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Maedhros

(10,007 posts)

24. White Supremacy as an ethos involves a conscious adoption

Wed Aug 12, 2015, 04:26 PM

Aug 2015

of the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and should therefore dominate society.

American society on the whole is not "white supremacist" - many of the features of American culture that are disparaging to black people are subconscious, ingrained attitudes that in most cases are not recognized without serious introspection. Look at all the posters who claim to be entirely post-racial and deny the existence of white privilege: they are not white supremacists in any way, they are just unaware.

The institutional racism of the police state is closer to the mark.

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I am trying to understand my "white supremacy" [View all] Generic Other Aug 2015 OP

I had an African American friend years ago who called it white entitlement. Cleita Aug 2015 #1

These words are simply shades of the same idea Generic Other Aug 2015 #4

I agree we need to do more in making others and ourselves more aware of how Cleita Aug 2015 #10

She thinks all who benefit a system Generic Other Aug 2015 #18

"If white entitlement or white privilege isn't a strong enough term, find one that is but not..." JTFrog Aug 2015 #14

I'm still fed up with the word Nazis here who can't tell the difference between a noun and an Cleita Aug 2015 #16

Word nazis indeed. JTFrog Aug 2015 #23

it is deep and it is real Supersedeas Aug 2015 #45

Privilege 1939 Aug 2015 #2

and if you weren't white you were shown the door tk2kewl Aug 2015 #5

I think this is an important point Generic Other Aug 2015 #9

absolutely tk2kewl Aug 2015 #13

I think I got a job once in an all male department because I was a woman and they Cleita Aug 2015 #19

A riff on it still exists. hifiguy Aug 2015 #31

Kudos to you for trying. cheapdate Aug 2015 #3

Thank you. n/t Admiral Loinpresser Aug 2015 #6

"How I was raised" Generic Other Aug 2015 #7

Not exactly sure what you're suggesting. cheapdate Aug 2015 #20

You sound very self-aware Generic Other Aug 2015 #26

That's a fine thing. cheapdate Aug 2015 #35

What a wonderful American story! Generic Other Aug 2015 #36

Most people are raised in countries where the dominant culture rules. Igel Aug 2015 #41

White privilege is real, and I see it every day. Maedhros Aug 2015 #8

She experiences it too Generic Other Aug 2015 #11

Well, calling Bernie a "white supremacist" would be like calling Ms. Johnson an "Uncle Tom". Maedhros Aug 2015 #12

Exactly. I don't really excoriate Ms. Johnson for the use of the term. I think she didn't Cleita Aug 2015 #17

I think the point is that no white people are immune Generic Other Aug 2015 #22

White Supremacy as an ethos involves a conscious adoption Maedhros Aug 2015 #24

Unaware of the racism of the police state or refusing to acknowledge? Generic Other Aug 2015 #28

I once served on a jury for a case in which is was patently obvious that the police Maedhros Aug 2015 #33

I too have seen it apnu Aug 2015 #27

i'm a 74 year old white female. not only DesertFlower Aug 2015 #15

Oh, yeah years ago for women, you couldn't be fat or over thirty or too plain looking if you Cleita Aug 2015 #21

my first job was as a receptionist in DesertFlower Aug 2015 #37

The very words "white supremacist" are supercharged ... ananda Aug 2015 #25

Soul searching Generic Other Aug 2015 #29

Don't bother. hifiguy Aug 2015 #30

I would call it institutionalized or societal white supremacy susanr516 Aug 2015 #32

Biracial families understand Generic Other Aug 2015 #34

I consider myself Latina because of my mother but my Cleita Aug 2015 #38

Great post Generic Other Matariki Aug 2015 #39

Thank goodness I'm not a "liberal" or "progressive", delrem Aug 2015 #40

Well that doesn't sound like me! Generic Other Aug 2015 #43

My guess is we're all "mixed race". I self-identify as Cherokee even though I'm only 15/64. cherokeeprogressive Aug 2015 #42

They sound like folks Guthrie sang about Generic Other Aug 2015 #44