The "White Priviledge" in Your Life.

[Chase]

Preface:

This thread is specifically aimed at talking about personal experiences regarding racial inequity. It's titled the way it is because as a "white person" I do understand things in that way from personal experience. If I were not white, it would probably be titled "Discrimination in Your Life" or something else. If you're not white yourself - you may speak about how you've treated personally just the same. In fact - I think if we are to talk openly as a community about personal issues, it will help everyone reach a common understanding because most of the dialogue being shared isn't just parroted from television - but rather a personal witness or account.

Rules:

• Do your best to leave your micro-aggression at the door. This discourse -is- a public forum and all posters HOPEFULLY will be aware that judgement may or may not be passed inadvertently. As long as that is kept away from text format and the spotlight here - we shouldn't have any issues. Disagreement and questioning is allowed, as long as it's clear we are respecting the person's testimony and not making a mockery of the topic.
• Don't make blanket statements - such as "White Privilege is just liberal bullshit." or "All white people are racist on purpose." - this is a hasty generalization and only adds to the problem at hand as opposed to actively works against it.
• Don't claim you have experienced oppression if you are not a part of a racial group that is usually oppressed. We don't need that "Alt-Right" bullshit here. Reborn's better than that.

Moderators: I'm asking for a little bit of grace with this thread, but mainly I want you to know that this thread may be a hotspot for flags depending on how the community conducts themselves. I don't want people who are genuinely engaging in discourse to be wrongly subjected to consequences, but I also want you to do your job where it's very much proper to do so. Thank you for all that you all do. I know a lot of people don't actively thank you - but I know sometimes it can be stressful.

Finally - I know some of you might be a bit confused that "that conservative guy" is the one talking about white privilege as if it's a thing. It is - and if recall something Martin Luther King Jr. once said - the "white moderate" that does nothing only further makes the problem worse. Hopefully Rev. King - by getting people to talk and by putting myself out there, I'm doing something.

---

Today, I ate dinner with my Dad and my half-siblings. The oldest one, who I'm going to call Derek for the sake of disclosure, is a junior in High School and is specifically my adoptive half-brother. My father is a self-started defense and family law attorney.

The table-talk began with Derek asking Dad about his speeding ticket and if he could get out of his community service by just paying the ticket in full. He mentions that his actual father left him a 10,000$ plot of land that was given to the father through his grandfather's will. Derek had planned to sell the plot, use most of the money to pay for school, use some to start his own YouTube channel, and pay off the speeding ticket so that he could avoid having to complete his community service.

He and Dad got into an argument over it, with Derek having to take the "L." Dad changes the subject to the election, asking me about an exit poll in which Donald Trump was beating Hillary Clinton and remarking about how Hillary is literally choking the election away (I started a thread around that line of thinking! /shameless self-plug) - which led Derek to say something quite striking.

"Yeah, Trump! Send 'em all back."

"'Em all" likely refers to Mexican Americans - because Trump's signature campaign issue is immigration.

After dinner, he offers to take me home and I agree. On the way a vehicle in front of us starts to slow down for whatever reason and Derek is forced to change lanes after losing a bit of patience. He looks over at the driver - a Latina who is texting and driving at the same time - and says this:

"See, send them all back! They're making me late and shit."

Derek's family is mostly pretty racist - to the point where it gives me headaches. He actively gets into arguments with Dad over things because he's an adopted child and because Dad likely deserves a lot of it and because Dad is someone who - as a defense attorney - recognizes the issues other ethnic groups have when it comes to the criminal justice and actively fights for them for a living. Despite that, Derek is actively encouraged by his family tree to belittle other races because to them - all they seem to be are inconveniences.

He's also someone who drives a nice truck, has a nice house, and apparently is about to get 10,000 dollars richer - to the point where his largest problem in life is some community service hours so that he can strike his speeding ticket off of his criminal record.

It was a little appalling to say the least. It's this kinda shit that caused me to avoid living or even visiting Dad.

[Tiggy]

I don't see how someone making a racist comment is oppression. I guess it's probably a bit unnerving to hear, but a comment like that isn't that big of a deal. It's just some kid talking out of his ass. As a black man comments like that are funny because no one's creative enough to make up something new. No one is sensitive enough to be hurt or offended by something that came out of Trump's mouth.

[Chase]

I wanted to mostly identify the first time I've really felt Whites have it pretty good in general. It's been a long time since my problems in particular have amounted to doing something I don't want to do.

To be fair on Derek's part. He's only in high school and doesn't know how much of a burden being an adult can be.

---

The other part of this is not Derek's "oppressiveness" - but rather the perception of "oppression" if Trump were to be elected.

He's said two things about Immigration that are worth talking about here.

• the GOP Primary Plan: Literally deport 11million+ undocumented immigrants and build a wall.
• the Revised General Election Plan: deport criminal undocumented immigrants, build the wall, and view peaceful undocumented immigrants on a case-by-case basis.

After his visit to Mexico - Trump landed in Arizona for a rally and reverted to Plan A - deport 'em all. This first plan is inherently oppressive against ethnic groups - particularly Mexican immigrants - because it focuses on border security that highlights Mexico as a people the United States imports unofficially more than any otehr country - while uprooting families of all ethnic groups who are here illegally who may have came here for a noble reason.

Not to agree with Hillary Clinton and admit she was right about half of Trump's voters being in "the basket of deplorables" - but Derek's one-note reason he would/is (depending on how old he is or even if he cares enough to go to the polls) voting for Trump is essentially because he dislikes Mexican Americans and Trump's immigration plan involves removing a significant amount of them from the country.

Words don't break people - but the title of my thread is my view of the situation. Instead of finding areas where I am oppressed - I find areas where I am actually pretty well off because of the color of my skin. That scenario was to point out that my family seems to be well set and that the problems we have in it are quite trivial in comparison to other ethnic groups.

[Neo]

I don't see how someone making a racist comment is oppression. I guess it's probably a bit unnerving to hear, but a comment like that isn't that big of a deal. It's just some kid talking out of his ass. As a black man comments like that are funny because no one's creative enough to make up something new. No one is sensitive enough to be hurt or offended by something that came out of Trump's mouth.

Hi, another black guy here.

Racist comments reinforce ideas and systems that contribute to the continued oppression of people of color. If you think no one as been hurt or offended by Trump's rhetoric, you clearly haven't been near any of the demographics that he's targeted. There is a legitimate fear that this racist/islamophobic fuck will get elected and do what he's preached about. I live in a border town, and let me tell you, I've legit seen a bunch of people move back to Mexico, out of fear. I know many more that have plans to go back if he IS elected. The fact that he's made it this far has many more feeling unwelcome in a country that they sought refuge in due to the harsh conditions in their homeland. A personal sense of thick skin doesn't excuse harmful ideas and rhetoric.

Words don't break people - but the title of my thread is my view of the situation. Instead of finding areas where I am oppressed - I find areas where I am actually pretty well off because of the color of my skin. That scenario was to point out that my family seems to be well set and that the problems we have in it are quite trivial in comparison to other ethnic groups.

Thanks for making this thread, btw. It's really really important to note that while words won't outright break people, they really really do take a toll on people. Those words hold even more weight when one of the leading options to lead your country has campaigned on the discrimination of your people, aiding in the rise of a political and social climate that's openly hostile to non-white,straight, christian individuals.

edit because I thought having the actual MLK quote about the white moderate would help the thread out:

"First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action;" who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season."

[Felicity]

I grew up in what feels like the whitest town in the UK, I can count the amount of kids in school who were of a different race on my fingers. That said, it was never really racism, people didn't focus on the different races or faiths.

Instead they targeted homosexuals. I figure there's always going to be someone targeted and someone doing the targeting. I don't want any part of that and I don't particularly care if I'm a part of that white moderate. It is my choice to make. I don't want to be involved,

[Tiggy]

So we’re just going to turn a thread that’s supposed to be about white privilege into a politics. K.

Anyways, am I wrong for thinking that while words hurt people, it's wrong to react to it because that just reinforces the thought that those words actually did have the power to oppress someone like the person saying said words originally thought? Words don’t mean a thing until you internalize them.

And Trump’s rhetoric is no more than that, rhetoric. He couldn’t care less about what happens to those people, he just wants the presidency. He’s just looking for attention, and talking about illegal immigrants and Muslims is the quickest way for the public to notice you. If you listen to him he uses Saxon language and the topic of Mexicans and Muslims to rile emotion, so that everyone knows of him. And it worked. Regardless of if you hate or love him, you know of him. There’s no such thing as bad publicity. And even if he did want to actually do these things, there’s no way in hell he would actually be allowed to do them. There’s this neat thing call checks and balances that makes sure that the president, as well as the other branches of government can’t just do what they want. So we’re just going to turn a thread that’s supposed to be about white privilege into a politics. K.

Edited September 14, 2016 by 2 Klangz

[Guest]

So we’re just going to turn a thread that’s supposed to be about white privilege into a politics. K.

could you explain how topics like white privilege are not related to politics please?

because the way i see it, racial topics like this are a big thing on politics right now.

it seemed kinda inevitable to not go into politics from the start.

Anyways, am I wrong for thinking that while words hurt people, it's wrong to react to it because that just reinforces the thought that those words actually did have the power to oppress someone like the person saying said words originally thought? Words don’t mean a thing until you internalize them.

it's not really about offending people or validating the "oppressive power" of those words, it's about not transmiting racial ideas that could compel people to act with hostile prejudice in the first place. take what Neo said for example:

It's really really important to note that while words won't outright break people, they really really do take a toll on people. Those words hold even more weight when one of the leading options to lead your country has campaigned on the discrimination of your people, aiding in the rise of a political and social climate that's openly hostile to non-white,straight, christian individuals.

words and ideas are going to "mean a thing" because of their inate ability to communicate thought to people, specialy so if the person behind those ideas is already influential. prejudice works like that: it doesn't really matter if you mean what you say, it will have an underlying effect on how people think. sort of like propaganda.

[Bluewolf]

I don't see how someone making a racist comment is oppression. I guess it's probably a bit unnerving to hear, but a comment like that isn't that big of a deal. It's just some kid talking out of his ass. As a black man comments like that are funny because no one's creative enough to make up something new. No one is sensitive enough to be hurt or offended by something that came out of Trump's mouth.

Also another black male here

Now to be very honest, despite living in Texas most of my life (in the High Plains, not Austin, Houston or Dallas, the really dusty parts with cows and crap) I haven't experience much racial oppression/negative comments or actions concerning my race. Certainly not to the degree that a lot of young black men have or some people of other ethnicities.

On the subject of Trump, I wish people would stop taking that man so seriously. Sorry if I step on anyone's political beliefs but he's really not anyone to listen intently to. It really is some kid talking out of his ass, saying some benign thing that he has no earthly comprehension of about a subject so complex he wouldn't understand if you wrote it in crayon. And that's the case with a lot of people. Yes, those things are offensive but it's nothing new and very shallow. Not saying nothing should be done about his comments, but just know that they are the comments of someone (most likely willfully) ignorant of the situation, hence should not be taken to heart.

[5hift]

Why is everything somehow an issue of race nowadays?

Yeah, America is big on the "everyone is equal" deal but there is always somebody getting the shaft. And I'm not talking about kids making race jokes or some dumb shit like that, there are actually people in need who barely scrape enough together to survive.

Nobody is actually doing anything to benefit those in need. Even those SJWs who preach racial and gender equality all the live long day aren't doing anything for people who actually need help. You don't see anyone asking to help people anymore, now all you just see is a bunch of people jumping onto the hate bandwagon because its easier to say "Fuck White Privilege" than it is to go into some demilitarized ghetto and help those people out.

So instead of just trying to point the finger to something as stupidly broad as "White people", why not try and put race or other social constructs behind us and just try to get along?

why not help build better communities and try to not make everything a hostile attack towards your "privilege".

Maybe then you won't have to worry about people making stereotypes that may offend you. Who knows.

Sorry if this comes off as hostile in some way I'm just genuinely tired of people pointing fingers at each other and just ignoring the real issues. I guess this is what it feels to be "triggered".

why not why not why not why not why not

Fuck outta here why not I'm trying to make a serious post here >.<

Edited September 15, 2016 by mde2001

[Shamitako]

(Psst, why not go use the full editor and uncheck "enable emoticons". Also while you're at it you should probably edit things and not double post...)

[Neo]

Why is everything somehow an issue of race nowadays?

Yeah, America is big on the "everyone is equal" deal but there is always somebody getting the shaft. And I'm not talking about kids making race jokes or some dumb shit like that, there are actually people in need who barely scrape enough together to survive.

Nobody is actually doing anything to benefit those in need. Even those SJWs who preach racial and gender equality all the live long day aren't doing anything for people who actually need help. You don't see anyone asking to help people anymore, now all you just see is a bunch of people jumping onto the hate bandwagon because its easier to say "Fuck White Privilege" than it is to go into some demilitarized ghetto and help those people out.

So instead of just trying to point the finger to something as stupidly broad as "White people", why not try and put race or other social constructs behind us and just try to get along?

why not help build better communities and try to not make everything a hostile attack towards your "privilege".

Maybe then you won't have to worry about people making stereotypes that may offend you. Who knows.

Sorry if this comes off as hostile in some way I'm just genuinely tired of people pointing fingers at each other and just ignoring the real issues. I guess this is what it feels to be "triggered".

:^) because if we just stop talking about things and just be nice that's not gonna erase societal barriers :^)

:^) :^) :^)

[5hift]

Big difference between being aware and being involved :^)

If I go on social media and get mad at somebody for having white privileged am I benefiting the inner-city kids who struggle with drug abuse and violence on a daily basis?

If I run around screaming "FUCK COPS, KILL THOSE PIGGIES" am I benefiting the homeless and those who actually have very little privilege?

In fact, I wouldn't do any of those things to benefit anybody because that's just plain retarded.

Edited September 15, 2016 by 5hift

[Shamitako]

Talking about who has it worse in life doesn't lead to removing barriers, it just makes them stronger

Privilege discussions only lead to further discrepancies and only exist for finger-pointing. I'm part of the trans community, we're like the biggest proponents of whining about being underprivileged and all it's done is make people hate us and not take us seriously

not that I'm saying we should just ignore these issues, just that talking about them in the context of privilege has consistently proven to only make things worse

[5hift]

Harassing people on the internet or in real life doesn't make anything better either it just makes people resent the true social justice movement even more.

I confess, I have never really worked to help people in need by working or donating.

I grew up near Chicago and for most of my childhood and was told to avoid the downtown area since it was quite literally a massive shithole.

Why it was like that always puzzled me and why it is STILL like that puzzles me even more.

I guess in a way I'm apart of the problem by just sitting here arguing on the internet but hey, I'm not deluded enough to think I'm actually making a difference by doing so.

Edited September 15, 2016 by 5hift

[Garnet.]

yall sound so mad lol

i would say that its the masses who think trans/black/[minority] are whiny because they speak out about whats happening to them. the moment we stop speaking out about police brutality is the moment that everyone stops caring. We dont have a "negative" attitude, we dont blame the white man and point fingers, we just say "this is whats happening, and we would like you to know it is happening, and its fucked up."

calling attention away from one thing to justify another thing does not solve the problme, nor help the problem. I haven't said anything ehre yet and i read what neo said so i understand your stance, but itt doesnt have to be like that. for neo and I, that issue is less important, as we are black, and therefore have to deal with the threat of police brutality. no one was calling attention away from inner-city kids, its just not as much of an issue for us.

if you have an issue with anything, you always have to speak up. you have to get people and the media informed. you cant just give up, and you cant just start blaming other issues and putting other movements down. we're all trying our best and trying to get out of whatever shitty situation we're in, we have to help each other out. it makes no sense for you to tear neo (gender pronouns???) down for speaking up about his issue. and if you truly are upset, you have the privilege to not listen or not care. thats why you can block people on social media, and choose not to follow people, etc. you don't have to listen.

thats all i had to say.

[ZonkRT]

There are so many different social and political arguments that could be had over this topic, each of which has many different angles of approach. And I'm not nearly smart enough to figure out how to address any of it - all I can offer is my own perspective.

Everyone is born with advantages and disadvantages, things that are capable of shaping someone's life for better or for worse. However, no matter how much research and study one puts in, they can only ever truly understand life from their own perspective. Research and study can mean a better understanding of how the world works in general, but it only goes so far with the individual. Our lives are our own.

The best we can do is use and adapt to our circumstances, so that we can become the best people we can be. Am I privileged? Sure, I'm sure I am in some way. Does that mean I should feel bad for it, or not take advantage of it because someone else doesn't have what I have? Of course not, that'd just be wasteful.

Just be the best person you can be, and always know where you stand on issues of morality.

(In retrospect, this isn't really a reply to anyone, so it may be a tad off-topic. Whoops.)

[Shamitako]

I am not upset so I apologize if I came off that way. Talking about privilege consistently makes issues worse, that's all I mean to say

[ZonkRT]

@TACHIBANA SLYPHYNFORD

Exactly.

[Garnet.]

(man ur avatar is cool i started reading prisma recently bc of the new go event and its super cool)

i actually agree that talking about white privilege makes things worse because it becomes this game of finger pointing and "who has it best" and who doesnt have the right to complain. for other things i do think you should talk about it, but white privilege is like... everyone knows it? something like that. theres no need to draw attention to it.

i dont think this thread should have been made, or if it were to be made, not center it around white privilege. its about some spoiled brat who has it easy. thats not really a priviilege thing, but i digress.

[Shamitako]

(man ur avatar is cool i started reading prisma recently bc of the new go event and its super cool)

i actually agree that talking about white privilege makes things worse because it becomes this game of finger pointing and "who has it best" and who doesnt have the right to complain. for other things i do think you should talk about it, but white privilege is like... everyone knows it? something like that. theres no need to draw attention to it.

i dont think this thread should have been made, or if it were to be made, not center it around white privilege. its about some spoiled brat who has it easy. thats not really a priviilege thing, but i digress.

Yeah, that's all I was trying to say

The discussion of issues itself is not a problem, however the discussion of privilege brings in finger-pointing and "who has it worse" competitions as you said, and of course who's allowed to complain which is my biggest issue with it

[Chase]

Why is talking about racial issues political?

Because one of two things are actually happening in governance in most areas politically that are attribute to racial treatment

• A political party is taking advantage of being completely divisive and makes race an issue in order to win elections.
• A political party is taking advantage of being completely divisive and mobilizing likely voters AGAINST other ethnic groups.

..I just hit both major American political parties with that one. The Democratic Party profits from the first scenario. It's common for candidates to meet with leaders from the NAACP as well as renowned leaders such as Al Sharpton (I don't mean to use African Americans as my sole example purposely, those names and organizations came to mind first.) These meetings and rhetoric that is pinpointed in helping erase the "privilege" gap or the difficulty with immigrating into the country cause non-white voters to file behind Democrats in political races.

Republicans traditionally do the opposite evil. They make the appeal to voters that crime has gone up and that Americanism is being attacked by unchecked immigration and non-assimilation. In disputes between African Americans and police departments, most Republicans tend to act in a manner that is either neutral or assert that "Blue Lives Matter" more. This is where the GOP traditionally has the upper hand with white voters.

Aside from Trump's actual genuine efforts to bridge the gap between African Americans and the GOP recently, much of the Republican rhetoric has been very much centered on assimilation. Clinton has been very unyielding in giving each voter their own special title. "You're black, so we like you. Vote for her." You're a lesbian, so we like you, vote for her."...and so on and so forth.

Why is everything all of a sudden a racial issue?

Partially - this is a minor travesty. On the other hand, racism is something that influences the perception of every day people and every day things. It manifests even when the intent to be racist isn't there.

It's something that causes false pretenses everywhere you look. The people you associate with tend to be of the same ethnic group as you, and the people you thus trust and respect in turn end up the same way. This inadvertently makes other races have to overcome a hurdle to meet the same level of trust and respect - even if provided through your subconsciousness and not intentionally.

Isn't talking about privilege only going to make things worse?

Depends on the angle. This isn't a thread where accusations should be made. It's mostly supposed to be "show-and-tell" from snapshots of your own life where racial inequity has been present. Once we all share something tangible to ourselves, it's supposed to be something we see as a recollection of themselves and not some parroted story (no offense to the likes of Trayvon, Micheal, Philando, and Alton) that draws contraversy across the country

I have faith that we can be adults about personal issues above anything else. This community is accepting of things such as political standing - despite a majority of the site being liberal. My still being here is largely attested to you guys having the capacity to see me as I am.

Don't make yourselves out to be childish by pointing fingers. It's supposed to be sharing what we've personally seen and coming to terms with personal testimonies.

EDIT: I should apologize to you all because it was never my intention to talk about inequity in a sense of I have it better than you all or you all don't have anything. I think Spade best addressed it and I think the largest problem is the way I titled the thread.

It's supposed to be about all racial iniquity. Not just privilege. My fault guys.

[Swimming95]

"genuine" lol. I also think you are being very generalistic and simplistic with those descriptions of how the parties approach race/gender/minority issues.

At least to me, I feel that there is a discussion that needs to be had in general. Its a lot about taking a step back sometimes and thinking about how a person is made up of a lot of experiences. Some of those are out of choice and some are out of their control. By appreciating those differences and similarities, it can become a lot easier to treat everyone with the level of respect that they deserve. It is not, and should not, be about taking away someone's right to complain. Everyone has their own set of hardships. The idea about it is to acknowledge that fact.

[Chase]

It really is that simple. I can step up and point out where my party errs, but that doesn't make the other party "better off" simply because something is more complicated to them behind the scenes.

The primary goal of political parties is to get elected into offices. They will use any means that are legal in order to do so. Stoke nationalism -or- multiculturalism included.

---

Aside from that, Thank you, Squattle. That really was a great post.

[Shamitako]

At least to me, I feel that there is a discussion that needs to be had in general. Its a lot about taking a step back sometimes and thinking about how a person is made up of a lot of experiences. Some of those are out of choice and some are out of their control. By appreciating those differences and similarities, it can become a lot easier to treat everyone with the level of respect that they deserve. It is not, and should not, be about taking away someone's right to complain. Everyone has their own set of hardships. The idea about it is to acknowledge that fact.

Discussing the differences people have is different from discussing privilege. Privilege is looking at the reasons one person has things better than another person. And, in practice if not also intent, results in shaming the person with the privilege for having an an unfair advantage over other people. If the goal is to understand one another, then it's been missed by a longshot, because privilege is used as a tool to tell people why they can't ever understand the struggles of others. And in doing this widens the gaps between us all that are already far too wide

EDIT: I should apologize to you all because it was never my intention to talk about inequity in a sense of I have it better than you all or you all don't have anything. I think Spade best addressed it and I think the largest problem is the way I titled the thread.

It's supposed to be about all racial iniquity. Not just privilege. My fault guys.

The issue is not in the title but in the rules where you say that you can only talk about struggles if they are the struggles of an oppressed group. No matter what you title it, by making it so that it's about the advantages of white people you're making it about privilege. If it were about, quote, "racial iniquity" then there would be no need for such a rule

[Chase]

Yeah. Again. That one is all on me. I mistitled this one. I suck at naming things.