Black Adversity: The Opposite of White Privilege

[Reginald Hudlin]

from Will Capers' BLACK INK:

Black Adversity: The Opposite of White Privilege


White privilege is the subject where whites are given certain advantages simply because they are white. In a white-dominated society, privileges are not only plentiful, but are also normal. Of course, it's not surprising that many whites are either unaware of their privileges, or go so far as to deny that they even have privileges by playing the victim role.

However, yesterday, I wondered about the opposite of white privilege and what that's called. Today, I've given it a name. I call it black adversity. They are the challenges and disadvantages that blacks have to struggle with. I wanted to focus on the realities of black life in a white-dominated society. So, I made a list of black adversities.

I want to go on record that the list of adversities are not excuses, nor should it be held as reasons for not trying to understand. They do not describe black life in its entirety, and a few, if not some, are not restricted to just blacks. However, the list shows the harsh realities that blacks face no matter the socioeconomic, political, or religious/spiritual sense or status. Some of these vary depending on the individual, but overall, here's a list of adversities blacks have to struggle with and overcome. Also within the list are things whites must be aware of and overcome which is associated with fear.

1. If I'm in a group of others who look like me, that is a cause for some kind of suspicion.

2. In order to not cause suspicion, I must be in the company of (mostly) whites.

3. If I move, I can be sure I will likely end up in poor neighborhood whether I want to or not.

4. If I move into a white neighborhood, it will be enough to arouse suspicion with my neighbors.

5. When I go shopping, I can be sure I will arouse suspicion and be followed around.

6. I will be sure that when I turn on the TV, I will most likely see others who look like me as ball players, criminals, clowns or overall failures of society.

7. When I turn to the local news on tv or in a newspaper, I can be sure most of the crime reported will have faces of suspects who look like me.

8. I know that my history is celebrated during the shortest month of the year and will likely not be celebrated any other time.

9. I know that most of the history taught is of history of mainly white people.

10. I can be sure that most of the stories I have to read for class are stories written by whites featuring white characters.

11. I can be sure that in order to pass in school I have to learn history and literature of whites by whites.

12. In order for whites to listen to me, I must agree with what they think about me and my people.

13. I can be sure that whites will not listen to me when it comes to race and racism.

14. I can be sure that in order to "make it" in the music industry I must sing or rap about sex, drugs, violence and killing my own people.

15. I can be sure that in order to "make it" in the music industry I must be an R&B, Jazz, rap or hip-hop artist.

16. When I use cash, checks, or credit cards, my skin is enough for suspicion.

17. When children of my race are missing, I know the media will likely not pay too much, if any, attention to them.

18. I know during my lifetime, I will be taught that my race is inferior in some way, shape or form.

19. I can be pretty sure that teachers will likely and severely punish children of my race for small infractions.

20. I can be pretty sure that children of my race will be put down or judged because of their race.

21. I know that the dropout rate for male children of my race is the highest among other races.

22. The way I look contributes to the way I should talk in order to be considered black.

23. I know that making good grades and good manners are signs that I'm "acting white."

24. I can be pretty sure that I'm automatically a representative for my group in the entertainment, political, religious or social area.

25. I know that any bad manners I have is associated with my color.

26. As a male I can be sure that living beyond 30 is a blessing.

27. I know that growing up, I will see poverty, drugs, violence and/or murder at least once.

28. If I grew up middle-class or upper-class, I may be looked upon with negativity by some of my own peers. If I grew up lower-class, I may still be looked upon with negativity by some of my own peers.

29. As a female I can be sure that the standard for beauty in this society is white or light skin.

30. I have a good chance of growing up in a single parent home.

31. I have at least one family member or relative who is either in prison or has been in prison.

32. As a child there's a chance that I will likely be considered "bad" by adults who know me faster than being acknowledged of any positives.

33. If I murder a white person, I can be pretty sure that I will get the death penalty.

34. If I murder a black person, I can be pretty sure that my sentence will be lighter compared to white victims.

35. I can be sure that I will be pulled over by police because of my race.

36. I can be sure that I will either be harassed, abused or even killed by police because of my race.

37. In court, I will likely not get a fair trial.

38. I know that as a male, there's a 1 in 3 chance that I will end up in prison, and losing my right to vote.

39. As a male I must marry within my race or be considered a sellout.

40. As a male I know my number one cause of death is homicide most likely by another male who looks like me.

41. I know a new television series will have main characters that will not look like me.

42. I know that negative stereotypes about my people will continue despite a high number of those who do not fit those stereotypes. In other words I will be judged by the actions of a few.

43. I know that my experiences with racism mean little or nothing.

44. I know that I will be a scapegoat for almost anything and everything wrong with this society.

45. I know that there will be movies featuring white people saving my people.

46. I know that my history prior to slavery is hardly discussed or brought up in classrooms. We were taught that we came from slaves and nothing else.

47. I can be sure I will likely not get the job or career I want based upon my race.

48. I know that all of my people are judged for the actions of one or a few of my people.

49. I have to live with the fact that my true culture, language, history are stripped away, and the proof I have to live with is in my name.

50. I am often told that something is wrong with me and not with the society I live in.

51. As a female the shade of my skin defines beauty. If my skin is dark or hair is nappy, then there's a chance that I will be considered ugly by my peers.

52. As a female and mother I will be judged negatively by the number of children I have. If I do have children, I will be assumed that I am unmarried, that I'm on welfare, or that I'm simply an unfit mother.

53. As a child I can be sure that the newest cartoon series will not feature characters that look like me. If they do, they will likely be some form of negative stereotype.

54. As a male I will be judged by my male peers on how bad, tough or "street" I am. At school, I will likely be judged for my bad behavior and athletic abilities.

55. In religion I am taught that God is white and that whiteness is purity and cleanliness and that my skin color is the exact opposite.

56. As a female I am assumed to have a bad attitude, that I'm a golddigger or that I like to show off my body.

57. I have to live with the notion that any organiazation for blacks are considered inferior or racist by whites.

58. I am encouraged to be the best black anything in society and not simply the best.

59. I am assumed that any position I'm in is because of affirmative action and not on my own merits.

60. I have to live with the fact that I am not considered a "regular" person, that I am considered a black person

Posted by Will Capers at 12:42 PM

[isaiah_bradley]

some people are just obsess with race.

[bluezulu]

from Will Capers' BLACK INK:

Black Adversity: The Opposite of White Privilege


White privilege is the subject where whites are given certain advantages simply because they are white. In a white-dominated society, privileges are not only plentiful, but are also normal. Of course, it's not surprising that many whites are either unaware of their privileges, or go so far as to deny that they even have privileges by playing the victim role.

However, yesterday, I wondered about the opposite of white privilege and what that's called. Today, I've given it a name. I call it black adversity. They are the challenges and disadvantages that blacks have to struggle with. I wanted to focus on the realities of black life in a white-dominated society. So, I made a list of black adversities.

I want to go on record that the list of adversities are not excuses, nor should it be held as reasons for not trying to understand. They do not describe black life in its entirety, and a few, if not some, are not restricted to just blacks. However, the list shows the harsh realities that blacks face no matter the socioeconomic, political, or religious/spiritual sense or status. Some of these vary depending on the individual, but overall, here's a list of adversities blacks have to struggle with and overcome. Also within the list are things whites must be aware of and overcome which is associated with fear.

1. If I'm in a group of others who look like me, that is a cause for some kind of suspicion.

2. In order to not cause suspicion, I must be in the company of (mostly) whites.

3. If I move, I can be sure I will likely end up in poor neighborhood whether I want to or not.

4. If I move into a white neighborhood, it will be enough to arouse suspicion with my neighbors.

5. When I go shopping, I can be sure I will arouse suspicion and be followed around.

6. I will be sure that when I turn on the TV, I will most likely see others who look like me as ball players, criminals, clowns or overall failures of society.

7. When I turn to the local news on tv or in a newspaper, I can be sure most of the crime reported will have faces of suspects who look like me.

8. I know that my history is celebrated during the shortest month of the year and will likely not be celebrated any other time.

9. I know that most of the history taught is of history of mainly white people.

10. I can be sure that most of the stories I have to read for class are stories written by whites featuring white characters.

11. I can be sure that in order to pass in school I have to learn history and literature of whites by whites.

12. In order for whites to listen to me, I must agree with what they think about me and my people.

13. I can be sure that whites will not listen to me when it comes to race and racism.

14. I can be sure that in order to "make it" in the music industry I must sing or rap about sex, drugs, violence and killing my own people.

15. I can be sure that in order to "make it" in the music industry I must be an R&B, Jazz, rap or hip-hop artist.

16. When I use cash, checks, or credit cards, my skin is enough for suspicion.

17. When children of my race are missing, I know the media will likely not pay too much, if any, attention to them.

18. I know during my lifetime, I will be taught that my race is inferior in some way, shape or form.

19. I can be pretty sure that teachers will likely and severely punish children of my race for small infractions.

20. I can be pretty sure that children of my race will be put down or judged because of their race.

21. I know that the dropout rate for male children of my race is the highest among other races.

22. The way I look contributes to the way I should talk in order to be considered black.

23. I know that making good grades and good manners are signs that I'm "acting white."

24. I can be pretty sure that I'm automatically a representative for my group in the entertainment, political, religious or social area.

25. I know that any bad manners I have is associated with my color.

26. As a male I can be sure that living beyond 30 is a blessing.

27. I know that growing up, I will see poverty, drugs, violence and/or murder at least once.

28. If I grew up middle-class or upper-class, I may be looked upon with negativity by some of my own peers. If I grew up lower-class, I may still be looked upon with negativity by some of my own peers.

29. As a female I can be sure that the standard for beauty in this society is white or light skin.

30. I have a good chance of growing up in a single parent home.

31. I have at least one family member or relative who is either in prison or has been in prison.

32. As a child there's a chance that I will likely be considered "bad" by adults who know me faster than being acknowledged of any positives.

33. If I murder a white person, I can be pretty sure that I will get the death penalty.

34. If I murder a black person, I can be pretty sure that my sentence will be lighter compared to white victims.

35. I can be sure that I will be pulled over by police because of my race.

36. I can be sure that I will either be harassed, abused or even killed by police because of my race.

37. In court, I will likely not get a fair trial.

38. I know that as a male, there's a 1 in 3 chance that I will end up in prison, and losing my right to vote.

39. As a male I must marry within my race or be considered a sellout.

40. As a male I know my number one cause of death is homicide most likely by another male who looks like me.

41. I know a new television series will have main characters that will not look like me.

42. I know that negative stereotypes about my people will continue despite a high number of those who do not fit those stereotypes. In other words I will be judged by the actions of a few.

43. I know that my experiences with racism mean little or nothing.

44. I know that I will be a scapegoat for almost anything and everything wrong with this society.

45. I know that there will be movies featuring white people saving my people.

46. I know that my history prior to slavery is hardly discussed or brought up in classrooms. We were taught that we came from slaves and nothing else.

47. I can be sure I will likely not get the job or career I want based upon my race.

48. I know that all of my people are judged for the actions of one or a few of my people.

49. I have to live with the fact that my true culture, language, history are stripped away, and the proof I have to live with is in my name.

50. I am often told that something is wrong with me and not with the society I live in.

51. As a female the shade of my skin defines beauty. If my skin is dark or hair is nappy, then there's a chance that I will be considered ugly by my peers.

52. As a female and mother I will be judged negatively by the number of children I have. If I do have children, I will be assumed that I am unmarried, that I'm on welfare, or that I'm simply an unfit mother.

53. As a child I can be sure that the newest cartoon series will not feature characters that look like me. If they do, they will likely be some form of negative stereotype.

54. As a male I will be judged by my male peers on how bad, tough or "street" I am. At school, I will likely be judged for my bad behavior and athletic abilities.

55. In religion I am taught that God is white and that whiteness is purity and cleanliness and that my skin color is the exact opposite.

56. As a female I am assumed to have a bad attitude, that I'm a golddigger or that I like to show off my body.

57. I have to live with the notion that any organiazation for blacks are considered inferior or racist by whites.

58. I am encouraged to be the best black anything in society and not simply the best.

59. I am assumed that any position I'm in is because of affirmative action and not on my own merits.

60. I have to live with the fact that I am not considered a "regular" person, that I am considered a black person

Posted by Will Capers at 12:42 PM

1,4,5,6,711,15,16,17,20,24,33,44,53,
I agree with. A lot of the others come off as either not wholly accurate , poor pitiful me in tone, or just not true to my experiances.

[michaelintp]

This list appears to represent someone straining to come up with as many things as he can possibly imagine, to create as long a list as possible. Some items on the list describe acts of discrimination, others describe imagined acts of discrimination or projections of what someone else "must" be thinking, others describe self-inflicted hardships, others describe consequences that flow from irresponsible or illegal conduct, some are just plain silly, and others are outright false.

The concept of "white privilege" is a racist concept, crafted by the Radical Left to fan the fires of anti-white racism and hate, and to try to foster white fear and a "white" identity. To divide our country. Why do I say this? If someone has a "privilege" that is undeserved, then it naturally follows that it is a privilege that should to "taken away." Yet what is described here is not a privilege at all. It is the absence of racial discrimination (color irrelevancy, a desirable goal, that should apply to everyone). One who frames the issue in terms of a "privilege" is really fabricating a justification for discrimination against white people.The goal is to foster hostility and a desire to get back at "the White Man." One may wish to jump through hoops to argue that this is not what advocacy of the concept means, but I believe that this is how it will be, and is, perceived my most white people when they hear it, and for good reason. This is how it comes across, because the whole issue could be framed differently (and traditionally was, by the Civil Rights Movement).

Given this, what is the predictable result of people ranting on about white privilege?  It is to push the identity of "whiteness" down the throats of people who don't even identify themselves in that fashion (and who have never discriminated against anyone). The natural reaction of an innocent white person is, "If people are gonna hate me because I'm white, and try to hurt me, then ... I better start thinking of myself as "white" and better start thinking about protecting myself." This concept of "white privilege" fosters the very racial division and racial mistrust and racial tension and racial hostility and racial fear that its advocates pretend to oppose. Both in blacks and in whites.

Because it would be very easy to condemn discrimination, arm-in-arm with decent people of all races, and to encourage programs positively featuring contributions to our country made by all races, to address cultural issues, to address media issues, and so on, in a positive way, to bring everyone on board. Everything that is negative can be fought in a positive fashion. Darkness can be eliminated with light. On the other hand, "fighting fire with fire" will just burn the house down. Which was, of course, always the goal of the Radical Left. Not to really improve things; nope. Just to burn the house down. They were following their marching orders. Recruiting many dupes in the process.

There is no value in pitting race against race. It is destructive and ugly. What is saddening is that doing so has gained such currency.

[jefferson L.O.B. sergeant]

The concept of "white privilege" is a racist concept, crafted by the Radical Left to fan the fires of anti-white racism and hate, and to try to foster white fear and a "white" identity. racial hostility and racial fear that its advocates pretend to oppose. Both in blacks and in whites.

This is ludicrous!

Race is a social construct that was created to justify the: subjugation, enslavement, and genocide of non-Whites.

The notion that, America, whose economic foundation was based on the murder and slavery of non-Europeans; doesn't naturally lead to White skin privilege makes no sense.

What could a White infant in this society have done that automatically ensures his greater likelihood to be better educated, safer, richer and live longer than his non-White counterparts?

[michaelintp]

Jefferson, this is not 1810. This not 1860. This is not even 1960.  It is 2010. Your ideological arguments are irrelevant.

I am trying to honestly convey my feelings ... in response to this "white privilege" crap. Feelings felt by folk like me ... who have done no wrong, but who rightly view such ranting as nothing but an attack against them because of their race.

I wrote a long response, but then ... realized ... that describing the feelings people have in response to racial hostility is probably pointless. Who cares that my wife's family came here as immigrants with nothing, after WWII, after the worst experience a human being can imagine. Who cares that my mom worked as a waitress to try to make ends meet. Who cares that I busted my butt to pursue an education, was in debt for years because of it, and worked my ass off my entire life to try to build up something for my kids. According to you, anything I earned and saved was all because I was the beneficiary of some stupid-ass privilege. GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD: I just worked hard, dammit. It is no more complex than that.

It is not a privilege to be compensated for work done. It is unjust if a person is not compensated for work done, or denied a job, because of his or her race. 

I'm telling you where this "white privilege" ranting is going to lead to. Take my word for it. It is perceived as a racial attack. Against people who have done nothing wrong but work their entire lives. It is going to pit race against race. It is not only unproductive, it is destructive.

There is no such thing as "reverse-racism." There is just racism and bigotry, plain and simple. It is wrong, no matter where it come from.

If your ideology makes you feel good, enjoy it. There is nothing I can do about that. Enjoy the beloved societal construct that you so embrace.

[jefferson L.O.B. sergeant]

Jefferson, this is not 1810. This not 1860. This is not even 1960.  It is 2010. Your ideological arguments are irrelevant.

I am trying to honestly convey my feelings ... in response to this "white privilege" crap. Feelings felt by folk like me ... who have done no wrong, but who rightly view such ranting as nothing but an attack against them because of their race.

I wrote a long response, but then ... realized ... that describing the feelings people have in response to racial hostility is probably pointless. Who cares that my wife's family came here as immigrants with nothing, after WWII, after the worst experience a human being can imagine. Who cares that my mom worked as a waitress to try to make ends meet. Who cares that I busted my butt to pursue an education, was in debt for years because of it, and worked my ass off my entire life to try to build up something for my kids. According to you, anything I earned and saved was all because I was the beneficiary of some stupid-ass privilege. GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD: I just worked hard, dammit. It is no more complex than that.

It is not a privilege to be compensated for work done. It is unjust if a person is not compensated for work done, or denied a job, because of his or her race. 

I'm telling you where this "white privilege" ranting is going to lead to. Take my word for it. It is perceived as a racial attack. Against people who have done nothing wrong but work their entire lives. It is going to pit race against race. It is not only unproductive, it is destructive.

There is no such thing as "reverse-racism." There is just racism and bigotry, plain and simple. It is wrong, no matter where it come from.

If your ideology makes you feel good, enjoy it. There is nothing I can do about that. Enjoy the beloved societal construct that you so embrace.

There are Blacks that worked HARDER than you, your wife, your mother and any other White person you can think of; who never got their just due simply because of their skin color.

Your commentary reveals volumes about the arrogance one can afford to have as a White person in our society. Everything can be reduced to a meritocracy in your mind.

The logical implications of what you're asserting are quite clear.

Since it's not "1810", "1860" or "1960" the institutional racism which led to and affirms White supremacy in this society; is completely irrelevant and has no impact on your life. Equally, that same aforementioned reality has nothing to do with the hardships that millions of Black and Latino people deal with on a daily basis.

I've now noticed that when it comes to certain issues, you readily affirm that the past is prologue. On other ones, you choose to act as though history is completely irrelevant.

[Vic Vega]

I didn't look at the entire list. Maybe I will when I have time.

One thing I DO know: most peoples problems are thier own fault.

That not a denial of institutional racism.

Its just acknowledging that knowing what we know folks STILL willfully f*ck up.

Often.

[michaelintp]

Since it's not "1810", "1860" or "1960" the institutional racism which led to and affirms White supremacy in this society; is completely irrelevant and has no impact on your life. Equally, that same aforementioned reality has nothing to do with the hardships that millions of Black and Latino people deal with on a daily basis.

You misunderstand my point. I don't deny the existence of slavery, Jim Crow laws, racial discrimination etc. I stated above that it is unjust for a person not to be compensated for work done, or to be denied a job, because of his or her race. I am opposed to injustice. Many many people are opposed to injustice. There are effective positive ways to galvanize people's attitudes against injustice. Or there are negative ways to drive massive wedges between people and make things worse.

If a worker works, he is entitled to be paid. Getting paid is not a "privilege." Getting paid is his right. I worked. And yes, I worked hard. And yes, I got paid. There was no "privilege" involved in that whatsoever.

The Civil Rights Movement was called a rights movement for a reason. It was not called the Civil Privilege Movement.

By framing the matter as one of privilege, you point the finger at white people like me, as if we did anything wrong (by studying, working hard and getting paid, or by starting businesses, etc). Because if a person were to enjoy a "privilege" solely because of his race, that "privilege" would be unwarranted (because racism is wrong). Thus, it would be a "privilege" that should be taken away. Yet there is no "privilege" to take away here. The right to be paid for the work you do, or the right to do your best to run a successful business, is a right, not a privilege. By calling it a privilege you are engaged in a racial attack. Even if you deny that is what you are doing, I am telling you that is how it is perceived. That is why your ideology is irrelevant. Because using the terminology of "privilege" creates the perception of racial attack (against white people). It evokes a strongly negative emotional reaction, of making people who have done nothing wrong feel that they are under attack because of their race. It is counter-productive and indeed destructive. Instead of bringing people of all races together for the common purpose of fighting injustice, it drives people apart, on the basis of race.

Framing the issue as one of "privilege" is simply wrong-headed, in exacerbating the problem. It is also racist and wrong.  

[jefferson L.O.B. sergeant]

Since it's not "1810", "1860" or "1960" the institutional racism which led to and affirms White supremacy in this society; is completely irrelevant and has no impact on your life. Equally, that same aforementioned reality has nothing to do with the hardships that millions of Black and Latino people deal with on a daily basis.

You misunderstand my point. I don't deny the existence of slavery, Jim Crow laws, racial discrimination etc. I stated above that it is unjust for a person not to be compensated for work done, or to be denied a job, because of his or her race. I am opposed to injustice. Many many people are opposed to injustice. There are effective positive ways to galvanize people's attitudes against injustice. Or there are negative ways to drive massive wedges between people and make things worse.

If a worker works, he is entitled to be paid. Getting paid is not a "privilege." Getting paid is his right. I worked. And yes, I worked hard. And yes, I got paid. There was no "privilege" involved in that whatsoever.

By framing the matter as one of privilege, you point the finger at white people like me, as if we did anything wrong (by working and getting paid, or by starting businesses, etc). Because if a person were to enjoy a "privilege" solely because of his race, that "privilege" would be unwarranted (because racism is wrong). Thus, it would be a "privilege" that should be taken away. Yet there is no "privilege" to take away here. The right to be paid for the work you do, or the right to do your best to run a successful business, is a right, not a privilege. By calling it a privilege you are engaged in a racial attack. Even if you deny that is what you are doing, I am telling you that is how it is perceived. That is why your ideology is irrelevant. Because using the terminology of "privilege" creates the perception of racial attack (against white people). It evokes a strongly negative emotional reaction, of making people who have done nothing wrong feel that they are under attack because of their race. It is counter-productive and indeed destructive. Instead of bringing people of all races together for the common purpose of fighting injustice, it drives people apart, on the basis of race.

Framing the issue as one of "privilege" is simply wrong-headed, in exacerbating the problem. It is also racist. 

There are a myriad of ways to address the issue of White skin privilege other than "Taking away" what you have.

You comments here also give me additional insight into what it means to be White in this society. The truth of White-skin privilege/Institutional racism  is irrelevant, the only thing of significance is how it makes White people feel and ultimately how they react to this perceived offense.

How can the beneficiaries of racism legitimately divorce themselves from the origin of their present circumstance?

[Kristopher]

This list appears to represent someone straining to come up with as many things as he can possibly imagine, to create as long a list as possible. Some items on the list describe acts of discrimination, others describe imagined acts of discrimination or projections of what someone else "must" be thinking, others describe self-inflicted hardships, others describe consequences that flow from irresponsible or illegal conduct, some are just plain silly, and others are outright false.

The concept of "white privilege" is a racist concept, crafted by the Radical Left to fan the fires of anti-white racism and hate, and to try to foster white fear and a "white" identity. To divide our country. Why do I say this? If someone has a "privilege" that is undeserved, then it naturally follows that it is a privilege that should to "taken away." Yet what is described here is not a privilege at all. It is the absence of racial discrimination (color irrelevancy, a desirable goal, that should apply to everyone). One who frames the issue in terms of a "privilege" is really fabricating a justification for discrimination against white people.The goal is to foster hostility and a desire to get back at "the White Man." One may wish to jump through hoops to argue that this is not what advocacy of the concept means, but I believe that this is how it will be, and is, perceived my most white people when they hear it, and for good reason. This is how it comes across, because the whole issue could be framed differently (and traditionally was, by the Civil Rights Movement).

Given this, what is the predictable result of people ranting on about white privilege?  It is to push the identity of "whiteness" down the throats of people who don't even identify themselves in that fashion (and who have never discriminated against anyone). The natural reaction of an innocent white person is, "If people are gonna hate me because I'm white, and try to hurt me, then ... I better start thinking of myself as "white" and better start thinking about protecting myself." This concept of "white privilege" fosters the very racial division and racial mistrust and racial tension and racial hostility and racial fear that its advocates pretend to oppose. Both in blacks and in whites.

Because it would be very easy to condemn discrimination, arm-in-arm with decent people of all races, and to encourage programs positively featuring contributions to our country made by all races, to address cultural issues, to address media issues, and so on, in a positive way, to bring everyone on board. Everything that is negative can be fought in a positive fashion. Darkness can be eliminated with light. On the other hand, "fighting fire with fire" will just burn the house down. Which was, of course, always the goal of the Radical Left. Not to really improve things; nope. Just to burn the house down. They were following their marching orders. Recruiting many dupes in the process.

There is no value in pitting race against race. It is destructive and ugly. What is saddening is that doing so has gained such currency.

Are you denying that "White Privilege" exists?

[Kristopher]

How can the beneficiaries of racism legitimately divorce themselves from the origin of their present circumstance?

Great question?

[BmoreAkuma]

Hmmm I just find this "list" a joke. A number of them are true but a select few are just excuses and others are just plain false. The ones that grind my gears is #21 & #26. What makes one think that "white privilege" cause a young black male to drop out of school? The same thing applies to #26. Is this person kidding, is the death rate of young black men that staggering?



What I'm trying to figure out is how is this considered "leftist"? Is it because "proportionally that most blacks are leftist"?   However when it comes to debates like this a number of Caucasians are overly defensive. You don't need to be. If you know that your family "earned" your way why bring it up?

[Kristopher]

Who cares that my wife's family came here as immigrants with nothing, after WWII, after the worst experience a human being can imagine. Who cares that my mom worked as a waitress to try to make ends meet. Who cares that I busted my butt to pursue an education, was in debt for years because of it, and worked my ass off my entire life to try to build up something for my kids. According to you, anything I earned and saved was all because I was the beneficiary of some stupid-ass privilege. GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD: I just worked hard, dammit. It is no more complex than that.

Wow, you actually went THERE! Amazing! On a forum where many members had great grandparents who were subjected was a human horror of staggering dimension. Whose Grandparents were subjected to State sanctioned discrimination, reinforced by public and private TERRORISM, ending only a mere 45 years ago. My grandfather lost a arm and one eye in Europe, fighting for OTHER people's freedom and very survival, yet, after the war, he had to sit in the back of the bus or worse, give up his seat to a PRIVILEGED white person, when the bus got full. But Who Cares? My Grandmother was fired from a nice job in a Baltimore Department store because someone told the manager that she was married to a Nˇgger. But Who Cares? We all got stories Michael and most of us don't have to dust off the archives of a slighted ancestor. Hell, I only have to go back a month or two.

The simple TRUTH is that while Jim Crow may be dead, Racism and White Privilege are alive and well. THAT is the central fact of life for every non-white American, including the President of the United States. It eclipses income, position and education. Race trumps them ALL.

[Francisco]

Just a question: If racism is so alive and well in the United States.. How did Pres. Obama got elected?