If you don't believe in (recognize) white privilege why the fuck are you on a Democratic Forum?

[Curtis]

241. I'd bet a lot of it comes from experiencing it to some degree

For instance, I'm the only one in my family to understand this issue. My family, while usually liberal, just never experienced it first hand. We all had the pleasure to live in Waipahu, Hawaii in the late 60's. Since I was the only boy, I was lucky enough to get my ass kicked by the local kids and told haole go home. I actually got to live as a minority so I became a little more sensitive to the matter. Sure my family

My first wife's family came from Mexico. I got to see how she was treated over and over in our society, which led me into groups like MEChA and the Black Student Union at school. I was actually the first white guy elected to a school chapter of MEChA (San Diego Mesa College), and I worked very closely with the BSU also. These activities led me to work with Jesse Jackson in 1988 where I ran his campaign in San Diego County (we won) and then the United Farm Workers' Union (where I became friends with Cesar Chavez).

So, I am very aware of white privilege and try to educate others to it and its impact on our society. However, I would never use it as a litmus test on whether someone can be considered a progressive or not. Other's lives took different paths to being a progressive.