Is white privilege real? To what extent?

[robvalue]

Yes, it's real. I've seen it first hand.

White gets to move first. Every single game.

[Whateverist]

I don't believe it.

I am a white guy and I have never received privilege over a minority.

I have been homeless, living in a car, and still black people were doing better than me.

Now imagine there were 7 or 8 black people for every one that is white like you.  Also imagine that every poor black person forced to sleep in their car looks at you white people who have your own places and thinks "damn, even that white guy has an apartment while I have to sleep in my car!"  Don't forget to also imagine what it would be like if the black dominant police force always looked at you like you just committed a crime and you read on the internet every day about some black cop who shot another unarmed, white guy in the back out of fear or anger.  (Got it?)

[Cato]

I've skimmed replies so,far so there's a risk I might be repetitive.

It seems some in the thread suffer from the same confusion many do that prevents the conversation from evolving to meaningful change. The confusion centers on defensiveness and in my opinion hinges on the understanding of how the word 'privilege' is used. It's difficult for a white person who is constantly having their ass handed to them by life deeply engage in the dialogue. The response is typically along the lines of 'I don't get special treatment'. It's an easily understood and typical reaction.

The big problem is with perspective. A white person won't register the term privilege, because the itemization of what is considered privileged is 'normal'. The use of the term is problematic in this regard because what is really being sought after is the elimination of disparate treatment of minorities; i.e., less than normal. Many white people also simply don't know the everyday disadvantages minorities must navigate or if they are aware find it easy to dismiss because it's too horrible to consider real.

Much of this in turn comes from the fact that we are still far too segregated. It's a critical,aspect,of American culture that must be addressed, but I don't think this happens until identity politics is jettisoned in favor of equal treatment for all. I know this is already the mission, but the typical ways of approaching the subject alienate enough people that nothing happens.

[Excited Penguin]

I get your point in the sense that I agree with you that minorities are treated badly. I said I can't claim to know what it's like because I'm actually white and haven't ever experienced what it's like to be a minority. I don't claim to know what it's like. I think that would be particularly arrogant of me towards people who actually go through it.

I never said there's no such thing as white privilege. I only asked what it is.

If you agree that minorities are treated badly, then how can you say that you can't answer whether you'd want to be treated the way they are?  You don't have to know 'what it's like'.  If you agree that they're treated badly, then you clearly wouldn't want to be treated the same way.

You've don't know what it's like to be eaten by a crocodile, either, correct?  But you can understand that it isn't something you'd like to do.  Fuxxake, you're thick.

Boru

You make a good point, I've don't know what it's like to be eaten by a crocodile. Yes, I'm thick, I'm sorry, Sir.

Yes, it's real. I've seen it first hand.

White gets to move first. Every single game.

Ha-ha, you're so funny. 

[Excited Penguin]

I've skimmed replies so,far so there's a risk I might be repetitive.

It seems some in the thread suffer from the same confusion many do that prevents the conversation from evolving to meaningful change. The confusion centers on defensiveness and in my opinion hinges on the understanding of how the word 'privilege' is used. It's difficult for a white person who is constantly having their ass handed to them by life deeply engage in the dialogue. The response is typically along the lines of 'I don't get special treatment'. It's an easily understood and typical reaction.

The big problem is with perspective. A white person won't register the term privilege, because the itemization of what is considered privileged is 'normal'. The use of the term is problematic in this regard because what is really being sought after is the elimination of disparate treatment of minorities; i.e., less than normal. Many white people also simply don't know the everyday disadvantages minorities must navigate or if they are aware find it easy to dismiss because it's too horrible to consider real.

Much of this in turn comes from the fact that we are still far too segregated. It's a critical,aspect,of American culture that must be addressed, but I don't think this happens until identity politics is jettisoned in favor of equal treatment for all. I know this is already the mission, but the typical ways of approaching the subject alienate enough people that nothing happens.

You're so smart, that's such a smart post. Kudos, Sir, you've added much to the conversation!

[paulpablo]

The big problem is with perspective. A white person won't register the term privilege, because the itemization of what is considered privileged is 'normal'. 

This incorrectly assumes that white people all receive the privileges mentioned in this thread and therefore consider those privileges to be normal.  

For example not being in a minority, not being racially abused, not being killed/beaten by police, having an economic advantage, living in a white majority country, not being racially stereotyped.

[Mermaid]

It is sad and frustrating that people can't even agree that there's the possibility this is a problem, and instead get defensive and argumentative about the experiences of other people. (experiences that you cannot know about because you have not lived life as them).

[chimp3]

White privilege :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGZnB41_e4

[Cato]

The big problem is with perspective. A white person won't register the term privilege, because the itemization of what is considered privileged is 'normal'. 

This incorrectly assumes that white people all receive the privileges mentioned in this thread and therefore consider those privileges to be normal.  

For example not being in a minority, not being racially abused, not being killed/beaten by police, having an economic advantage, living in a white majority country, not being racially stereotyped.

Your reply validates the point I was making.

[paulpablo]

It is sad and frustrating that people can't even agree that there's the possibility this is a problem, and instead get defensive and argumentative about the experiences of other people. (experiences that you cannot know about because you have not lived life as them).

There's a difference between being defensive and pointing out that something is factually wrong.

If someone tells me that I'm never in the minority because I'm white and I'm reading this while I'm at my local gym where two people including me are white and the rest are 15 pakistani men and 2 pakistani women, I'm not being defensive by saying that this privilege doesn't apply to me in all situations I'm just pointing out facts.

I'm just pointing out facts when I say that white people aren't the most advantaged when it comes to police shootings, Asians are.

I take on board that white people have a large statistical advantage in court rooms because I think it's been factually proven.

But instead of taking on board the facts that I point out people are more likely to say "Hey, no need to get defensive."

No black person or person of any other race can know my personal experiences enough to know that I'm more or less privileged than they are.

If you're going to say white people can't know what it's like to be black then it works both ways in the sense that black people don't know what it's like to be white. 

 Which is pretty much nonsense anyway because people of all races live individual lives, I don't know what it's like to be as rich as 50 cent or as poor as an Ethiopian starving child or as rich as a Chinese billionaire or as poor as a Russian peasant.