# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/21 "2012-06-22T14:14:35Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Aaaand all opportunity for constructive dialog goes out the window. There was never any possiblity of that in the first place, as any attempt to point out the racial prejudice in the whole concept of “white privilege” will be met with deep denial and venomous hatred. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/22 "2012-06-22T14:17:34Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > There was never any possiblity of that in the first place, as any attempt to point out the racial prejudice in the whole concept of “white privilege” will be met with deep denial and venomous hatred. You’re the only angry person in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/23 "2012-06-22T14:26:31Z")
Sometimes I want to write about what it’s like to live as a non-white person in a country where everywhere you look there are white people. _And_ when you have so-called “white people” interests! I mean, I just don’t know that many Asians, especially not Indians, that are into: Renaissance Faires Sci-fi Comic books SCA Medieval lit Etc. So everywhere I go I am surrounded by white people, and I’m OK with this, for the most part. But you can’t have a constructive discussion about it because someone always thinks you are attacking them. And tells me to go back to my own country. America: Love it or leave it. Don’t ever attempt to change it, or even to fit into it and maybe make a good impression of your race and your culture, nope, just get the fuck out. People get defensive and I want to tell them: it’s not necessary. I’m not attacking! Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/24 "2012-06-22T14:26:44Z")
Whenever I see things about race, class privilege, sexism, and heteronormativity and whatnot - and I see these sort of things constantly - the one thing I keep reminding myself is that this ‘white’ culture in which I live, and of which I am a bona-fide member, is making more progress in this field than any other culture in the world. As much difficulty as we English-speaking Anglo-Saxons and dependants are having with these discussions about racial equality, we’re an entire generation ahead of the rest of the human race. Only Nordic Europe proper has us beat in the continuous drive to human equality and betterment - we blow the rest of the world’s macro-cultural groups out of the water. It’ll be half a century or more before Latin America and Catholic Europe have accomplished even this much, to say nothing of places like East Asia and the Arab World. So, yeah. We’re not doing great, but we’re making strides. Strong second, I think. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/25 "2012-06-22T14:31:10Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > You’re the only angry person in the thread. Can you blame him? Seems like everywhere you look these days, there’s people who aren’t white. It’s completely out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/26 "2012-06-22T14:32:08Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Can you blame him? Seems like everywhere you look these days, there’s people who aren’t white. It’s completely out of hand. Heh, sorry, we’re all brown and stuff. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/27 "2012-06-22T14:43:26Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > “White privilege” is just another way of saying, “White people suck.” Wow. No, it’s really not. In fact, it usually means pretty much the opposite. White people are often _unaware_ of the privileges they experience by dint of just being white… _because_ they are, for the most part, very nice, non-sucky people (as are the vast majority of non-white people). A _tiny few_ white people are genuinely racist and malicious. There are a lot more, though, who do unfair things unconsciously, because that’s the way things have always been done, and they’ve never considered that doings things this way might benefit white people unfairly, because they themselves are _not_ sucky people, and they do their best to be as kind and fair and welcoming as possible. That’s what “white privilege” is about. It’s not saying, “Stop being so evil, you evil, evil monsters!” Rather, it’s saying, “\*Because \*you are such nice, well-meaning people, presumably, you’d want to know if you were being unfair or hurtful to others. So, just FYI, this action/situation is unfair. Obviously, you didn’t realize this, or you wouldn’t have done it, because you’re nice people. And that’s not your fault; you wouldn’t have any _reason_ to realize this because you’ve never been on the receiving end of the unfairness. But since you \*are \*nice, non-sucky people, and certainly \*not \*the kind of people who would say something like ‘There is no reason whatsoever that whites should feel bad about being the dominant political, cultural and demographic majority, and if that makes you feel bad–well, boo fucking hoo,’ we just figured you’d want to know.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/28 "2012-06-22T14:50:59Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > Saying “whites are privileged” is totally racist. Really. It’s racial in context, but that doesn’t make it racist. You might want to consult a dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/29 "2012-06-22T14:52:14Z")
I get what they are getting at. But the word choice priveledged irks me a bit. To me that implies a pretty special position. White people have it better than others because they get treated more fairly and or are not disciminated against as much or have to deal with all the other bad things being a minority can entail. But most white people are just people that get treated fairly and have earned what they get in life. To me priveledged sounds more like those rich white well connect folks that went to Hawwwwvard and seem to breeze through life, not the white guy who studied hard at public school, got a little scholarship at no name U, got a bachelors in something and ended up working hard at some middle class job. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/30 "2012-06-22T15:11:49Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I get what they are getting at. But the word choice priveledged irks me a bit. To me that implies a pretty special position. White people have it better than others because they get treated more fairly and or are not disciminated against as much or have to deal with all the other bad things being a minority can entail. But most white people are just people that get treated fairly and have earned what they get in life. To me priveledged sounds more like those rich white well connect folks that went to Hawwwwvard and seem to breeze through life, not the white guy who studied hard at public school, got a little scholarship at no name U, got a bachelors in something and ended up working hard at some middle class job. There are different types and degrees of privilege. The definition of the word certainly fits here. However, if you can suggest a better word – not a sentence or a paragraph – that works as well, go for it. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/31 "2012-06-22T15:20:31Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > There are different types and degrees of privilege. . I did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/32 "2012-06-22T15:21:13Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > It’s racial in context, but that doesn’t make it racist. You might want to consult a dictionary. I think you should consult. Saying that Whites are privileged imparts a racial stereotype onto all white individuals. Its very akin to saying all Blacks are poor. It is the first step in passing judgement on an individual based upon the color of his/her skin. That is the soul of racism. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/33 "2012-06-22T15:29:55Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > I think you should consult. Saying that Whites are privileged imparts a racial stereotype onto all white individuals. Its very akin to saying all Blacks are poor. It is the first step in passing judgement on an individual based upon the color of his/her skin. That is the soul of racism. I disagree. It’s roughly akin to saying that African Americans are subject to discrimination. Which may not be true for every single individual, but it is accurate as a general statement. Saying “blacks are poor” is a misleading statement because most blacks are not poor. I would venture that a large majority of African Americans believe they have experienced some type of discriminatory treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/34 "2012-06-22T15:42:59Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > Saying that Whites are privileged imparts a racial stereotype onto all white individuals. Okay. > [@](#): > > Its very akin to saying all Blacks are poor. Slightly akin, maybe, in that it’s a generalization. Very akin, no. In the U.S., Whites are indeed privileged over people of color, it’s an easily verifiable statement. Saying all Blacks are poor is an order (or two) of magnitude further from being true. > [@](#): > > It is the first step in passing judgement on an individual based upon the color of his/her skin. That is the soul of racism. No, the soul of racism is making a derogatory judgment. While the first step may often being making a racial observation, the observation itself (if accurate) is not racist, and the next step need never be taken. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/35 "2012-06-22T15:52:01Z")
I’m white and I agree. Whites are privileged, but not because we all have it good. I do get tired of some students saying stuff like, “White people…” or assuming I have money or a normal family because I have pale skin. I’d also rather be a rich Latina than a poor white woman, but hey. Wouldn’t most of us? 🙂 As far as being part of a ‘group’, I also think that some minorities look at whites as Other, e.g., _That white girl just walked in the room_, and not, _Oh, someone just walked in the room._ It goes all ways. ---
**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 22, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/36 "2012-06-22T16:08:33Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > She is biting the hand that feeds her. Well there’s your problem right there. Everyone knows that if you feed 'em white people’s food they forget how to forage for themselves and end up rummaging through your garbage cans at night. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/37 "2012-06-22T16:30:07Z")
I think everybody is privileged in some way, and everybody is marginalized in some way. If people would stop for a minute and quit being so damned defensive, maybe we could all connect on that level and recognize that, at bottom, what we are talking about is universal human experience. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/38 "2012-06-22T16:36:49Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > I’d also rather be a rich Latina than a poor white woman, but hey. Wouldn’t most of us? 🙂 Oh hell no! I’d rather be a rich latino. I love my wang too much to give it up. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/39 "2012-06-22T16:49:32Z")
I’m white. There’s no affirmative action for me. I am not privileged. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928/40 "2012-06-22T16:54:08Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’m white. There’s no affirmative action for me. I am not privileged. That’s a pretty idiosyncratic way of determining privilege. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-whites-are-privileged-and-thats-unfair/625928.md?page=3)