White Privilege, White Entitlement and the 2008 Election

[kpete]

White Privilege, White Entitlement and the 2008 Election
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Sat, 09/13/2008 - 3:44pm. Guest Contribution

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

By Tim Wise

For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin’ redneck," like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

....................

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.

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And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

the rest of the list at:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1755

[silverweb]

1. Excellent, but a dupe.

I didn't realize right away that this was a dupe.

Active OP on Greatest Page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7058099

[loyalsister]

2. hmmmmm

Privilege is about life experience.
During this excercise people line up and move accordingly. It's not about voting or positions. It is intended to eliminate some assumptions.

In his speech about race, Obama mentioned that there are a lot of white people who do not feel their privilege. I would agree and would suggest that in that case it is possible that they may be inclined to want to demand their privilege.

If a presidential candidate says "I will give this back to you" someone may want to go along with that idea. They will be all the more convinced if they see people like themselves, opressed white people people who are called rednecks and white trash on and associated with the Republican ticket.
Look at this exercise and try to see- honestly- where our candidates line up.


Privilege Exercise

If your ancestors were forced to come to the USA, not by choice, take one step back.

If your primary ethnic identity is American, take one step forward.

If you were ever called names because of your race, class, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If there were people of color who worked in your household as servants, gardeners, etc., take one step forward.

If your parents were professional, doctors, lawyers, etc., take one step forward.

If you were raised in an area where there was prostitution, drug activity, etc. take one step back.

If you ever tried to change you appearance, mannerisms, or behavior to avoid being judged or ridiculed, take one step back.

If you studied the culture of your ancestors in elementary school, take one step forward.

If you went to a school speaking a language other than English, take one step back.

If there were more than 50 books in your house when you grew up, take one step forward.

If you ever had to skip a meal or were hungry because there was not enough money to buy food when you were growing up, take one step back.

If you were brought to art galleries or plays by your parents, take one step forward.

If one of your parents were unemployed or laid off, not by choice, take one step back.

If you attended a private school or summer camp, take one step forward.

If your family ever had to move because they could not afford the rent, take one step back.

If you were told that you were beautiful, smart, and capable by your parents, take one step forward.

If you were ever discouraged from academic or jobs because of race, class, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you were ever encouraged to attend a college by your parents, take one step forward.

If prior to age 18, you took a vacation out of the country, take one step forward.

If one of your parents did not complete high school, take one step back.

If your family owned your own house, take one step forward.

If you saw members of your race, ethnic group, gender, disabled community, or sexual orientation were portrayed on television in degrading roles, take one step back.

If you were ever offered a good job because of your association with a friend or family member, take one step forward.

If you were ever denied employment because of your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you were ever paid less, treated less fairly because of your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you were ever accused of cheating or lying because of your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you ever inherited money or property, take a step forward.

If you had to rely primarily on public transportation, take one step back.

If you were ever stopped or questioned by the police because of your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you were ever afraid of violence because of your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you were generally able to avoid places that were dangerous, take one step forward.

If you ever felt uncomfortable about a joke related to your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If you were ever a victim of violence related to your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, take one step back.

If your parents did not grow up in the United States, take one step back.

If your parents told you that you could be anything you wanted to be, take one step forward.

Ask participants to remain where they are to look at their position in the room or space in relation to the positions of the other participants.