Privilege in the United States

POSTED BY: RiveR6213
UPDATED: Saturday, July 26, 2025 06:23
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RIVER6213

Monday, May 28, 2007 5:52 AM

White Privilege in the United States, Is it true or not? Do we have an advantage because of our race, or color? Is this the original Affirmative Action? What do you think about it?

This should be a difficult to approach subject with the Real World Event Crowd, and it should also be a subject that the "We shall Rise Again" southern minded crowd might have problems with, but who knows? I might just be surprised by the answers. BTW there is no real answer. You decide. This is not a black and white issue. This is gray-town USA issue happening here. Afraid to take this on? Figures...

-River

YINYANG

Monday, May 28, 2007 6:53 AM

In general? Probably. There are an awful lot of rich "white" men. But, not for everyone - there are plenty of poor "whites" as well.

And, that's all I'll say on the subject. I'm sure you'll get other... interesting replies.

---

"If I were a Nazi, someone would defend my constitutional right to hate Jews. If I were a Klansman, someone would defend my rights to hate blacks. It's a funny place, this world. Hate has rights. Love has none." - Jeff, Murphy's Boy

HARDWARE

Monday, May 28, 2007 8:35 AM

The only color that matters in the USA is green. OJ proved that beyond any shadow of a doubt. Figure out a way to make money and you can do what you want, buy your own justice and generally have your local government dancing to your tune. All it takes is money, lots and lots of money.

Now if you want to discuss a business bias against minorities of whatever color, that's a different topic.

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

KANEMAN

Monday, May 28, 2007 11:48 AM

"There are an awful lot of rich "white" men."

I also see a lot of rich "black" men. Don't believe me? Just turn on Mtv. They are the gentlemen with gold teeth and more diamonds than little league baseball. Still can't locate them? They can usually be found jumping around, holding their crotches, and talking in broken English....All while the scantily clad "Ho's" roll around on the floor in thongs and brassiers... moaning. Still can't see them? Maybe this will help. They are almost always flailing their arms.....

Shit, and you think "white" guys are PRIVILEGED.......Well, it's true.........

LEADB

Monday, May 28, 2007 1:07 PM

In general, I believe whites still have the advantages coming from financial advantage; ie: family making life easier for the next generation.

I think we have seen some improvements over time; and as this continues, I hope we can move to a more color blind approach/attitude and simply work on solving poverty in the US.

That's not to say that we have eliminated race based discrimination. Living in the North (NY State) it's easy to turn a blind eye to that aspect, as there isn't much in the way of -blatent- racial discrimination; the news out of New Orleans at the flood was a sad reminder that under stress (at least) racism still raises its ugly head.

CHRISMOORHEAD

Monday, May 28, 2007 1:11 PM

I would just like to bring up the point that every fight with a black guy vs. a white guy at UFC 71, the black guy won.

Jackson beat Lidell.... LIDELL. Lidell's been undefeated for longer than I can remember. What disadvantages black people have, they appear to be getting over them.

[IMG]
Ride down from Asgard to the battlefield,
Bringer of the valiant dead who died but never yielded,
Carry we who die in battle over land and sea,
Across the rainbow bridge to Valhalla,
Odin's waiting for me.

LEADB

Monday, May 28, 2007 1:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kaneman:
"There are an awful lot of rich "white" men."

I also see a lot of rich "black" men. Don't believe me? [...]

Don't watch MTV myself; however, not that this especially excuses the behavior, but take any poor person who has had to fight thier way out of poverty, particularly in the -method- these fellows have, and I don't expect much better behavior than that. There have been cases of Baseball players of many races, white included, who didn't do much better, and keep in mind the MLB actively tries to manage player's images. Heck, look at what fame and money did for Britney Spears, for that matter (and in this case, I don't know, nor especially care, what her family financial 'background' is).

I work at a major computer services company; and I've seen any number of persons of color prosper there. There is a growing middle and upper class, and they are as decently behaved as anyone else; in my experience.

SIGMANUNKI

Monday, May 28, 2007 3:09 PM

Power in the Western world tends to revolve around education. And in the US education is... expensive. So, if statistically speaking a certain part of society is impoverished, they'll probably have a hard time climbing that ladder.

So, given the current situation, I'd say yes. But, not for the nefarious reasons that you seem to be implying.

After all, when's the last time you saw someone with a PhD going around gang-banging.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

SIRI

Monday, May 28, 2007 3:55 PM

I am of the opinion that privilege is connected to money, education, gender, race, although I'm not sure in what order. Privilege and entitlement are taken for granted and expected for some much more than others. Doors open more easily for those in power who want to keep it. While I do not know exact stats, from what I've seen and read the disparity between the very wealthy and those at the bottom is widening.

As previously stated, people do "fight their way out of poverty" and sustain some degree of wealth. For others it's more of an expectation that they'll "make it." That sounds a whole lot like privilege and/or entitlement to me. Where does parity fit in? I've been exploring how that word differs from equality. We can't all be equal or we would be some sort of robot race. But can we come to build and develop parity? What would that look like and how does it fit with privilege?

Thanks for bringing up another touchy subject for Memorial Day. If we see the part we play in it (injustice) we have to either accept, act or ignore it. I suspect with this bunch viewpoints will be all over the map.

Siri

SIGMANUNKI

Monday, May 28, 2007 4:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siri:
As previously stated, people do "fight their way out of poverty" and sustain some degree of wealth. For others it's more of an expectation that they'll "make it."

All that this sounds like to me is that for the people that have it or are in the gutter, it's fairly easy to maintain and for those climbing the ladder, it rather hard. Also, for those that have already made it, it's difficult to fall. All this in general of course.

But, simply put, there is wealth inertia.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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