Does White Privilege Exist?

dignin
dignin Posts: 9,478
edited September 2016 in A Moving Train
White privilege (or white skin privilege) is a term for societal privileges that benefit people identified as white in Western countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances. Academic perspectives such as critical race theory and whiteness studies use the concept of "white privilege" to analyze how racism and racialized societies affect the lives of white or white-skinned people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege

Does White Privilege Exist? 38 votes

Yes
78%
cincybearcatledveddermanjeffbrigotid882-feign-reluctancedigninblueandwhitebutterjamChazzmickeyratCliffy6745polaris_xSmellymanGo BeaversHesCalledDyerOnWis97Kev - Coat and Keysdot30RiotZacteddiec 30 votes
No
21%
pjalive21unsungEmpty GlassKC138045dmaradona10Godfather.Stickman12JWPearl 8 votes
«1345678

Comments

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Wish there were a middle ground option, as I think it's not black-and white sometimes (no pun intended) - meaning, anyone can be born into that.

    I'm fair-skinned due to my dad's heritage, but my mom is one of them brown-skinned folks. I'm proud of how her family turned nothing into something (someONES) after coming to the US in the 40s, and later in the 70s.

    Guess I consider myself fortunate vs the term privileged as I had wonderful building blocks as a kid, but I worked my ass off to stack them in a way to make a happy life, overall.

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,671
    Yes
    According to Bill O'Reilly, no it doesn't because the poor guy had to work in an ice cream parlor once.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Yes
    Thanks for sharing your experience hedonist.

    I thought about adding another option but in my opinion it either exists or it doesn't. I think it's that black and white. If you think it does exist we can debate to what degree....and add in variables and nuance.

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,671
    edited September 2016
    Yes
    I wouldn't say it exists everywhere, but generally, heck yeah.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,671
    Yes
    Oh, and now I have voted.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Yes
    brianlux said:

    Oh, and now I have voted.

    ✔

    😎
  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    Yes
    I think it's hard to deny, if you have paid even a grain of attention to the wider world around you. Because the concept does not deny that everybody has to work hard to succeed (unless you are born to that other type of privilege - money), but some groups definitely have more barriers put in the way that others don't ever face, and so probably never even think about.
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • ledvedderman
    ledvedderman Posts: 7,762
    Yes
    Abso-fucking-lutely
    E8toX.gif

    http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
  • unsung
    unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    No
    Nope.
  • mace1229
    mace1229 Posts: 9,893
    Do blacks on average have more obstacles to overcome? Yes. Is it a direct result of their race? No. More start lower in socialeconomical status, broken homes, poor neighborhoods that contribute to this and does make it difficult to break this cycle.
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,327
    edited September 2016
    happy Sunday!
    Post edited by Jason P on
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Yes
    mace1229 said:

    Do blacks on average have more obstacles to overcome? Yes. Is it a direct result of their race? No. More start lower in socialeconomical status, broken homes, poor neighborhoods that contribute to this and does make it difficult to break this cycle.

    Do you think racism exists?

    Look at it this way, if you believe racism exists then you don't have to take a giant leap to believe that white privilege exists. All of our systems are made up of people.....if any person with any kind of power (mostly white males) within that system has racial bias, whether intentional or not, than that person or system will put the people of colour at a disadvantage.....therefore giving whites a leg up. Does that make sense?

    So in turn you would have to believe that racism no longer exists, if white privilege doesn't exist.
  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    edited September 2016
    Yes
    Another comparison
    sexism+males= male privilege
    same as
    racism+whites= white privilege

    Clear as mud?

    Edit: I should also be a bit more clear here....I don't mean to say that just because I benefit from the system (I'm a white male) that makes me sexist/racist...it just means that I benefit.
    Post edited by dignin on
  • unsung
    unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    No
    It's an half full, half empty glass thing.

    Instead of focusing on bringing whites down because of some imagined privilege, focus on why blacks have racist actions toward them.

    But people like jesse and al need a job.
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,759
    Yes
    Who is focusing on bring whites down? Pretty sure the idea is to raise everyone else up.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • mace1229
    mace1229 Posts: 9,893
    dignin said:

    mace1229 said:

    Do blacks on average have more obstacles to overcome? Yes. Is it a direct result of their race? No. More start lower in socialeconomical status, broken homes, poor neighborhoods that contribute to this and does make it difficult to break this cycle.

    Do you think racism exists?

    Look at it this way, if you believe racism exists then you don't have to take a giant leap to believe that white privilege exists. All of our systems are made up of people.....if any person with any kind of power (mostly white males) within that system has racial bias, whether intentional or not, than that person or system will put the people of colour at a disadvantage.....therefore giving whites a leg up. Does that make sense?

    So in turn you would have to believe that racism no longer exists, if white privilege doesn't exist.
    I actually don't think racism exist as a whole. Of course there are racist individuals, but they exist in all colors and hate all colors. Racism is an equal opportunity offender.
    Every candidate since I've been an adult, which is 4 or 5 elections always has equality as a major component of their campaign. We've become so culturally sensitive to counteract even the slightest impression of racism. Many schools aren't even allowed to celebrate cinco de mayo because they are afraid to offend someone.
    Yes some individuals are racist, but it is not socially acceptable and is by far the minority. and like I said you can find them of all colors.
  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Yes
    PJ_Soul said:

    Who is focusing on bring whites down? Pretty sure the idea is to raise everyone else up.

    pjSOUL gets it

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzpd-ONOdo
  • HesCalledDyer
    HesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,498
    Yes
    unsung said:

    It's an half full, half empty glass thing.

    Instead of focusing on bringing whites down because of some imagined privilege, focus on why blacks have racist actions toward them.

    But people like jesse and al need a job.

    Focus on why blacks have racist actions toward them???!!!

    What in the actual fuck???

    They have racist actions toward them BECAUSE THERE ARE RACISTS!

    I guess you're one of the people who defends rapists because the girl wore a skirt. Cuz ya know, let's focus on why women have rape actions toward them.
    Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 25
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,671
    Yes
    I think it's important to remember we are (at least I think we are) talking about America in general here. In general, white people in America have more and better opportunities to get by well and are treated with fewer biases. That's called "white privilege". I don't see how anyone could argue convincingly against that.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • unsung
    unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    No
    PJ_Soul said:

    Who is focusing on bring whites down? Pretty sure the idea is to raise everyone else up.

    That's what should be done but it isn't done.

    White on black crime is nearly nothing, black on black crime is the highest amount of crime, by far, done to black people.

    Their response: White Privilege.

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