2014 #5

Not a bad option. daleanime Sep 2014 #9

Do you see the privilege or entitlement or both gollygee Sep 2014 #11

Yes, discussing racism in any way..... daleanime Sep 2014 #14

That's obviously not what I said. gollygee Sep 2014 #19

how to force a group within it self not to use certain language treestar Sep 2014 #21

No, you can't get all white liberals to agree, pipoman Sep 2014 #30

wrong pipoman Sep 2014 #29

It is not an inaccurate term gollygee Sep 2014 #50

It is inaccurate if one looks beyond a made up academic pipoman Sep 2014 #57

"made up academic definition" . . . gollygee Sep 2014 #60

Of coarse you are...my way or the hiway as usual pipoman Sep 2014 #72

Not all agree. TM99 Sep 2014 #63

OK so not all agree gollygee Sep 2014 #65

Nope... pipoman Sep 2014 #73

Yeah gollygee Sep 2014 #74

What they agree on is that there is pipoman Sep 2014 #86

This message was self-deleted by its author Maedhros Sep 2014 #101

thought provoking treestar Sep 2014 #83

I have to agree with you on this notadmblnd Sep 2014 #93

I couldn't agree more...and would argue for a stranger if I saw this happen pipoman Sep 2014 #97

I'm not going to talk/argue about what people want to call it. notadmblnd Sep 2014 #105

Also true. ..i don't view it as privilege or advantage pipoman Sep 2014 #109

If you want a non divisive term which will encourage cooperation pipoman Sep 2014 #28

I think the white community followed the African American community on those gollygee Sep 2014 #49

Nonsense pipoman Sep 2014 #55

What about trying to deal with other whites though? treestar Sep 2014 #61

The issue is that the whole anti-racism movement doesn't have to change its language gollygee Sep 2014 #64

What difference does it make who uses what language treestar Sep 2014 #75

You don't think it makes a difference gollygee Sep 2014 #92

But then the white people have privilege treestar Sep 2014 #98

I feel like I've responded to this basic position over and over again in this thread gollygee Sep 2014 #99

exactly, gollygee noiretextatique Sep 2014 #80

Hmmmm Boom Sound 416 Sep 2014 #7

What do you think of the concept of Boom Sound 416 Sep 2014 #111

I think gollygee Sep 2014 #6

That's true..... daleanime Sep 2014 #8

Well gollygee Sep 2014 #10

Well, I guess we're going to disagree...... daleanime Sep 2014 #13

Is it necessary they should feel bad about it? treestar Sep 2014 #22

They don't have to gollygee Sep 2014 #23

if you want their cooperation you will not shut them down pipoman Sep 2014 #35

dead on mercuryblues Sep 2014 #41

absolutely right Skittles Sep 2014 #12

hey, I'm old enough to remember when white privilege was just called racism! MisterP Sep 2014 #15

Me too..... daleanime Sep 2014 #17

And most white people acknowledge racism and discrimination exists pipoman Sep 2014 #38

well, the trouble is... Scootaloo Sep 2014 #87

So we are concerned about the use of the word "racism" pipoman Sep 2014 #89

Bias? Rex Sep 2014 #16

........ daleanime Sep 2014 #18

My mom used to say jamzrockz Sep 2014 #24

I find when using the word "advantage," people get it more readily. n/t OneGrassRoot Sep 2014 #25

I would like to ask you to consider how white privilege can be used to level the playing field Heidi Sep 2014 #31

Thanks Heidi for posting JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #33

Good morning, you! Heidi Sep 2014 #34

Good morning to you too! JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #36

Y'all are conspiring to make me smile. Heidi Sep 2014 #37

I would agree JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author Heidi Sep 2014 #40

Wow, I wonder if that checker was specifically taught treestar Sep 2014 #78

very likely that instruction was dog whistled to her, whether it was other employees or - like me- bettyellen Sep 2014 #106

This is a perfect example of privilege: gollygee Sep 2014 #108

It's.particularly dumb and derogatory term that assumes all members of a certain group enjoy a 3rdwaydem Sep 2014 #32

sure mercuryblues Sep 2014 #42

Perhaps so but, can we not try and come up with something more precise? 3rdwaydem Sep 2014 #44

I don't mercuryblues Sep 2014 #46

yes terminology makes a difference DustyJoe Sep 2014 #52

I don't recall objection to the times when it was seen in terms of treestar Sep 2014 #81

what term do you propose? noiretextatique Sep 2014 #79

How about "advantage" and "disadvantage" instead? arcane1 Sep 2014 #95

A must read on white privilege: What My Bike Has Taught Me JaydenD Sep 2014 #43

Read it, liked it.... daleanime Sep 2014 #48

I think you''re confusing "infer" and "imply." LanternWaste Sep 2014 #45

I'm in a minority here, but as a white male who grew up painfully poor FLPanhandle Sep 2014 #47

I also mercuryblues Sep 2014 #58

Hardly a privilege if it only provides some supposed and disputed intangible benefits. FLPanhandle Sep 2014 #59

Oh mercuryblues Sep 2014 #62

But it did treestar Sep 2014 #85

I would say both race/class privilege concepts have nuggets of truth. nt alp227 Sep 2014 #82

Inequality in the pursuit of justice happens often enough to perpetuate "white privilege". gordianot Sep 2014 #56

Reminds me of a recent conversation loyalsister Sep 2014 #71

unjust structure to begin with noiretextatique Sep 2014 #84

Mass incarceration and a war on blacks and latinoss... Anansi1171 Sep 2014 #103

how you propose to keep white privilege noiretextatique Sep 2014 #77

sigh rbrnmw Sep 2014 #94

Endlessly....wasting precious time that could actually be spent pipoman Sep 2014 #102

Why do you folks want to silence people who don't have a problem with it? Starry Messenger Sep 2014 #104