The Best Explanation of White Privilege?

[DigitalFudge]

And you can go fuck this shit. What are they gonna do when they pull you over and find nothing? Drop a dime bag in the back seat and hope he doesn't sue for being set up? Or is he gonna go on with his business and keep making his money? At the end of the day when the cop says goodnight, he is still making money because he worked hard and got somewhere in life.

Utter death by the end of that little anecdote with you giving a happy ending to the racist crooked cop.

 

[Rolyo85]

The funniest thing about this argument is that bankside's whole point IS semantic. Yes, TECHNICALLY it's not "white privilege", it's "scorn, distaste and suspicion towards colored minorities". But that's hard to sell both because it sounds clumsy, and because there's no way to package it in a way that isn't directly racist.

Everyone should be able to get out of bed and not care what the color of his skin is. But there EXISTS inequality. That's a fact. And whites are PRIVILEGED to not be touched by it. It's a privilege that could and probably would be taken away if somehow we became the minority.

So bankside, you're both right and wrong. Your semantic claim is correct in a world where equality is the status quo. But in the real world it isn't, and so those not touched by inequality could be called nothing but privileged.

If you are firmly against that, I invite you to offer a different term that hasn't to do with racism. Because neither you, nor me are in any way racist, yet both of us benefit from white privilege.

 

[MorrisseyX]

Huh? When did I explicitly say that? I have firsthand experience with white privilege. I listened when my uncle would talk about pretty much being harrassed by white people in his neighborhood. But he didn't let it get him down, he made something of himself in life and didn't let them get him down or deter him from making any changes he wanted to his own house. Especially when he was an architect, and his son (my cousin) is a contractor. He blamed white people for a lot of pitfalls of black people in American society, but he didn't let it destroy his will to be successful and work for what he believed what his right to have.

This is a man in his 70's who was in his teens when Dr. King was marching on Washington. My mom was a teen as well during that time, but she had less motivation than he did to make something of herself. He has grown up seeing the changes America has gone through since the time of segregation.

Great, good for your uncle that didn't let racism affect him. However, I think you downplay how racism can affect people of colour psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. Franz Fanon the great black psychiatrist wrote about racism in his 1952 groundbreaking book Black Skin/White Masks. Fanon talked about how racism can destroy the black man and destroy his mind.


Fanon also said in chapter five of Black Skin/White Masks called "the lived experience of the black man" that the black male is viewed in the third person in white society. The black male isn't viewed as a person he does not see himself, he sees how other people view him. Fanon talked about a young white child calling him the N word and he realized he wasn't seen as a complete human being.

I think you are ignoring how racism can truly destroy the black mind. Maybe, you are fortunate, that you were able to "rise above it" but I think it is foolish for you to dismiss how racism indeed exists in society and it is very real and very powerful.

Nobody is saying black people should not work hard to achieve and make something out of life. However, there are indeed structural barriers that affect people of colour more than white people. bell hooks has written many times about white privilege and how the American society tries to ignore it, even though it is so obvious it exists. The police is a huge factor, young black and Latino men are harassed by police officers, racial profiling occurs still to this day. However, a white Salon.com writer David Sirota pointed out that most mass shooters in the USA are young white males. The mainstream white media never discuss why this is the case, they never discuss the "whiteness" of these young white guys who shoot tons of people each year. The reason is due to white privilege.


Of course, there are better opportunities for minorites today in America nobody is disputing this fact but racism is a serious social problem in America. The discussion is about white privilege and the fact is some white people are oblivious to this privilege. White privilege is a concept from critical race theory that some people don't really understand or choose not to understand. White privilege is more nuanced and in some ways it is more invisible and people treat it or try to ignore white privilege exists.

 

[DigitalFudge]

Why don't you just try and make something of yourself and put up the middle finger to white privilege?

First of all, I'm getting really tired of you insinuating (Or is it implying?) that because we want to discuss the social constructs that which we live everyday we are not making the most out of our lives. Bye.


Second, we can't give the middle finger to something we have not experienced. Again, you believe white privilege is this object/thing/force that is working against us when it isn't. It's working for white people.


Jesus.



I get you though Apollo, you are not racist. You have not called a black person the N word. Nor have you wished poorly of someone who is of a darker tone than you. Therefore you have convinced yourself that you are innocent. Which you are. No one is saying you are part of the problem.


Some of us in this thread are simply saying you benefit from the the problem, we are not asking you to apologize, we don't want you to repent.

 

[Apollo]

Great, good for your uncle that didn't let racism affect him. However, I think you downplay how racism can affect people of colour psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. Franz Fanon the great black psychiatrist wrote about racism in his book Black Skin/White Masks. Fanon talked about how the black male is viewed in the third person in white society. I think you are ignoring how racism can truly destroy the black mind. Maybe, you are fortunate, that you were able to "rise above it" but I think it is foolish for you to dismiss how racism indeed exists in society and it is very real and very powerful.

Nobody is saying black people should not work hard to achieve and make something out of life. However, there are indeed structural barriers that affect people of colour more than white people. bell hooks has written many times about white privilege and how the American society tries to ignore it, even though it is so obvious it exists. The police is a huge factor, young black and Latino men are harassed by police officers, racial profiling occurs still to this day. However, a white Salon.com writer David Sirota pointed out that most mass shooters in the USA are young white males. The mainstream white media never discuss why this is the case, they never discuss the "whiteness" of these young white guys who shoot tons of people each year. The reason is due to white privilege.


Of course, there are better opportunities for minorites today in America nobody is disputing this fact. The discussion is about white privilege and the fact is some white people are oblivious to this privilege. White privilege is a concept from critical race theory that some people don't really understand or choose not to understand. White privilege is more nuanced and in some ways it is more invisible and people treat it or try to ignore white privilege exists.

Thank you for this post. This is what I have been looking for when I entered this thread. This is something the usual players in this debate never say or understand. They quickly jump to pure racism as a answer to all the questions.

 

[xbuzzerx]

Great, good for your uncle that didn't let racism affect him. However, I think you downplay how racism can affect people of colour psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. Franz Fanon the great black psychiatrist wrote about racism in his 1952 groundbreaking book Black Skin/White Masks. Fanon talked about how racism can destroy the black man and destroy his mind.


Fanon also said in chapter five of Black Skin/White Masks called "the lived experience of the black man" that the black male is viewed in the third person in white society. The black male isn't viewed as a person he does not see himself, he sees how other people view him. Fanon talked about a young white child calling him the N word and he realized he wasn't seen as a complete human being.

I think you are ignoring how racism can truly destroy the black mind. Maybe, you are fortunate, that you were able to "rise above it" but I think it is foolish for you to dismiss how racism indeed exists in society and it is very real and very powerful.

Nobody is saying black people should not work hard to achieve and make something out of life. However, there are indeed structural barriers that affect people of colour more than white people. bell hooks has written many times about white privilege and how the American society tries to ignore it, even though it is so obvious it exists. The police is a huge factor, young black and Latino men are harassed by police officers, racial profiling occurs still to this day. However, a white Salon.com writer David Sirota pointed out that most mass shooters in the USA are young white males. The mainstream white media never discuss why this is the case, they never discuss the "whiteness" of these young white guys who shoot tons of people each year. The reason is due to white privilege.


Of course, there are better opportunities for minorites today in America nobody is disputing this fact but racism is a serious social problem in America. The discussion is about white privilege and the fact is some white people are oblivious to this privilege. White privilege is a concept from critical race theory that some people don't really understand or choose not to understand. White privilege is more nuanced and in some ways it is more invisible and people treat it or try to ignore white privilege exists.

I'll be Booboo behind this post.

 

[Apollo]

First of all, I'm getting really tired of you insinuating (Or is it implying?) that because we want to discuss the social constructs that which we live everyday we are not making the most out of our lives. Bye.


Second, we can't give the middle finger to something we have not experienced. Again, you believe white privilege is this object/thing/force that is working against us when it isn't. It's working for white people.


Jesus.



I get you though Apollo, you are not racist. You have not called a black person the N word. Nor have you wished poorly of someone who is of a darker tone than you. Therefore you have convinced yourself that you are innocent. Which you are. No one is saying you are part of the problem.


Some of us in this thread are simply saying you benefit from the the problem, we are not asking you to apologize, we don't want you to repent.

You know, you are an incredibly intelligent person. You choose to lessen it with simple replies to complex topics and a gif. When you engaged me the first time in this thread and from this point on in the thread, you dropped the gifs and they haven't come back sense.

What I really wish is that I could have bit my tongue. When I replied to this thread, I had only read the third page. Which had descended into the same old shit. I didn't even know this was your thread at first. Then I read the OP, and there was nothing there. The comic, which link you eventually fixed, wasn't even good enough.

If you wanted this thread to "discuss social constructs" you could have easily done so with a paragraph or two. I mean, no doubt it would have descended into the same racism talk, but at least you gave it a legit try. That's why I always liked Karen Walker. When that bitch wanted to talk about something serious, she led off the debate with a smart opening and let the chips fall as they may in the thread.


As for your last two paragraphs, you know I am black right? I haven't benefited from anything. I don't think I am innocent from anything. But fuck these words and phrases people like to put on pedestals and stare at longingly, searching for the answers to the universe.

 

[Apollo]

I did find this in researching the issue though. http://thisiswhiteprivilege.tumblr.com/

 

[refujiunderground]

the triangle has me dying.

but on a serious note.



Exactly.

Imagine a wall full of circular holes, that circles can keep walking in and out of with no difficulty.

Now imagine that the triangles manage to get the resources together, after years of not being able to fit through the circle’s holes, to drill a single triangle space into the wall.

Now imagine that the circle — who previously supported the triangle’s efforts because they are well-rounded (har) and value equality — comes along and sees the construction project. But instead of being happy, they get angry.

“Well, I won’t be able to fit through your hole!!!!” the circle cries.

“I helped you get the drill!!!!” the circle shrieks.

“Make it fit me too!!!!” the circle demands.

The triangles, barely holding it together enough to get a triangle hole together, stare at the circle in confusion.

“You have all the holes you need,” the triangles explain. “This is for us. You don’t need to fit through our hole, too.”

“YOU’RE BEING UNEQUAL AND HURTING MY FEELINGS!” the circle wails. “I DON’T SUPPORT YOUR HOLE IF IT DOESN’T FIT ME TOO. GIVE ME MY DRILL BACK.”

“It’s not your drill, it’s our drill. You helped us get it, because you said you cared.”

“I ONLY CARED WHEN I THOUGHT YOU’D MAKE A HOLE EVERYONE COULD FIT THROUGH. YOU’RE PERPETUATING INEQUALITY!!!”

“Why is it up to us, the small group that has never been able to fit through the wall at all, to make a hole everyone can use? Why isn’t it up to you, the people who have been able to cross back and forth at will for years? We just want to see the other side; why are you yelling at us?”

“I DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN A CIRCLE, OMG. I’VE HAD TO WORK HARD ALL MY LIFE TOO. YOU’RE JUST BEING BIGOTED AGAINST ME BECAUSE OF SOMETHING I CAN’T CONTROL, JUST LIKE EVERYONE IS AGAINST YOU.”

“You are interfering with our project and asking us to comfort you while we’re trying to make progress. Please leave.”

“I’m going to tell everyone about this,” the circle warns. “Nobody will support you now.”

“Apparently nobody ever did,” the triangles sigh, getting back to work.

It’s kind of sad

That we have to draw comics using colorful shapes

To explain systematic inequality to people
================================================================

that's so deep.

 

[blackbeltninja]

“You have all the holes you need,” the triangles explain. “This is for us. You don’t need to fit through our hole, too.”

So, in summary, everyone should fit through one hole only. And if someone previously couldn't fit through a hole, s/he should cut a specific hole which carries on perpetuating the idea that there should be no shared holes. Don't build something which works for everyone and is actually the way it should have been done the first time. Rather just single out the people who currently need it. Got it - thanks.

This is really going to advance humanity.

-d-

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

every color a nose lot a plop make
an paint wit it
every day
fa
eons

so bout time tulips get balls out world ova

thankyou

 

[hutson1]

It only means one thing ... racial discrimination. People with white skins (living in first world country) are treated very well and have the most privileges compared to others who have balck/brown skins (third world countries) Not a good way to treat people.

 

[kayman23]

So, in summary, everyone should fit through one hole only. And if someone previously couldn't fit through a hole, s/he should cut a specific hole which carries on perpetuating the idea that there should be no shared holes. Don't build something which works for everyone and is actually the way it should have been done the first time. Rather just single out the people who currently need it. Got it - thanks.

This is really going to advance humanity.

-d-

Yeah, that works in theory, but when the group whom has possess privileges for so long that see others attempting to make such "a shared hole" then what are those other groups to do? Are they suppose to sit and suffer in the meanwhile? Humanity isn't going to advance if this is constant and ongoing persistent dilemma facing non-whites in our world.

You have left us with a question and statement that is unrealistic in practice. Hence why other groups resort to finding other ways such making "another hole". Life goes on, and the fight for equity for all must continue regardless of what the privilege thinks is "right way". Have you ever thought maybe there is not only one "right to get things done"?

 

[bankside]

Bankside unfortunately for you I have been to Canada, as the guest of white Canadians, and I heard how many of them spoke about your Native population. I would say in general it sounded as bad or worse than you typically heard people here speak about Mexicans 15 or 20 or so years ago, back during the height of things like Prop 187 and anti-immigrant sentiment. It has always been thus far a pleasant surprise to me that the Canadians on JUB seem to be an inordinately worldly, metropolitan bunch who largely don't share the sort of prejudices that I personally found to be fairly widespread and common when I visited Canada.

I'm curious to know what you might have said to challenge their ignorance.

 

[xbuzzerx]

the triangle has me dying.

but on a serious note.



Exactly.

Imagine a wall full of circular holes, that circles can keep walking in and out of with no difficulty.

Now imagine that the triangles manage to get the resources together, after years of not being able to fit through the circle’s holes, to drill a single triangle space into the wall.

Now imagine that the circle — who previously supported the triangle’s efforts because they are well-rounded (har) and value equality — comes along and sees the construction project. But instead of being happy, they get angry.

“Well, I won’t be able to fit through your hole!!!!” the circle cries.

“I helped you get the drill!!!!” the circle shrieks.

“Make it fit me too!!!!” the circle demands.

The triangles, barely holding it together enough to get a triangle hole together, stare at the circle in confusion.

“You have all the holes you need,” the triangles explain. “This is for us. You don’t need to fit through our hole, too.”

“YOU’RE BEING UNEQUAL AND HURTING MY FEELINGS!” the circle wails. “I DON’T SUPPORT YOUR HOLE IF IT DOESN’T FIT ME TOO. GIVE ME MY DRILL BACK.”

“It’s not your drill, it’s our drill. You helped us get it, because you said you cared.”

“I ONLY CARED WHEN I THOUGHT YOU’D MAKE A HOLE EVERYONE COULD FIT THROUGH. YOU’RE PERPETUATING INEQUALITY!!!”

“Why is it up to us, the small group that has never been able to fit through the wall at all, to make a hole everyone can use? Why isn’t it up to you, the people who have been able to cross back and forth at will for years? We just want to see the other side; why are you yelling at us?”

“I DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN A CIRCLE, OMG. I’VE HAD TO WORK HARD ALL MY LIFE TOO. YOU’RE JUST BEING BIGOTED AGAINST ME BECAUSE OF SOMETHING I CAN’T CONTROL, JUST LIKE EVERYONE IS AGAINST YOU.”

“You are interfering with our project and asking us to comfort you while we’re trying to make progress. Please leave.”

“I’m going to tell everyone about this,” the circle warns. “Nobody will support you now.”

“Apparently nobody ever did,” the triangles sigh, getting back to work.

It’s kind of sad

That we have to draw comics using colorful shapes

To explain systematic inequality to people
================================================================

that's so deep.

^ That story. That's what people don't get when they start shrieking that something like advocacy groups for things like black college funds or whatever else are "racist" and are "reverse discrimination." People shrieking those things look so fantastically without any sense of proportion and look utterly petty and foolish and don't even realize it.

I'm curious to know what you might have said to challenge their ignorance.

I gave a few earfuls trust me. Especially when someone said "ehh (about a Native crossing the street) just run him over. It's not like they do anything but live off the government." But mostly I was just horrified at how bad that sentiment was up there, from a country which not only seems to think of itself, but seems to be generally believed, to be so far ahead of the U.S. on its racial issues.

 

[refujiunderground]

So, in summary, everyone should fit through one hole only. And if someone previously couldn't fit through a hole, s/he should cut a specific hole which carries on perpetuating the idea that there should be no shared holes. Don't build something which works for everyone and is actually the way it should have been done the first time. Rather just single out the people who currently need it. Got it - thanks.

This is really going to advance humanity.

-d-

you didn't get the point of what was written. in fact, you simply ignored the crucial part of what was written which is why you managed to look @ it the same way the circle did.

 

[refujiunderground]

Isn't circle the most perfect shape in universe? Unless the other shapes have larger dimension than a circle, they all can go through circle's hole mold, that is just amazin ^^

who knows, they probably do.

 

[xbuzzerx]

So, in summary, everyone should fit through one hole only. And if someone previously couldn't fit through a hole, s/he should cut a specific hole which carries on perpetuating the idea that there should be no shared holes. Don't build something which works for everyone and is actually the way it should have been done the first time. Rather just single out the people who currently need it. Got it - thanks.

This is really going to advance humanity.

-d-

Refuji got to it first-- you utterly didn't get the story at all. In his post white people are the circle. The holes are all cut for them already. When a different shaped hole is made, people like you come along and start calling it reverse discrimination or implying it excludes whites.

 

[refujiunderground]

Refuji got to it first-- you utterly didn't get the story at all. In his post white people are the circle. The holes are all cut for them already. When a different shaped hole is made, people like you come along and start calling it reverse discrimination or implying it excludes whites.

he doesn't want to acknowledge the truth which is why he basically skipped to the part which could make him calm down his nerves.

i think that he feels guilty about it which is why he did that BUT the question is why is he feeling guilty though? it's not his fault. nobody is blaming him or anybody for the way the system was set up where it could benefit someone that looks like him.

 

[ElmosToe]

So what's the solution then? Yes it exists because society brought it into existence. But aside from killing all the white people in the US, does anyone have any actual constructive solution to get rid of it? Should white people start feeling guilty for being white? What exactly is the point here?

The main flaw I see in this cartoon is THE WALL. Rather than trying to drill a whole that everyone can fit through, why not just tare down the wall?

Aside from genuine anger towards racist white people who do recognize it and exploit it further for their own gain, if there is anger or resentment towards white people for merely being white because of this "white privilege," I would think THAT anger and resentment is misplaced. Wouldn't it make more sense to be angry at everything within our society that creates and fosters this?