# Video: Whites are privileged, and that's unfair **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 22, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928 "2012-06-22T11:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/221 "2012-06-24T19:18:22Z")
> [@kp\_72110](#): > > I don’t hear hardly any Hispanics, Asians or those from places like India or Pakistan being too concerned about the fact that many whites are also racist towards them. Most Asians are newcomers to this country. As immigrants, they arrive better educated than Americans, on average, which means their outlook and outcomes are going to be rosier.. As immigrants, they are here voluntarily–many of them escaping much worse places. I would not expect them to be very vocal with their complaints. Most people don’t complain about the hospitality of their hosts…at least not to their faces. Hispanics have been het up about civil rights for decades. They are especially vocal now. You’d have to be living under a rock not to hear them. But it is interesting, this dichotomy you’ve set up. People not concerned with racism versus those who are. Everyone else versus black people. In my experience, people not concerned with racism tend to have no reason to be concerned about it. People who are concerned with racism have very good reasons to be concerned about it. Yes, there are always going to be weirdos on either side. But it’s crazy to think black people SHOULDN’T be concerned about racism…when just a few decades ago, racism was codified into laws. People still remember overt segregation because they were there, sipping out of white water fountains and attending black schools. As long as those memories exist, then yes, people are going to be concerned. It would be crazy to expect people to forget so easily. What is concern? Well, I don’t consider myself hypersensitive to racism. I don’t go looking for it. If someone is rude to me, I don’t filter the experience through a special filter designed to capture racists. But I am aware of my racial appearance and how it might affect my interactions, both for the good AND bad. I was recently trained in how to deal with the angry public, which is an important skill at my workplace (angry public is all we deal with!) The instructor drilled into us the importance of relating as “kin” to an angry audience. So if you’re standing up in a public hearing and it’s clear that the public doesn’t think you’re “one of them”, you have to do your hardest to convince them otherwise. It might mean dressing down instead of up, or talking with an accent or slang. It might mean playing up your upbringing, especially if it was local, or throwing out those facets of your life that would reasonate with your audience. It’s already an uphill battle if you’re white. But imagine being a black woman, standing up in front of a roomful of angry farmers or watermen–all of them white and predominately male–and trying to convince them you are “one of them”. And not only are you “one of them”, but you actually know what you are talking about. A few white people know what this is like in the reverse situation, but just a few. On the other hand, non-whites such as myself do not have to imagine how it would feel to be in this position. We deal with it all the time. Yes, a lot of the pressure is self-imposed. But it’s not paranoid to believe that your failures reflect badly not only just on you, but on those who follow. When people say I make a good role model, they unintentionally remind me of the high cost of failure. White people, by and large, do not have to deal with this. Again, I don’t know what can be gained by pointing this out in a television commercial. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a reality. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/222 "2012-06-24T19:21:48Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Hey, no one’s saying the civil rights movement wasn’t called for. Clearly it was, because racism was sufficiently bad then. Hell, I’m even opposed to slavery. But I, as a white person, am here to tell you that the racism faced by minorities today is not bad enough to merit complaints, a.k.a. “crying racism” or “playing the race card”. Minorities should stop thinking that it is, because I have spoken. That’s certainly mighty white of you. ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/223 "2012-06-24T20:05:37Z")
As a white woman, I don’t have much problem with agreeing that racism still exists (it’s not quite as bad as it used to be, but it certainly still exists, witness all the crap thrown at Obama) and we need to do better, but I’ll be honest, if someone outright tells me to “check my privilege” during a discussion, I’m going to consider them a pretentious ass and probably not listen to them. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/224 "2012-06-24T20:08:51Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Hey, no one’s saying the civil rights movement wasn’t called for. Clearly it was, because racism was sufficiently bad then. Hell, I’m even opposed to slavery. But I, as a white person, am here to tell you that the racism faced by minorities today is not bad enough to merit complaints, a.k.a. “crying racism” or “playing the race card”. Minorities should stop thinking that it is, because I have spoken. I am trying to believe that your statement is tongue in cheek, but differential treatment of persons in a sense of it being morally objectionable will be something to struggle against now as it was in the past, and clearly rights can be lost as well as gained. The civil rights struggle did bring about change and an awareness that there are genuine personal and political rights all people are entitled to, but racism is not dead, and social patterns that have been a long time in the making still persist. Hopefully people will not give up the struggle and ignore reality simply because some (who are generally from the dominant class and color) say that it does not bother them so why should it bother us. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/225 "2012-06-24T20:35:07Z")
> [@florez](#): > > I am trying to believe that your statement is tongue in cheek, Try a little harder 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/226 "2012-06-24T21:22:31Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Hey, no one’s saying the civil rights movement wasn’t called for. Clearly it was, because racism was sufficiently bad then. Hell, I’m even opposed to slavery. You should get a plaque or something. > [@](#): > > But I, as a white person, am here to tell you that the racism faced by minorities today is not bad enough to merit complaints, a.k.a. “crying racism” or “playing the race card”. Minorities should stop thinking that it is, because I have spoken. Because you of all people should know! ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/227 "2012-06-24T21:42:29Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > You should get a plaque or something. Thank you! Nice to finally get the recognition I deserve. > [@](#): > > Because you of all people should know! It’s both a blessing and a curse to know so much more about other people’s experiences than they do, though. Sometimes they get mad when I explain these things to them, instead of being grateful like you’d think they would be. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/228 "2012-06-24T21:49:44Z")
Blackberry, you’re gonna make someone’s head explode. Play nice. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/229 "2012-06-24T22:14:18Z")
I’m a white male and I’m privileged. I have the privilege of being able to apply for a job and not have to hope the company won’t assume I’m not smart enough. I have the privilege of being able to apply for a mortgage and not have to hope the lender won’t assume I won’t pay it off. I have the privilege of being able to walk in a store and not have to hope the store security won’t assume I’m there to steal something. I have the privilege of being able to drive or walk in any suburban area and not have to hope the police won’t assume I’m there to commit a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/230 "2012-06-24T23:08:36Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I’m asking because lots of people have been suspected of being shoplifters strictly because they were black. Did I say otherwise? There are times security guards used to look at me, even though I’m not black, to see if I was stealing things. I wasn’t. I have no idea of their motiviations as to why they were picking me out of the crowd. But I wasn’t stealing things, so I ignored them. Security guards watch black people. Sometimes because they are black, sometimes because of other reasons. See Lynn’s post. Hint: if someone is watching you for whatever reason, don’t shoplift. It’s like you are saying that people should have equal opportunity to shoplift. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/231 "2012-06-24T23:14:30Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Did I say otherwise? > > There are times security guards used to look at me, even though I’m not black, to see if I was stealing things. If they were watching you because you were white, have a point, but they weren’t so you don’t. > [@](#): > > It’s like you are saying that people should have equal opportunity to shoplift. I don’t see how any reasonable person could possibly think that I was suggesting that. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/232 "2012-06-24T23:28:42Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > If they were watching you because you were white, have a point, but they weren’t so you don’t. You don’t know at any point in time what the motivations of the watcher is. All you know is that you are being watched (maybe not even that because if your filter is tuned so high even a glance by a store clerk could be interpreted to being watched). > [@](#): > > I don’t see how any reasonable person could possibly think that I was suggesting that. Because what you are suggesting is that black people shouldn’t be watched for shoplifting like the rest of us are. There is no way to give people the impression that they are not being watched because of the color of their skin unless you stop watching them entirely. We could make the rates of people being watched equal tomorrow and people will still claim to having been selected based upon skin color because that is what they are looking to see and that is what they will find. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/233 "2012-06-24T23:36:55Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Thank you! Nice to finally get the recognition I deserve. I’d like to “recognize” you, alright. > [@](#): > > It’s both a blessing and a curse to know so much more about other people’s experiences than they do, though. Sometimes they get mad when I explain these things to them, instead of being grateful like you’d think they would be. But that’s why you’re here - to tell other people what they don’t know about themselves. That’s what the Internet is all about. You’re right, they should thank you. Jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/234 "2012-06-24T23:54:56Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Blackberry, you’re gonna make someone’s head explode. Play nice. I don’t want to make anyone’s head explode but I have no idea how to make it any more obvious that it’s a parody. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/235 "2012-06-24T23:59:33Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Because what you are suggesting is that black people shouldn’t be watched for shoplifting like the rest of us are. Bullshit. I never once suggested that and no reasonable person would think that I had. > [@](#): > > You don’t know at any point in time what the motivations of the watcher is. All you know is that you are being watched (maybe not even that because if your filter is tuned so high even a glance by a store clerk could be interpreted to being watched). Are you honestly suggesting that they were watching you because you’re white? I find that preposterous. Anyway your whole argument is idiotic. There’s a huge difference between security guards suspecting someone because they’re black or Latino and giving extra scrutiny because of their skin tone versus giving someone extra scrutiny because they’ve come in wearing a extra large jack that would be easy to hide items in and they keep looking around as if they’re afraid of being watched. If you somehow don’t see a difference between the former and the latter and why the former is vastly more offensive then there really is no point in continuing the conversation with you. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/236 "2012-06-25T00:02:41Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > I don’t want to make anyone’s head explode but I have no idea how to make it any more obvious that it’s a parody. I wasn’t sure at first, but I figured it out fast. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/237 "2012-06-25T00:07:33Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I’m a white male and I’m privileged. > > I have the privilege of being able to apply for a job and not have to hope the company won’t assume I’m not smart enough. > > I have the privilege of being able to apply for a mortgage and not have to hope the lender won’t assume I won’t pay it off. > > I have the privilege of being able to walk in a store and not have to hope the store security won’t assume I’m there to steal something. > > I have the privilege of being able to drive or walk in any suburban area and not have to hope the police won’t assume I’m there to commit a crime. If only it were that simple. White men who look like these guys probably nave no such privileges: [![](http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIqHaOEGuSESqYrxd9eEQMQ3Mj9hvnsV9nG9Kot7exEpV9b92NlwSLTZXH) ](http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIqHaOEGuSESqYrxd9eEQMQ3Mj9hvnsV9nG9Kot7exEpV9b92NlwSLTZXH) [![](http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtmz_79AqLknTPHx30W0cozRu1xPqkc8_N8Y-mQYE6bYE9bQyTcvfMRBMCVw) ](http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtmz_79AqLknTPHx30W0cozRu1xPqkc8_N8Y-mQYE6bYE9bQyTcvfMRBMCVw) On the other hand, some black people have manage somehow to overcome those worries: [![](http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/database/oprah/oprah300.jpg) ](http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/database/oprah/oprah300.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/238 "2012-06-25T00:08:29Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > I don’t want to make anyone’s head explode but I have no idea how to make it any more obvious that it’s a parody. 🆒 I am kinda new here. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/239 "2012-06-25T00:13:26Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > If only it were that simple. > > White men who look like these guys probably nave no such privileges: It was linked to previously (I think **jsgoddess** did so), but if you haven’t read it already, I strongly, strongly recommend you read John Scalzi’s essay, [Straight White Male: The Lowest Difficulty Setting There Is](http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/). It lays out the dynamic of whiteness in a really clear way. Here’s a quote: > [@John Scalzi](#): > > Dudes. Imagine life here in the US — or indeed, pretty much anywhere in the Western world — is a massive role playing game, like World of Warcraft except appallingly mundane, where most quests involve the acquisition of money, cell phones and donuts, although not always at the same time. Let’s call it The Real World. You have installed The Real World on your computer and are about to start playing, but first you go to the settings tab to bind your keys, fiddle with your defaults, and choose the difficulty setting for the game. Got it? > > Okay: In the role playing game known as The Real World, “Straight White Male” is the lowest difficulty setting there is. My only disagreement with him is that he left out socioeconomic class; in my (admittedly only semi-informed) opinion, wealth is an even easier difficulty setting than straightness. In other words, I’d much rather be born into fabulous wealth and gay, than into poverty and straight. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/240 "2012-06-25T00:18:14Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It was linked to previously (I think **jsgoddess** did so), but if you haven’t read it already, I strongly, strongly recommend you read John Scalzi’s essay, [Straight White Male: The Lowest Difficulty Setting There Is](http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/). It lays out the dynamic of whiteness in a really clear way. And that’s utter bullshit. Which is my point. Not all white has the same level of “privilege.” Some have less than some blacks. It’s a racist generalization, like any other. > [@](#): > > My only disagreement with him is that he left out socioeconomic class; in my (admittedly only semi-informed) opinion, wealth is an even easier difficulty setting than straightness. In other words, I’d much rather be born into fabulous wealth and gay, than into poverty and straight. Sure. And, again, I ask - why does it matter? Are we just here to all whine about how life isn’t fair? Or is there a policy to be proposed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928.md?page=13)