# I'm going to catch it for this, White Privilege is not a thing....bear with me: **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783 "2017-06-24T19:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/101 "2017-06-25T22:26:44Z")
I’d feel very privileged if I had a bear with me. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/102 "2017-06-25T22:35:09Z")
**Reddy Mercury** , I told you that if you can appreciate the benefits conferred by your identity, then you are as enlightened as you need to be. Need I remind you that you had asked “What the solution is?” The solution to any kind of privilege is awareness of that privilege. Denial of privilege only entrenches the privilege. In response to my post, you had a choice to say “OK, sweet. I wish other people would understand white privilege too. It’s not that hard to understand. Can’t we all just get along?” Instead, we’re subjected to yet another long-winded defensive whine from you, like someone has accused you personally of holding black people down. If you don’t understand why such defensiveness is unhelpful to this discussion, I really don’t know what else I can say to you. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/103 "2017-06-26T04:20:14Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > So…What is the solution to “white privilege”? Just whites hating themselves and feeling ashamed every day? As everyone keeps telling you, _no._ You do not need to feel ashamed about your race. Nobody hates you. Step one might be to not react with such bizarre hysteria whenever someone points out that your race gives you an advantage over people who suffer through systematic racism, and try to figure out what you can do to minimize the negative effects of this. It’s pretty damn hard to stop racism if you can’t tell that it’s happening. Also, maybe look up “white fragility”, because you seem to have a pretty damn bad case of it. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/104 "2017-06-26T09:31:19Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Another strawman. Stay on topic people. The assertion was made that ‘white people arn’t being attacked.’ This is stupid. The point is the reality of white privilege is not an attack on white people. It is recognizing that white people are favored over other races. Sorry if it was not clear that I didn’t mean literally no white person has ever been attacked in the history of time. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/105 "2017-06-26T11:45:25Z")
Privilege is a matter of circumstance. One reason poor whites have so much racial resentment these days is that their “privilege” is worth practically nothing in a job market that is trying to diversify, but not at the expense of well educated, affluent whites. It’s apparently up to poor whites to pay for the sins of the past and present, not their betters. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/106 "2017-06-26T11:56:52Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Privilege is a matter of circumstance. One reason poor whites have so much racial resentment these days is that their “privilege” is worth practically nothing in a job market that is trying to diversify, but not at the expense of well educated, affluent whites. It’s apparently up to poor whites to pay for the sins of the past and present, not their betters. Polling has shown, over time and pretty damn consistently, that fewer and fewer white people have feelings of racial resentment. Those feelings are still pretty significant but lesser than in past decades. It seems highly unlikely to me that any remaining racial resentment is somehow different in character than the negative feelings towards non-white people of the past. Those old racists are still alive, and still teaching their children; that’s what drives negative feelings about race, not economic circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/107 "2017-06-26T12:03:11Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > It can’t be equality with you people; as you said ‘some boats going to sink.’ [Tropic Thunder] What do you mean, “you people”? [/TT] > [@Ludovic](#): > > I’d feel very privileged if I had a bear with me. But is it a white bear? Because polar bears are some nasty fuckers. I do think people tend to get hung up on the language issue and the idea of “negative privilege”. If you’re being fed a shit sandwich it doesn’t feel like much of a privilege, but you’re still a lot better off than the people getting second or third helpings. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/108 "2017-06-26T12:57:20Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Find me the person who has said that literally every white person benefits from white privilege and literally every non-white person is a victim of white privilege, and I’ll glad beat them up for you. I can find the former probably, or close. Not the latter. And I appreciate your involvement in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/109 "2017-06-26T13:58:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Polling has shown, over time and pretty damn consistently, that fewer and fewer white people have feelings of racial resentment. Those feelings are still pretty significant but lesser than in past decades. It seems highly unlikely to me that any remaining racial resentment is somehow different in character than the negative feelings towards non-white people of the past. Those old racists are still alive, and still teaching their children; that’s what drives negative feelings about race, not economic circumstances. Polling is useless as a measure of anything controversial. (Any) smarter person just won’t tell the truth. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/110 "2017-06-26T14:00:34Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Polling is useless as a measure of anything controversial. (Any) smarter person just won’t tell the truth. Do you know of a better way to measure public opinion on such controversial topics? You might be right, but it still could demonstrate trends – if polls say 20% express racist feelings now, and 40% expressed racist feelings in an older poll, then that might be an indication that racist feelings have decreased over time, even if the absolute numbers aren’t very accurate. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/111 "2017-06-26T14:22:54Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Do you know of a better way to measure public opinion on such controversial topics? You might be right, but it still could demonstrate trends – if polls say 20% express racist feelings now, and 40% expressed racist feelings in an older poll, then that might be an indication that racist feelings have decreased over time, even if the absolute numbers aren’t very accurate. Ill go along with that. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/112 "2017-06-26T14:39:33Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > And what happens when whites are no longer the majority - will we still have privilege? Are you familiar with a little country called South Africa? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/113 "2017-06-26T14:44:26Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Because again, I will ask (and my own question went unanswered, as it always does when it comes to this topic): Ok, if white privilege exists, what do you want \*\*\*ME \*\*\*- who has no power, wealth or connections - to do about it other than acknowledge it? Vote for progressive candidates. Campaign and volunteer for the same. Put in sweat equity to make up for your unearned privileges - volunteer with NGOs that work at redressing the imbalances in society. Don’t let silent racism pass unremarked in society. You know, actually do something. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/114 "2017-06-26T23:02:08Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > Because again, I will ask (and my own question went unanswered, as it always does when it comes to this topic): Ok, if white privilege exists, what do you want \*\*\*ME \*\*\*- who has no power, wealth or connections - to do about it other than acknowledge it? [https://www.safetypinbox.com](https://www.safetypinbox.com) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/115 "2017-06-26T23:55:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Do you know of a better way to measure public opinion on such controversial topics? You might be right, but it still could demonstrate trends – if polls say 20% express racist feelings now, and 40% expressed racist feelings in an older poll, then that might be an indication that racist feelings have decreased over time, even if the absolute numbers aren’t very accurate. I agree with you on polling, but I stand by my statement that in the 21st century, white privilege does not apply to poor whites and in fact in some ways they are disadvantaged compared to poor minorities in many ways, especially the job market. Especially men. Colleges aren’t looking to recruit coal miner’s sons anymore either. White privilege applies at about $30K and up, to be sure, and it’s true privilege, because everything bad we ever did, we don’t have to pay for. Our poorer cousins pay the price for our guilt. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/116 "2017-06-27T01:10:03Z")
Any cites on how poor whites are at a disadvantage to minorities of the same economic class? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/117 "2017-06-27T01:14:29Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I agree with you on polling, but I stand by my statement that in the 21st century, white privilege does not apply to poor whites and in fact in some ways they are disadvantaged compared to poor minorities in many ways, especially the job market. Especially men. Colleges aren’t looking to recruit coal miner’s sons anymore either. Without evidence, I don’t buy this. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/118 "2017-06-27T01:29:31Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Any cites on how poor whites are at a disadvantage to minorities of the same economic class? [White high school drop-outs just as likely to get jobs as black college students](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/06/27/white-high-school-drop-outs-are-as-likely-to-land-jobs-as-black-college-students/&refURL=https://www.google.com/&referrer=https://www.google.com/) [White high school drop-out are wealthier than black and Hispanic college graduates](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/03/10/white-high-school-dropouts-are-wealthier-than-black-and-hispanic-college-graduates-can-a-new-policy-tool-fix-that/?utm_term=.b9b2fe3c590f) [Employers prefer white felons over blacks with no criminal record](http://rollingout.com/2011/07/11/employers-prefer-white-felons-over-blacks-with-no-criminal-record-so-how-will-blacks-feed-their-families/) The evidence is clear that black people are keeping the poor whites down. When will the oppression end? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/119 "2017-06-27T03:44:55Z")
One of my favorite essays is _White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack_, by Peggy Mcintosh (a white woman). If nothing else, go down to the numbered list. When I first read it, I was stunned by how many things I take for granted as a white person. [PDF warning](http://www.intergroupresources.com/rc/knapsack.pdf) Small sample: > [@](#): > > 1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time. > > 2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area, which I can afford and in which I would want to live. > > 3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me. > > 4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed. > > 5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented. > > 6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is. > > 7. II can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783/120 "2017-06-27T03:49:49Z")
And that is one of the central problems of the Alt-Right/pseudo-Libertarian crowd. They HATE anything that would help minorities overcome any of those things, because they insist that we are all equal right now and if we just stopped talking about race or doing anything different about it, everything would resolve itself. But our own history shows that doesn’t work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-catch-it-for-this-white-privilege-is-not-a-thing-bear-with-me/789783.md?page=7)