General Discussion

athena

(4,187 posts)

96. As a white woman, I feel I can trust the police.

Mon May 23, 2016, 11:11 PM

May 2016

I am painfully aware that if my skin were black, things would be completely different in this regard.

If I were a black man, I would probably be stopped regularly by the police and asked whether I really live in this neighborhood. I would not feel comfortable going out for a run without my ID. I would be made to feel that I didn't belong here.

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Let's talk about white privilege. [View all] yardwork May 2016 OP

People get defensive about it, for some reason. cyberswede May 2016 #1

I can understand the defensiveness. We still have to confront it. yardwork May 2016 #2

Perhaps because of the name Matrosov May 2016 #9

Very good points. yardwork May 2016 #10

+1 nt ProudProgressiveNow May 2016 #87

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2016 #3

Welcome to DU. Iggo May 2016 #4

In my case, accepting that it exists was difficult until I really understood it Orrex May 2016 #5

there are lots of minority drivers around hill2016 May 2016 #14

You'd have to ask them. Orrex May 2016 #15

Thank you for that post. Yes, that's it, I think. yardwork May 2016 #64

Nah, not into Kafkatrapping. Shandris May 2016 #6

You're the first person to mention this on DU MrScorpio May 2016 #54

Your final sentence is interesting. Shandris May 2016 #56

The Freepers themselves have been discussing it for almost a decade... MrScorpio May 2016 #58

"See, since they deny it, its part of their privilege." Shandris May 2016 #59

Hey, I wasn't the first and only person... MrScorpio May 2016 #61

Good job. "Shandris uses words that someone I don't like uses, even though it's totally accurate!" Shandris May 2016 #62

The reason why I know how that phrase works is because I too deal with my own share... MrScorpio May 2016 #63

This seems like quite an overreaction to Mr. Scorpio's posts. yardwork May 2016 #67

No thanks, I know this technique. Shandris May 2016 #70

Never heard that phrase before. Have you read anything by Kafka? yardwork May 2016 #65

You won't find it in any of his books... MrScorpio May 2016 #76

And the user refuses to explain it here. Pffft. yardwork May 2016 #78

Wingers have used him to create their own Catch 22 MrScorpio May 2016 #80

I was thinking the same thing! They're illustrating a number of his own points..... yardwork May 2016 #82

I recognize my privilege as a fair skinned Black/Latino Man UMTerp01 May 2016 #7

Thank you for this post. I think that fear is at the base of a lot of racism. yardwork May 2016 #69

We can be allies. apnu May 2016 #8

I agree! Whites have to speak up, often and loudly. We can use our position of privilege for good. yardwork May 2016 #71

Yes! apnu May 2016 #89

Our survival as a species is too abstract a concept for anything The2ndWheel May 2016 #11

I like the way that you are looking at potential practical interventions. yardwork May 2016 #73

I can only control my own actions... TipTok May 2016 #12

The Golden Rule. There's a lot to be said for it. yardwork May 2016 #74

A lack of empathy is not an admirable thing. athena May 2016 #95

Are you suggesting that I can control other people's actions...? TipTok May 2016 #97

Thank you for your posts. yardwork May 2016 #13

Only an idiot would deny that racism exists. Nye Bevan May 2016 #16

Only an idiot would deny white privilege exists. kwassa May 2016 #25

I think the reason that President Obama has never used the phrase "white privilege" Nye Bevan May 2016 #27

President Obama is not the arbiter of racial issues in the United States. kwassa May 2016 #40

I find his speeches on racism to be pitch-perfect. Nye Bevan May 2016 #44

But you haven't the faintest idea of how he feels about white privilege. kwassa May 2016 #50

I think you're right. yardwork May 2016 #75

I think you're both right. yardwork May 2016 #77

As a very dark skinned black male I mostly feel white privilege (though I don't like the term much) forjusticethunders May 2016 #17

+1. Nye Bevan May 2016 #18

Though to clarify I think "white privilege" is a good term for one SPECIFIC aspect of racism forjusticethunders May 2016 #20

"Denial of racism" is probably a better term for that (nt) Nye Bevan May 2016 #23

White privilege works just fine. kwassa May 2016 #26

I'm not sure how someone needs to be "privileged" to petulantly deny an obvious truth, Nye Bevan May 2016 #29

You've been doing your darndest to deny white privilege for years on DU. kwassa May 2016 #33

Oh no, you must have seen my racism-minimizing posts like this one from last year: Nye Bevan May 2016 #45

You only see blatant racism, and deny that other types exist. kwassa May 2016 #49

Privilege is a loaded word FLPanhandle May 2016 #19

Yep. Telling a white person who is struggling to pay rent and medical bills Nye Bevan May 2016 #22

Your argument holds no water. It never has held water. kwassa May 2016 #32

I can see that you don't like to use the word "racism", Nye Bevan May 2016 #34

Racism and privilege are different concepts. kwassa May 2016 #37

If no cop was racist, there would be no such thing as "driving while white" privilege. Nye Bevan May 2016 #41

If it is too deep for you to understand .... kwassa May 2016 #51

Alternatively: it's too deep for you to explain. arely staircase May 2016 #88

But it isn't too deep for me to explain. kwassa May 2016 #90

Well, that's part of the point Scootaloo May 2016 #85

One thing privilege can mean Mike__M May 2016 #21

You think it's just white people? cagefreesoylentgreen May 2016 #24

Thank you for a very thoughtful post philosslayer May 2016 #38

Thanks cagefreesoylentgreen May 2016 #53

I can certainly understand your frustration philosslayer May 2016 #55

This is but one reason I no longer talk about this issue nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #68

My wife, who is Latina (and gay, and female) has had very similar experiences. yardwork May 2016 #84

? cagefreesoylentgreen May 2016 #86

Hi! yardwork May 2016 #91

careful Skittles May 2016 #94

White Privilege libodem May 2016 #28

I believe that I can help... MrScorpio May 2016 #30

How about a cute cartoon where a chirpy twentysomething white girl Nye Bevan May 2016 #31

How about you actually read up on it and understand it .... kwassa May 2016 #35

Actually I'm referring to essays and lectures by academics and activists MrScorpio May 2016 #36

Ah, academics who are dedicating their lives to the study of white privilege. Nye Bevan May 2016 #39

Cursing the messenger without even seeing the message... MrScorpio May 2016 #42

Hey, everyone has to earn a living. (nt) Nye Bevan May 2016 #43

Helping the beneficiaries of white privilege in their becoming more self-aware... MrScorpio May 2016 #46

Yes. Go white privilege profs and chirpy cartoons. Nye Bevan May 2016 #47

You're an adult... And MrScorpio May 2016 #52

So, you know better than scholars that closely study the subject? kwassa May 2016 #48

First it is real nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #72

Actually, I think you're missing the mark here. yardwork May 2016 #81

Please do! I think that people here on DU are interested in discussing this issue. yardwork May 2016 #79

Should I start an OP with all the references? MrScorpio May 2016 #83

Go for it! yardwork May 2016 #92

Cool, here we go! MrScorpio May 2016 #93

Let's especially discuss it because there are people posting here who stalk other posters on their Squinch May 2016 #57

The Color is Green scuciti May 2016 #60

I do, but not on DU anymore nadinbrzezinski May 2016 #66

As a white woman, I feel I can trust the police. athena May 2016 #96