General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why I don't think the phrase/argument white privilege is effective. [View all]TM99
(8,352 posts)that worked during the Civil Rights & ERA era?
The New Left vocabulary developed out in the 'field' so to speak. It spoke not only to academics, politicians, and the elite, but also to every day people marching and protesting the inequalities.
Today's Post New Left vocabulary is extremely insular and separative. It has developed in the halls of academe often times separated from the reality of which it speaks.
We used to speak of oppression instead of privilege, exploitation instead of classicism, large group alliances instead of being a singular ally in these struggles, consciousness-raising as opposed to calling someone out (notice how one is productive and enlightening and the other is conflict oriented just by the choice of words), solidarity instead of Positionality ("I am Trayvon Martin" used by anyone of any race or color in solidarity against abuses instead of the "I am not Trayvon Martin" meme which urged white people to not identify with black positions), the people as a whole instead of a group of folk, and finally liberation instead of safe spaces (DU'ers want people to check their 'privilege' here more than they seemingly wish to discuss actual & tangible ways to end institutionalized forms of oppression!)
This is why many of us see it as offensive, because, it is. The language has changed to be less inclusive, more exclusive, more combative, and aimed solely at my 'position' be it woman, black, gay, atheist, whatever than inclusive of all oppressed positions no matter where they fall on the totem pole of generally financial inequality in this country.
And it is failing politically and will only continue to do so because of reasons already elucidated in this thread.