"White" as a dirty word

[Bozuit]

In the past few years or so, I’ve often noticed “white” used as, seemingly, something of a dirty word when describing people. More specifically, it will be used with a kind of dismissiveness, as if the people being referred to, or their opinions, are not worth much consideration. Often “white” will be surrounded by the words “old” and “men”, but not necessarily.

It’s not that the word is being used entirely unambiguously negatively, but the sentiments expressed will often imply that the speaker doesn’t hold white people in high esteem. Very often, replacing “white” in the sentence with “black” would create something most people would consider offensive.

This isn’t about how what white people “can” and “can’t” say differs from what people of other races “can” say. I suspect that most of those using “white” in this way are actually white themselves. In fact, I suspect they’re mostly privileged, middle-class whites - exactly the kind of person they’re intending to dismiss. I’d guess those who say such things consider themselves somehow more enlightened than others with superficial similarities, and being in such a superior moral position are able to cast judgement down from their ivory horses. Speculating even further, I suspect this is a way of demonstrating that the speaker is different. Better. “Look at me, I’m greater than my peers!”

I don’t know if those who do this consider it to be helpful. My opinion is that it’s really not. To start with, here is one definition of racism (bolding mine):

The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races

Using “white” in such a way is using a physical descriptor to refer to a set of behaviours, opinions and attitudes. Some, rather stupid, people can’t do better than that; most users of “white” as a dirty word can.

Secondly, do many white people read or hear such comments and react positively? Is such phrasing generally useful when attempting to persuade white people of anything at all? It may attract a few who believe in self-flagellation as the key to righteousness, but surely it must serve to close more minds than it opens.

Personally, I find it mildly offensive as a white person, and slightly more offensive for its, in my opinion, complete lack of intellectual validity.

Thoughts? Is my whole premise wrong? Have you used “white” in this way, and if so, why? Am I overreacting? Or do I have a point?

[monstro]

Besides “rich old white men”, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can you give some other examples?

[Inner_Stickler]

I can’t think of any common construction other than “that’s mighty white of you”.

Unless you’re thinking of when people criticize, say, the presidency by remarking that on the whole it’s been nothing but straight, old, white men.

[Little_Nemo]

I’d like to see some examples of what the OP is describing because I haven’t noticed any myself.

[Omar_Little]

For such a lengthy OP it dances around the subject at hand so much that it is very unclear what the point is. Be more blunt on your topic.

[Si_Amigo]

Hey there pretty white boy, welcome to the cell; we’re going to be good friends.:eek:

Now if you had said black boy everyone would be up in arms about referring to a grown black male as a boy.

[Omar_Little]

@Si_Amigo

Now if you had said black boy everyone would be up in arms about referring to a grown black male as a boy.

I’m pretty sure in prison they just say nigger.

[DrCube]

@Little_Nemo

I’d like to see some examples of what the OP is describing because I haven’t noticed any myself.

http://straightwhiteboystexting.tumblr.com/ , perhaps?

[kayaker]

I’m an old white guy, and I don’t like old white guys.

[Blackberry]

Usually it just means that something is disproportionately white (like if someone complained that management at their company is all old white men), meaning maybe other people don’t have a fair shot at it. That’s not disparaging white people or saying none of the managers should be white.

As for the “straightwhiteboys” blog, their point is that the men are members of the privileged class so they feel entitled to act that way (which is pretty stupid because it’s just not true, men of other races act like that just as much [hey, I get texts just like that from my black psycho ex all the time], but that’s dumbass tumblr for you).

[EmilyG]

I wonder if this topic is related to the threads we’ve had on whether the term “white trash” is offensive/racist.

[Ravenman]

There’s also the joke about a middle-aged dude dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and ugly shorts, dancing in an incompetent way, who may be called the “whitest guy in America.”

Sure, it isn’t a compliment, but there’s no reason to get upset about it. Speaking as the self-appointed spokesman for the white capitalist patriarchy, let’s first worry about fixing the racial underclass, guaranteeing equal pay for equal work, and eliminating workplace discrimination against gay people before we tackle the problem of some men being called “the whitest guy in the world.”

I’m now going to go listen to Steely Dan, shop at Tommy Bahama, and drop off my golf shoes to be shined down at the country club while you all work out those other problems.

[Merneith]

I believe the OP is complaining about things like saying, “White men can’t jump”. It’s a more-than-usually lame attempt at the “anti-racists are the real racists” sort of thing. It’s related to the “gays want special privileges like getting married” arguments.

It’s stupid but it’s an argument that appeals to some people. For example, Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, is currently claiming that it’s legal to discriminate against white people. He’s going on about the “War on Whites”.

GOP Congressman Claims It's Legal To Discriminate Against Caucasians

@Rep. Brooks

“This is a part of the war on whites that’s being launched by the Democratic Party. And the way in which they’re launching this war is by claiming that whites hate everybody else,” he said. "It’s part of the strategy that Barack Obama implemented in 2008, continued in 2012, where he divides us all on race, on sex, greed, envy, class warfare, all those kinds of things. Well that’s not true.”

And, this may surprise you, but it’s all Obama’s fault.

[Procrustus]

Whate people sure are a sensitive bunch.

[LibrarySpy]

Yes, it’s a cultural slur used to demean people and dismiss opinions. It’s okay to find it offensive, even if you are not one of the targeted groups. It’s also okay to tell people in in-person situations to not use that terminology around you.

However, you are also almost certainly overreacting.

[kayaker]

@Procrustus

Whate people sure are a sensitive bunch.

Cracker, wut?

[carlotta]

I am white. I was recently talking to a white guy in his 30s that was in my circle of friends but a pretty new acquaintance. He was telling me about a performance he and some of our mutual friends had gone to, choreographed by someone we all know. With clear disdain he described the dance as typical of “white girls”.

Even though I asked several follow up questions I really couldn’t tell what he meant to convey by that except dismissiveness.

I don’t think he meant “white girls can’t dance” or “white girls don’t have rhythm”.

I guess I was mildly offended. It certainly didn’t enhance my opinion of him.

[Don_t_Panic]

@Bozuit

This isn’t about how what white people “can” and “can’t” say differs from what people of other races “can” say. I suspect that most of those using “white” in this way are actually white themselves. In fact, I suspect they’re mostly privileged, middle-class whites - exactly the kind of person they’re intending to dismiss.

You mean like the blog “Stuff White People Like”, which is dedicated to dismissing every aspect of white middle class culture as pretentious and idiotic, by default, one topic at a time?

I haven’t looked through it much, as it makes me feel nauseous after about half a minute. Still, I’m pretty sure that it’s actually written by a white, middle-class person.

Sooner or later, I’ll notice Radiolab mentioned there, and then I’ll go kick the blogger in the face.

[Ulfreida]

@Martian Bigfoot

You mean like the blog “Stuff White People Like”, which is dedicated to dismissing every aspect of white middle class culture as pretentious and idiotic, by default, one topic at a time?

I haven’t looked through it much, as it makes me feel nauseous after about half a minute. Still, I’m pretty sure that it’s actually written by a white, middle-class person.

Sooner or later, I’ll notice Radiolab mentioned there, and then I’ll go kick the blogger in the face.

Um, were you aware that it is actually meant to be humor?

[Don_t_Panic]

@Ulfreida

Um, were you aware that it is actually meant to be humor?

Obviously. That doesn’t mean that I have to think that it’s particularly funny.