Issues with Affluent Minority Guilt

Anonymous

(VIDEO AT THE END FOR THOSE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO READ)

We’re already aware of “white guilt that causes some whites so much guilt, that they’re actually offering modern day reparations! (I'm not joking), But there’s also “middle/upper class minority guilt”.

I believe many affluent minorities feel guilty about their “privilege” because we are told experiencing widespread discrimination is integral to the “minority” experience. However a lot of our struggles are not racial, they’re actually financial, and they can feel a disconnect in the reality they experience and the ideas being pushed. This is also why they suppress or dismiss discussion about community or culture values and issues; since many live in fairly safe areas and don’t have to deal with the repercussions of said lack of discussion and they probably aren’t seeing it firsthand.


I’m not saying identity discrimination doesn’t exist. I’m also NOT claiming that our wealthier counterparts don’t experience them. I just personally don’t think it’s the biggest thing holding many of us back. Why am I told that some white people mispronouncing my name or opening taco shops is an equal or bigger threat than Latino and black gangs terrorizing my community?

Also, not everyone of these demographics will experience identity specific discrimination or maltreatment. little Wayne said in an interview that he never experienced racism, which shocked and even upset many people, even going as far as to call to boycott him.

Exaggerating issues, cultural appropriation, microaggressions, and even fabricating fake hate crimes are the cheapest, easiest, and lamest forms of “empowerment” identity struggles. I remember an abortion activist who was sent a pepe meme, and she exaggerated it. She received so many retweets and likes. While here I thought to myself, if a picture of a frog is the worst or most common form of “racism” you’ve ever experienced, you sure as hell are pretty damn privileged. And I don’t know how they’d cope with actual adversity.

Issues with Affluent Minority Guilt


By now, we’re well aware of the Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax. And no, I don’t think the “hate crime hoax” is an epidemic. There are more hate crimes than hoaxes (just like there are more real rape cases vs false rape claims).

Why would anyone fake a hate crime? Well, our society LOVES victims. And no, it’s not just liberals - everyone loves the “rags to riches” success stories. Nobody cares about rich people and their “small loans of a million dollars” struggles. So now everyone wants to be a victim in order to be an “inspiration”. Those who saw Smollett’s GMA interview can recount how he tried to play the “triumphing underdog” as the “Gay Tupac”.


I’m not saying that we should discount the experiences of affluent minorities. I am saying that not every black person is harassed by police. Not every Mexican gets told to leave the country. Not every Muslim gets called a terrorist. Not every gay person gets denied wedding cakes by religious businesses. And these things should not be definitive of our “minority” experience. I have more in common and face more similar struggles with white people on my block than Selena Gomez or George Lopez. Not everyone has to be a victim all the time. I remember seeing a video of a black Youtuber that claimed that despite being rich, him being black makes him less privileged than a homeless white man!

Issues with Affluent Minority Guilt

I’m getting really tired of these type of affluent “historically marginalized” individuals using their identity group for cheap and easy “empowerment”.

It’s like there’s this weird “reverse” Stockholm syndrome where those who are victims convinced themselves that they’re not; instead we have people who aren’t victims, convincing themselves that they are.

Exaggerating or even creating fake crimes is damaging to racial issues. Today’s “cry wolf” stories of false rape claims and hate crime hoaxes make it much harder for individuals who have been afflicted seek justice. I still think we should believe victims, however, a healthy dose of skepticism is not unreasonable.

There’s a concerning dichotomy where the same people who claim to want the abuse of minorities to end prefer a world that is attacking marginalized communities over a world where marginalized people are treated fairly or even fake abuse..

Issues with Affluent Minority Guilt

The demand for victims is much higher than the supply, especially in the US where freedoms are being extended to more groups.

We have a developing story of another possible hate crime hoax from a trans activist, Nikki Joly. It is alleged that he was disappointed that LGBT+ rights issues were no longer getting much attention, so he set his residence on fire, killing his two dogs and three cats.

To me, a lot of these affluent “marginalized groups” are sometimes more privileged than even rich, white people. They get the best of both worlds - free “victim” points and enjoy their money.

I cannot imagine that a white celebrity today can be accused of faking a hate crime, and still return to work. Roseanne was fired over a tweet, while Smollett was allowed to resume on Empire the same day he posted bail. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to be convinced that “systems” and “institutions” are against us, when it seems to be opposite.

Many affluent minorities also tend to focus on white, conservative, Christian discrimination, while ignoring minorities oppressing and opposing accountability. In the same way majority of white progressivists ignore issues that we in our cultures create,neither they nor affluent minorities have to deal with the repercussions of enabling people’s self destructive behaviors. People like myself have to.

This is an opinion, but I believe the more you have, the more you focus on small problems when it comes to these types of people. ”More money, more problems?” More like, “more money, more made up problems”. It actually turns out that more progressives are likely to be white, educated and/or with money, which I don’t mind.

Progressives vs the average American
Progressives vs the average American

I do, however, mind that people who have likely never, and very unlikely to ever live a similar experience to mine and face the consequences of their policies and ideologies easily dismiss criticisms similar to mine. I’m tired of speaking about these issues and people reminding me how terrible rich, white people are. We already know the damage caused and they have largely corrected many of their past wrongdoings (and NO, I’m not saying that the government or society is perfect, but it’s definitely progressed since the 50s). White people aren’t jumping, killing, and fighting minorities - for the most part, we are.

Whites, Christians, and men have been told enough how they can improve individually and as a culture (which I am not against), however, when will it be our turn to get called out on our toxic behaviors and values?

If white people can’t discuss these issues because they’ll be dismissed as racists, men can’t because they’ll be patriarchal or “mansplaining”, women can’t because it’s “internalizing misogyny”,minorities can’t because we’re “coconuts,” “bananas”, “oreos” (or whatever little cute food that describes brown/yellow/black on the outside, white on the inside), and few “lucky” minority females get dismissed as “bed wenches” (I guess they’re “intersectionality” extends to their insults and slurs?) - who exactly is allowed to discuss these issues?


I remember in boot-camp (unfortunately, I didn’t complete it), there was a punishment where if a certain recruit misbehaved, the whole group would be punished. But that recruit would be set aside and spared. Many times, that recruit would try to join in on the punishment, and the Drill Instructors wouldn’t allow them. It’s weird that a person would rather be suffering with their group, than to be the only one out. Those who study psychology are aware of collective punishment and conformity.

A study also found that people would rather be wrong in a group, than correct as the individual in that group. (Again, I’m not a psychologist or any professional.)

Taking these into consideration, it seems that there are people who would rather suffer with the rest of the group, than be outsiders (or with the few hate crime hoaxes, they’d rather appear to be suffering with us). Since they feel shame or guilt for not struggling like the rest of us.

I also never understood why there isn’t more “outrage” over rich rappers who do appropriate poor minorities’ cultures and real experiences. They rap about guns they never shot, drugs they never sold, “bottoms” they never started from - yet there isn’t much backlash (like calls to boycott or deplatform) other than a few insults like “studio gangster”. They’re literally profiting off the death, violence and the worst of the ghettos - while they have their college degrees, dual parent households, and comfortable suburban homes.


I don’t want people to feel guilt for having more. Y’all probably worked hard for it, or your parents did. I really dislike this fake “empowerment” by shaming others to “uplift” us.. It is not “empowering” me as a woman to insult or shame men, or as a Latina to insult/shame white people, or as a poor person to insult/shame rich people - it’s patronizing. I can take criticisms of the culture and actions that I either intentionally or even unintentionally partake in that leads to some negative consequences. I don’t need to be sheltered. These are really low expectations that I, or others like me, cannot be held to the same expectations y’all are. I want to be treated equally and with respect. I understand some of y’all want to empathize, but don’t let that empathy lead to our enablement or your self hate. I don’t like white nor affluent minority guilt. I don’t really interact much with y’all, so why blame yourselves (and those like you) for my misfortune? Also, it isn’t a crime as a minority to not experience hate. But you know what is? Faking hate crimes.

It is not “empowering” me as a woman to insult or shame men, or as a Latina to insult/shame white people, or as a poor person to insult/shame rich people - it’s patronizing.


Issues with Affluent Minority Guilt
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