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susanr516

(1,512 posts)

32. I would call it institutionalized or societal white supremacy

Wed Aug 12, 2015, 05:26 PM

Aug 2015

We who are (perceived to be) 100% white receive privileged treatment. I am sure that I benefit from white privilege every day, although I never notice it.

Three of my grandchildren have a Latino father. The oldest once asked me if he was white or Latino. I told him he was both, but society would likely consider him to be Latino because of his surname. I have seen my Latino son-in-law treated contemptibly. I have seen the stares when my (perceived) 100% Latino children call my daughter, "Mom." It infuriates me.

Thank you for such an honest and thoughtful post. You have provided a perspective that we (whites) need to understand and acknowledge. White privilege is real. Institutional white supremacy is real.

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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