General Discussion

Orrex

(67,117 posts)

42. It's a poorly-chosen term.

Sun Dec 7, 2014, 04:04 PM

Dec 2014

It seems deliberately conceived to make the listener defensive and to ignore any rational argument that follows it.

I explicitly acknowledge that I have clearly benefitted from it many times over, but even so I see the term as problematic. All the moreso when one is presented with a checklist of "privileges," many of which might have little or no bearing on one's actual life.

If the most important thing is to preserve the term, then it's fine. If the most important thing is to get people to open their eyes about what "white privilege" really is and how they benefit from it, then perhaps another strategy might be more effective.

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Explaining white privilege to a broke white person [View all] pnwmom Dec 2014 OP

I understand why they feel that way. bravenak Dec 2014 #1

you seem to have fallen behind hfojvt Dec 2014 #4

I just meant that a poor white man of equal circumstances to a poor black man. bravenak Dec 2014 #8

Historically that was true--today it does not mean a whole hell of a lot bklyncowgirl Dec 2014 #88

.. Cha Dec 2014 #89

she had the right reaction at the start hfojvt Dec 2014 #2

Is that where you stopped reading? She's not trying to tell poor people pnwmom Dec 2014 #3

just because a bully picks on the group next to the group im in doesnt neccessarily belzabubba333 Dec 2014 #20

That's different than arguing any white is better off than any black. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #93

Would you be better off as a woman? Quantess Dec 2014 #46

I don't like the 'privilege' meme at all Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #5

That is not how the word "privilege" is being used here. pnwmom Dec 2014 #7

These are rights not privileges Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #9

I think you're missing the larger point while you're quibbling about semantics. nt pnwmom Dec 2014 #11

Semantics are vital Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #12

... TBF Dec 2014 #19

Words do indeed have meaning. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #38

"They aren't held to the same standards as others." nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #75

"I don't want to talk about this, so I'll make it about something else instead!" (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2014 #62

Ugh. There's always one. NuclearDem Dec 2014 #33

And there should be Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #39

People like you are the problem. NuclearDem Dec 2014 #40

+ a million nt laundry_queen Dec 2014 #43

Only if your solution is total wipeout of the Democratic Party Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #44

Wow Scootaloo Dec 2014 #49

Rights? Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #53

Not answering the question. I will take that as "yes" Scootaloo Dec 2014 #54

Not answering the strawman Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #55

This isn't about pandering for votes. morningfog Dec 2014 #56

I'm part of the solution Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #61

If you feel like you got a finger in the eye, then you are claiming morningfog Dec 2014 #67

Thank you for that post. NuclearDem Dec 2014 #74

"The solution is to stop judging people by what color they are." Of course it is. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #76

How did this become about the party? Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2014 #77

Thank you, ND Cha Dec 2014 #90

If you commit a crime and only receive a warning... BklnDem75 Dec 2014 #66

It is a strange phenomenon imo, to see an exclusion to 'white privilege' based on low wages. Rex Dec 2014 #6

A person without a pot to piss in isn't going to be convinced they are privileged Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #10

And yet the writer, who came from just such a background, pnwmom Dec 2014 #13

It's full of false equivalences Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #21

I don't know, I see myself as American. moriah Dec 2014 #51

It is not about white culture. Where the fuck did you get that? morningfog Dec 2014 #69

"THE FUCK!?!?" I said... hughee99 Dec 2014 #80

Yes, which means he's normal. But then he thought things through. n/t pnwmom Dec 2014 #83

Not exactly. Then he was directed to a better form of the argument, the McIntosh's essay. hughee99 Dec 2014 #86

Add being black to "Joe's" situation, and it's even harder. cyberswede Dec 2014 #14

Oh I agree they won't be convinced, but that does not mean the term is not accurate. Rex Dec 2014 #16

And yet they don't generally get hassled by the cops walking down the street. alarimer Dec 2014 #64

Well then how about male privilege? Quantess Dec 2014 #50

They make more money. alarimer Dec 2014 #65

In my opinion, child care and early childhood education should be well paid! Quantess Dec 2014 #70

You said it! nt raccoon Dec 2014 #72

Then maybe it's not such a good idea bluestateguy Dec 2014 #15

It is akin in many ways to being an Hidalgo in colonial Latin America Xipe Totec Dec 2014 #17

this here is a huge problem belzabubba333 Dec 2014 #25

Why did no one at the bundy ranch get shot or even arrested? Xipe Totec Dec 2014 #30

How about the Branch Davidians? Weren't they white? (nt) Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #81

This sort of conversation reflects one of the reasons why low income whites shun Democrats bklyncowgirl Dec 2014 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author belzabubba333 Dec 2014 #23

Like bluestateguy Dec 2014 #24

which democratic candidate talks about white privilege? noiretextatique Dec 2014 #27

Your post might have finally explained walkingman Dec 2014 #29

Actually, it's because of the fucking idiots who deliberately twist the meaning NuclearDem Dec 2014 #37

It's a poorly-chosen term. Orrex Dec 2014 #42

A large part of the skill of politics Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #45

That does not change the fact that many working class white men believe exactly that. bklyncowgirl Dec 2014 #91

...^ that 840high Dec 2014 #47

Just about the only "good job" that someone could possibly have lost to "cheap illegal workers" cheapdate Dec 2014 #78

I was thinking construction but back in the day meatpacking was often unionized as well. bklyncowgirl Dec 2014 #87

The question is, if your white friend was struggling to pay rent, medical bills, etc., Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #22

We, as working class folk, whether black or white... Blanks Dec 2014 #26

Ah, the old pull yourself up by the bootstraps argument. Dr. Xavier Dec 2014 #28

Did you perhaps reply in the wrong thread? Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #35

No, Nye, its Sunday morning and I am still trying to remember where I parked my car... Dr. Xavier Dec 2014 #41

in re-reading my post... Dr. Xavier Dec 2014 #36

Pardon the colloquialisms but they help to make a point. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #31

Please, good people, try to understand each other! You are on the same side! You need not fight. raging moderate Dec 2014 #32

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #34

That doesn't explain why black professional people pnwmom Dec 2014 #52

Yes, controlling for class, whites on the whole are treated better than blacks. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #58

Most professional black people are not famous. So they are much more likely pnwmom Dec 2014 #59

Person A and Person B DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #60

Person A, college educated African American professional. pnwmom Dec 2014 #63

White privilege is real...I would never , ever dispute that but $$$$$ confers benefits... DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #68

Yes, money confers benefits. But it doesn't protect black people pnwmom Dec 2014 #71

I am SO hopeful that this sinks in. Not sure it will, but hope so... CTyankee Dec 2014 #73

One thing I don't care for when it comes to the privilege argument madville Dec 2014 #48

This DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #92

"Privilege" and "disadvantage" are relative terms. 6000eliot Dec 2014 #57

Disadvantaged by institutional racism would process a hell of a lot better without nearly the same TheKentuckian Dec 2014 #79

We have a problem-sans-solution issue here Man from Pickens Dec 2014 #82

That is not what the use of the term implies. pnwmom Dec 2014 #85

THIS! 6000eliot Dec 2014 #95

Money has nothing to do with it Matrosov Dec 2014 #84

Being white has its privileges but being broke doesn't offer many. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2014 #94