I first read "This is Your Nation on White Privilege" by Tim Wise a few days ago. It's really an excellent piece for "those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege."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 something that a lot of people have, but far too many don't realize they benefit from. It's also something that sadly, a whole lot of people don't want to give up.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 when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.
In the words of Frederick Douglass: "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."
It is past time to demand that Republicans like Bush/Cheney and McCain/Palin concede their white
On a related note, when I followed the links to the original piece -- sent to me by Fran (thank you!!) -- I found it was published on a web site called Red Room.
Red Room, an organization that supports writers, was founded by a good friend of mine -- Ivory Madison. I would encourage everyone to visit Red Room, and support a group that supports writers.
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3 comments:
I had not seen this piece -- thanks so much for posting it here.
Back when I taught middle school, I worked one year with a conservative while male social studies teacher. And I stood aghast one class when he stood up at the front of the classroom and said to the 8th graders, "Everyone in this country has the same opportunities -- it's just a matter of whether they choose to use them or not."
I don't think he liked me before, but he sure didn't like me after that, because I piped up that of course, "Some people's opportunities are a little easier to come by than other people's -- while in theory we're all equal, our society still has a ways to go before it's a reality."
Yeah, he really didn't like me after that!
I think one of the hardest-hitting ones Wise came up with was "White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you." Ever seen any blacks in the NRA? Me neither.
Those who vote for the republicans even though it is against their best interests to do so, do it because they think they are preserving their "white privilege" and they will tell you as much if asked although they don't use that term. Great post.
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