General Discussion

Zenlitened

(9,488 posts)

81. I hate the word "avacado." But I sincerely do want your guacamole recipe.

Sat Jul 18, 2015, 12:02 PM

Jul 2015

That's going to be a confusing converation, isn't it?

The solution?

I learn what "avacado" means and then MOVE THE HELL ON.

This endless dithering over the term "white privilege" just seems like a big dodge to me, a stalling tactic to avoid, delay and resist any kind of progress at all.

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Highlight:

The Real Reason the Term “White Privilege” Needs to Die [View all] Nye Bevan Jul 2015 OP

Finally shenmue Jul 2015 #1

That's interesting: As a white male, I understand it in the terms she ascribed to minorities. . . Journeyman Jul 2015 #2

So, it needs to go away because it makes white people uncomfortable? NuclearDem Jul 2015 #3

No, because it makes a lot of them defensive and belligerent Warpy Jul 2015 #102

Defensiveness at least gets people talking about, which is a vast improvement Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #126

No, it shuts them down completely Warpy Jul 2015 #164

White people's hurt feelings are just about the least important factor here. Recursion Jul 2015 #4

No one's feelings are hurt by being told they are 'privileged'. whathehell Jul 2015 #20

This CANDO Jul 2015 #110

You,'explained it perfectly. Thank you. whathehell Jul 2015 #112

The absence of discrimination IS a privilege. That's the point. Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #128

Well we just have a difference of opinion CANDO Jul 2015 #165

Yes, "The absence of discrimination is privilege -- The default social whathehell Jul 2015 #158

MASSIVE privilege, but invisible to you so I can see why you can be so blind randys1 Jul 2015 #113

Lol.. whathehell Jul 2015 #154

Nope, very real nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #5

White privilege does not stop my conversation gwheezie Jul 2015 #6

You may be the exception to the rule, but I think the OP is correct whathehell Jul 2015 #85

Why would anyone want to start a "dialogue" with a white person? Cozet Jul 2015 #105

Ask those in the AA forum whathehell Jul 2015 #106

I want to steal the companion article Prism Jul 2015 #7

perhaps rather than hearing something not being said, the white people in question should listen fishwax Jul 2015 #8

It's what they hear. Igel Jul 2015 #67

"That's where you start" -- fine as a start, but not the place to stop fishwax Jul 2015 #95

Let us please tailor our conversation to delicate white ears! n/t mattclearing Jul 2015 #99

So the Average Joe doesn't care for the term “White Privilege” ? U4ikLefty Jul 2015 #9

I see what you did there KG Jul 2015 #93

We don't approve of the wealthy or powerful having privileges? Since when? kcr Jul 2015 #10

There is a difference between a privilege and a right The Second Stone Jul 2015 #11

We get a great number of privileges that are not rights gollygee Jul 2015 #32

I am white 1939 Jul 2015 #68

They are caused by biases gollygee Jul 2015 #69

This message was self-deleted by its author akbacchus_BC Jul 2015 #12

"white privilege" and "racism" are two sides of the same coin virtualobserver Jul 2015 #13

No. Not at all. Incorrect. Racism is hate. White privilege is not about what whites have, it is Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #71

The point is, until you understand "white privilege", you don't even understand.... virtualobserver Jul 2015 #75

Nate Silver: "America about as dangerous for black folk as Rwanda". Statistically speaking. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #77

But but but, no white privilege, right? I mean that is what some WHITE people tell me. randys1 Jul 2015 #114

Again, this is trying to set the discussion level based on the majority's sensitivities. Behind the Aegis Jul 2015 #14

The term is merely a way to describe white normality MrScorpio Jul 2015 #15

Excellent definition of the term. Thanks for posting this. nt brush Jul 2015 #64

... Solly Mack Jul 2015 #16

Very good stuff. Thanks for posting. nt brush Jul 2015 #62

Like this line the best randys1 Jul 2015 #116

Karenina used to say, "fish don't know they're in water" Solly Mack Jul 2015 #140

I dont get pulled over for not using my turn signal exactly right and then die in a cell 3 days randys1 Jul 2015 #142

Exactly. Solly Mack Jul 2015 #143

I miss Karenina fishwax Jul 2015 #148

I miss her too! Solly Mack Jul 2015 #152

mmm hmm PeaceNikki Jul 2015 #131

In the Comment section the blogger admits her AfAm husband disagrees with her. Solly Mack Jul 2015 #149

I don't entirely agree with the article Nye. romanic Jul 2015 #17

I disagree with her when she says notadmblnd Jul 2015 #18

Thanks for this. Honesty is needed for sure. brush Jul 2015 #65

In other news: Study of why white people deny their privilege daredtowork Jul 2015 #19

+1, someone on DU was honest enough to explain this very thing to me a couple of years ago... uponit7771 Jul 2015 #34

Even white people can see that treestar Jul 2015 #41

Increasingly, though, upper middle class whites see something else. Igel Jul 2015 #78

The contacts things is definitely there treestar Jul 2015 #84

To a large extent it's an emergent property. Igel Jul 2015 #73

We Americans have an irrational belief that "we built it ourselves." alarimer Jul 2015 #121

Thanks daredtowork Jul 2015 #160

It's an interesting perspective. bluedigger Jul 2015 #21

So we should call white privlege 'White Benefits' instead to make white folks feel better? bravenak Jul 2015 #22

It's all about us and our feelings!! gollygee Jul 2015 #31

We should ignore it's existence and pretend that Black people are born criminals otherwise randys1 Jul 2015 #120

"White people" or "Black people" Democat Jul 2015 #23

Exactly right. Thank you. whathehell Jul 2015 #107

ALL white Americans have privilege. If there were no Black people or Latino people here randys1 Jul 2015 #122

Nah! We'd Find Someone To Frown On ProfessorGAC Jul 2015 #133

As another poster said, "I'm not discriminated against". whathehell Jul 2015 #156

She makes a good point. pnwmom Jul 2015 #24

I'm getting old: I remember when they used to call it racism MisterP Jul 2015 #25

As a white male, I totally get it progree Jul 2015 #26

Well, I'm a white woman married to an Iranian-American Starry Messenger Jul 2015 #27

The only place I hear the term "White Privilege" is on DU. Flying Squirrel Jul 2015 #28

Yep sub.theory Jul 2015 #29

When everyone has the "advantage" of doing so, that's not the case. uponit7771 Jul 2015 #37

At least they weren't denied the privilege of drinking from colored-only water fountains nc4bo Jul 2015 #54

It's only a "shit-stirring" term romanic Jul 2015 #30

Not just the law but also employment, education, housing nc4bo Jul 2015 #42

Definitely. romanic Jul 2015 #104

So what words SHOULD be used so as to not "stir shit"? tia uponit7771 Jul 2015 #33

I'll ... write more than the subject line. Igel Jul 2015 #83

That's a thought provoking post. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2015 #96

Speaking of jargon escaping the pen Nevernose Jul 2015 #127

Really? Are you usually only talking to white people? randys1 Jul 2015 #123

My fiance is AA Flying Squirrel Jul 2015 #147

Soooooooooooo, call it "White Advantages"?! There's no suggestion of what to replace the term with.. uponit7771 Jul 2015 #35

I think the point is to just not have the conversation. Because white people's feelings gollygee Jul 2015 #38

+1, It seems the "terms used" are more important than people being aware. uponit7771 Jul 2015 #39

"White people's feelings" marle35 Jul 2015 #45

The assumption is that we have to be careful with how it's worded gollygee Jul 2015 #46

OK, I just half agree with you marle35 Jul 2015 #47

What different way? There seems to be no way not to offend uponit7771 Jul 2015 #90

Flip the context. Igel Jul 2015 #88

This isn't parallel for a couple of reasons gollygee Jul 2015 #97

"Don't face racial discrimination". Igel Jul 2015 #86

I guess the bottom line is we are treated better than we ought to be treestar Jul 2015 #36

No, white people are not treated "better than they ought to be". Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #50

glass half full or half empty treestar Jul 2015 #52

NB has it right. Igel Jul 2015 #92

Well put. It is not a drag down thing, it is a bring up thing. As Obama always says. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #57

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2015 #40

Wrong ismnotwasm Jul 2015 #43

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2015 #44

It's not about what anyone thinks malaise Jul 2015 #48

THank you. All these opinions from white people who have an opinion based on randys1 Jul 2015 #124

TL:DR summary; "because it makes white people uncomfortable" Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #49

'You're not being sold out by these trade deals like TPP, youre just being relieved of excess white' HFRN Jul 2015 #51

White "privilege" is heard different by whites than as meant by non-whites. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #53

I think it's also an instinctive awareness that once a negative spotlight is put on you HFRN Jul 2015 #55

Unrec. nc4bo Jul 2015 #56

"White privilege", as coined, isn't meant to explain white folks feelings, it is to meant to explain OUR feelings! Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #59

White people don't seem to care for the term white privilege, even on DU nc4bo Jul 2015 #63

I think the negative reaction to the term, about them, is them not understanding it is not about them. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #66

I hear you, I really do. nc4bo Jul 2015 #74

An EXAMPLE of the privilege is the reactions you see in this thread. randys1 Jul 2015 #125

Do you have a better term . . . brush Jul 2015 #58

"Racism" (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #70

Yes, there is that. brush Jul 2015 #80

Because calling someone 'racist' is less problematic than 'white privilege"? Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #129

Your comment is a prime example of what is being said about white privilege flying way over the heads of some. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #132

Clarify, please. I don't catch your drift. n/t Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #134

Which is my point. To clarify any further would be insulting. To you. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #135

Now THAT'S insulting. Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #136

My apologies. Sometimes Internet comment board commenting, without tone of voice, can lead to misunderstanding. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #138

Ever notice that issues like this come up when trade deals are quietly pushed through? HFRN Jul 2015 #60

The term white privilege had its uses but now it's being thrown around flamingdem Jul 2015 #61

It's class privilege AnnieBW Jul 2015 #72

Better that white privilege itself roody Jul 2015 #76

This is pointless. Baitball Blogger Jul 2015 #79

I hate the word "avacado." But I sincerely do want your guacamole recipe. Zenlitened Jul 2015 #81

+1 gollygee Jul 2015 #103

It's a meme that tends to reinforce and validate the privilege of the wealthy. nt Romulox Jul 2015 #82

Good explanation for the basis of some white people's objection. SunSeeker Jul 2015 #87

there is no reason to be offended by it ibegurpard Jul 2015 #89

Yep, it's too "politically correct." hunter Jul 2015 #91

I lulz'ed KG Jul 2015 #94

It's interesting where.. mvd Jul 2015 #98

I agree wholeheartedly with that last paragraph sammythecat Jul 2015 #100

"Privelege" is only a relative term tularetom Jul 2015 #101

As a Jew who looks very white I can say... dilby Jul 2015 #108

"The term white privilege does not need to die, it needs to be constantly talked about." LeftOfWest Jul 2015 #111

Again, white privilege is not about what whites have, it is about what non-whites do not have, and Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #118

This message was self-deleted by its author Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #141

Again, it is not about the slave holder's experience of wealth by exploitation, it is about the slave's experience. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #145

That's not even close to true gollygee Jul 2015 #159

This message was self-deleted by its author Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #161

That's your source? Holy crap. gollygee Jul 2015 #162

It's the first result that comes up for me when I Google "percent whites owned slaves" Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #163

I discovered this thread through Jury Service. Great writing. Betty Karlson Jul 2015 #109

Don't Agree I have to say el_bryanto Jul 2015 #115

The phenomenon is real, but it is mostly used on DU to inoculate Hillary from criticism Romulox Jul 2015 #117

Seems predicating the definition of "privilege" on a hunch betrays the authors premise. LanternWaste Jul 2015 #119

Pppppppppppppfffffffffffft. PeaceNikki Jul 2015 #130

A lot of RWing racists believe the same thing! Rex Jul 2015 #137

There's a reason that President Obama has never uttered the phrase "white privilege" Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #139

Obama has been clear enough that white privilege exists without setting off white alarm bells over Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #151

White privilege is not racism, so please stop conflating two different terms...it if were the same it would be called racism. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #150

Just because someone is married to or has black kids doesn't excuse them from the suspicuion of craigmatic Jul 2015 #144

Noting the 14th Amendment has a "privileges and immunities" clause, second sentence. Eleanors38 Jul 2015 #146

Die? No. daleanime Jul 2015 #153

I'm black and I agree with this premise. WestCoastLib Jul 2015 #155

Yep, it's not a "privilege" to be waited on in a store in the order in which you arrived, Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #157