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Post by stampbooker on Oct 18, 2020 18:22:51 GMT
I am having a text conversation with a friend. This conversation started with her trying to convince me of the media bias towards the left by using the example of Trump's "very fine people on both sides"statement. So we were talking about that and she made this statement:
"I see white supremacists on both sides of the aisle and see the whole idea of white privilege as one that borders on white supremacy."
ETA: she clarified more with this statement: "
Sorry I don’t mean to say the idea of white privilege is but they way that some talk about it these days make it sound like they need to be white saviors and black people cant make it unless we use our white privilege to help that. That sounds so condescending and borders on racism to me even though I don’t believe it’s meant to come off that way. Although I have spoken to many people who say that’s how they hear it too.
That’s where that comment was coming from."
First of all, from this statement it seems that she doesn't really understand the meaning of white privilege. It seems to me that white privilege is result of a white supremacist society. But I'm not exactly sure if that's the correct way to state things.
Anyway what do you think about that statement of hers, I would love to hear other people's thoughts and opinions as I try to put together my response.
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Post by busy on Oct 18, 2020 18:43:28 GMT
There are certainly racists on both sides of the aisle, but I'm not sure I'd say white supremacists. White supremacy is a different breed and has a set of ideologies that aren't compatible with Democratic ideals. I can't imagine why anyone would identify as both.
As far as the rest of her statement - I'd say she doesn't even know what she's talking about. She doesn't understand what racial privilege means and probably heard some talking head say something like that and she's just repeating it.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Oct 18, 2020 18:45:54 GMT
I think you can certainly have white privilege, but not be a white supremacist. is that the question?
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Post by stampbooker on Oct 18, 2020 19:05:31 GMT
I think you can certainly have white privilege, but not be a white supremacist. is that the question? Oh, of course! My point was that we have white privilege exists because of our country's white supremacy roots. |
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Post by stampbooker on Oct 18, 2020 19:10:03 GMT
She clarified some more with this statement.
"Sorry I don’t mean to say the idea of white privilege is but they way that some talk about it these days make it sound like they need to be white saviors and black people cant make it unless we use our white privilege to help that. That sounds so condescending and borders on racism to me even though I don’t believe it’s meant to come off that way. Although I have spoken to many people who say that’s how they hear it too.
That’s where that comment was coming from."
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Post by nlwilkins on Oct 18, 2020 19:16:41 GMT
White privilege is taken for granted by so many that they don't even realize they have it. White supremacy is something that is consciously cherished and nourished to the point of obsession. When white privileges are pointed out to a person they can either admit the truth and strive to do better or they deny they exist. White supremacists take a step further and work to deny privileges to other races and claim they have the right to do so as they are superior due to their race.
It is a continuum, from unawareness to racist. There is room between white privilege and white supremacy. Many do not accept there is such a thing as white privileges and willfully hold hold onto their ignorance. To me that is not the same as claiming they are better and are owed those privileges. They can still be educated if done lovingly and without judgment.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Oct 18, 2020 19:36:13 GMT
Yes, what nl said above. I think white privilege is often unconscious, but white supremacist is thought of. It's a decision. I don't think white privilege was born from white supremacist at all.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Oct 18, 2020 19:40:59 GMT
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Post by stampbooker on Oct 18, 2020 22:18:35 GMT
There are certainly racists on both sides of the aisle, but I'm not sure I'd say white supremacists. White supremacy is a different breed and has a set of ideologies that aren't compatible with Democratic ideals. I can't imagine why anyone would identify as both. As far as the rest of her statement - I'd say she doesn't even know what she's talking about. She doesn't understand what racial privilege means and probably heard some talking head say something like that and she's just repeating it. Thanks for your reply. If you don't mind, would you tell me a little more about the ideologies being different. Or if you could refer me to a link with more info, that would be great. I did respond to her saying. "I'm not sure you understand what white privilege is." She replied with the following that I added to my op: Sorry I don’t mean to say the idea of white privilege is but they way that some talk about it these days make it sound like they need to be white saviors and black people cant make it unless we use our white privilege to help that. That sounds so condescending and borders on racism to me even though I don’t believe it’s meant to come off that way. Although I have spoken to many people who say that’s how they hear it too. That’s where that comment was coming from." |
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Post by elaine on Oct 18, 2020 22:39:37 GMT
White privilege isn’t about using one’s “privilege” to “rescue” POC.
It is about recognizing things that other groups have to endure, like being stopped for driving while black, or being suspected of shoplifting simply because one is a POC, or having shitty resources at school because one goes to an inner-city urban school as opposed to a wealthy white suburb, or not having the resources to take $$$ SAT/ACT prep courses that allow one to get into top notch colleges, etc...
It is about recognizing that we definitely are given countless benefits by being white that others aren’t given. And supporting giving those same privileges that we often take for granted to everyone, even if it means that we aren’t afforded those same privileges any more, IMO.
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