Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
So observing that Asians have slanted eyes (displaying an epicanthic fold) is racist in your books, regardless of context? Pointing out that the Irish tend to burn and blister at the slightest exposure to sun is going to be racist? Trying to understand where the lines are drawn here, because there are so many people that scream racism for the slightest reasons.
Traditionally, yes, but not always these days. Almost anything the SJW set doesn't like is lumped in as being racist. This site has seen plenty of screams of racism where none existed and only based on the minority was feeling marginalized or attacked. Some of the most obviously racist comments have come from some of those minorities as they defended what they believed to be disenfranchisement. So while you can say that everything is focused on "biological/in-born" traits I would argue that perceptions and feelings also come into the mix and drive charges of racism.
I acknowledge your definition of white privilege but white privilege is not there for all white people. The "system" does not work for all white people which is why the term is considered a cooked up concept. I tend to believe that white privilege exists to some extent, but also recognize that there are more poor white people that the system doesn't work for, and more than all other races. When minorities throw white privilege in the face of white people they themselves are making a predetermination of benefit based solely on association toward "biological/in-born" traits - you're white so not only does the system work for you, but you need to apologize for it. That is racist by your own definition and the very definition you use for white privilege falls apart. "White privilege" does not benefit all white people equally nor does it guarantee them benefit. So when it used as a generalization to isolate, blame a white person for some action, or insult their place in society, it can be racist and just as ugly as any comment about someone's eyes or hair or a statement about their culture.
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At my organization, we're currently doing a very good equity and diversity course run out of University of Dalhousie. We had a chapter on White privilege and some of the key points is that the recognition and acknowledgement of white privilege shouldn't have a component of blame to it. It's the recognition and acknowledgement that all people have similar challenges in life, but on top of those challenges, non-white people have additional barriers and issues that exist solely due to them being non-white. Someone posted earlier that it's like a video game difficulty lever. You shouldn't have to apologize for being born white and or having had any of the benefits in life because of it, but to acknowledge a white male is the default difficulty level, and as you start adding other equity dimensions (gender, sex, attraction, ethnicity, neurodivergence,...etc), the more difficult life becomes.
So yes the system doesn't work for everyone and there are white people who are struggling in society. However being white doesn't significantly add additional challenges as it does for non-white individuals, and that's what makes it a privlege.
Hope that makes sense
LChoy