America’s white fragility complex: Why white people get so defensive about their privilege

[tularetom]

8. A privilege enjoyed by 90% of the population isn't an automatic ticket to success

Yes, "white privilege" exists, it has always existed. But if you assume that all whites are born with an equal chance to attain wealth and comfort, that argument would have some merit. But that assumption would be incorrect.

The America I grew up in was probably close to 90% white. I will concede that I and other white kids of my generation, had a leg up on the "ladder of success" over the 10% who weren't white. But speaking personally, I sure as hell was not on an equal footing with all of the other 90%. You'd have to describe my childhood as "lower middle class", I attended public schools, served in the army, attended a public university partly with veterans benefits. My father did get me summer jobs - driving his propane trucks, admittedly something most nonwhite kids could not have done but hardly a stepping stone to an executive career.

Yes I benefitted from "white privilege". But my point is, when 90% of the population received that same benefit, it wasn't that big of a deal.

That America doesn't exist anymore. It's probably closer to 60% white now. So white privilege has a negative impact on 40% of Americans rather than 10%. But the economic gradations still exist even within the white population.