There have been several questions posted about "White" privilege that are just off. So I felt compelled to provide the real view on what it is and how it manifests. It is weird that people who have a deep belief in raciology don't recognize the consequences that go along with those beliefs. And in GaG, there are many folks who believe in racial stereotypes, racial science, racial logic, racial categories, and classifications. Most simply reject that in order to know people, the best path is to figure out how those people feel about themselves and their group identity. Many people here believe there is a way to objectively know about different groups of humans. That there is an objective "science-based" classification system that gives you insight into group behaviors, beliefs, and genetic commonality, independent of actually getting DNA evidence. In other words, many folks here believe their subjective definition of a person's race, can tell them how a person will act, along with what genetic grouping they belong to.
This isn't to say people do not have a right to hold their own chosen beliefs. But that the consequences of those beliefs should be pretty evident to everyone. Race was created for the specific purposes of separating and ranking people. To deny that is simply not dealing with reality. I can cite endless sources to show that easily.
That would be Dr. William Shockley, with a PH.D in physics. But let's take a step back. Let's forget about "Whites" and non-"Whites" for a minute. Let's just talk about culture, ethnic groups, and nationalism. Because almost everyone understands that. It is usually easier in any society to be a member a citizen of the nation than a non-citizen. It is usually easier to be a member of a certain ethnic group or culture sometimes within a nation. Like the old Soviet Union. The Russian culture was the dominant culture. Most Westerners had no idea of the hundreds of different ethnic groups within the Soviet Union until after it fell apart.
But when it comes to American society, well that should be pretty evident. When you think you are a member of the world's greatest group in this society, what conclusions would that lead you to draw? Wouldn't schools have to primarily focused on teaching about where "your" people come from? Wouldn't the religion have to from that area of the world and wouldn't the founding members of that religion have to look just like "your" people?
So let's run down a quick list of "White" privilege shall we?
1. All schools, even those where your people/children are not a majority, need to focus on the history that supremely concerned with and glorifies what you have deemed "your people".
2. Social norms, graces, standards, etc. must comply to what "White" society deems normal and acceptable.
3. The amazing thing about "Whiteness" is its ability to project universally. People's most beautiful in the world lists are a great example. The most beautiful people in the entire world, for years, were only or mostly "White". "White" people, if you are a raciologist, are not even the majority of the human race.
Of course, recent lists have been expanded to include different standards of beauty/attractiveness.
The very people who claim they don't understand "White" privilege are simply infuriated by this. They label this PC Culture. Including different forms of cultural expression or norms, in the mainstream, is very offensive to them. The same goes for the Oscars, in which the greatest films of the planet are ranked and voted upon. Or the Grammys or any awards show ever created in American society. The funny thing is that the vast majority of these folks upholding these standards are Liberals. Whom the anti-PC crowd claims to hate.
4. You will never sit in front of a television set, looking at a news program, then hearing of a horrible crime, murder, etc. . .and resort to the universal non-"White" chant. Don't be "Black"! Don't be Arab! Don't be Mexican! I could on. Please watch this. It is only three minutes.
5. Which leads to some obvious things. "White" privilege is being able to be evaluated by only the good that your supposed "race" has done. But never the bad. Many "White" people do not believe they can be profiled for any negative behavior. And almost all of those "White" people disbelieve in "White" privilege. When the anti-PC crowd profiles others, it is only because logical, rational reasons. But never because they are biased.
6. Most "Whites" will never feel shame about being a member of their own culture. Most will never know what it is like to not want to be a member of your own ethnic group. "White" people don't have discussions about what is wrong with "White" people. The "culture" (as you all have noted, I claim "White" people is merely a cultural designation) isn't capable of that kind of debate. But among Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Latin-Americans, American Indians, Arab-Americans, those discussions are common. Most "Whites" are pretty comfortable in their own skin. They don't have surgery on their eyelids to look like Asians or try to take creams to darker their skin color. In the non-"White" experience there are always themes of the struggle to accept yourself, your culture, and your history.
"You can't be an American Indian, unless you went through a time in your life when you did not want to be an American Indian."
Sherman Alexie, "Reservation Blues"
7. And finally to wrap things up. The amazing thing about the anti-PC crowd, is that they claim this to be an invention of PC Culture, yet they agree with almost all the points. They agree that non-"Whites" should be profiled for whatever fantasy they happen to believe about different non-"White" groups. Almost all of them lack diversity in their everyday lives and they believe that any focus on diversity of thought, culture, traditions, norms, etc. is a PC conspiracy. Well, at least the diversity they deem offensive.
Now, this isn't about fixing anything. "White" privilege as I see it, is just an obstacle to be navigated. If you are not "White" you have to know at anytime in this society, you could become the boogeyman. You could be the cause for crime, for violence, for unemployment, for terrorism, etc.
I am refusing anonymous opinions for this take. Let's have an adult conversation.
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