The Problem isn’t White Privilege; the Problem is Poverty and Stratification

[texshelters]

Here’s an article on a tough subject that I recently posted. 



Excerpt:

The Problem isn’t White Privilege; the Problem is Poverty and Stratification

Over the years, people from the environmental, free speech, the Occupy and other social movements have been accused of “White privilege.” Labeling someone “privileged” because they are White, and using the phrase “White privilege” to question someone’s motives solely based on their race, is just another stereotype. The label also assumes that White people within social movements are somehow ignorant of their place in society and infers that somehow being White makes you unable to care about people of all races. That is clearly false and divisive.

The concept of “White privilege” also ignores the millions of underprivileged poor Whites in our society. How privileged are people living below the poverty level? Certainly, there are racial and gender discrepancies in pay and job opportunities. Certainly, incarceration rates in our society are much higher for Blacks and Latinos than for Whites who commit similar crimes. And yes, there are other areas of institutionalized racism in the U.S.

If there wasn’t racial inequality in wealth, why is it that 22 percent of American children live in poverty, but 39 percent of Black children and 35 percent of Hispanic children live in poverty? This discrepancy in poverty rates is notable. Nevertheless, much of the inequality in our society is based on class. (Large snip here with some good material)

Certainly, the way people are treated, and treat each other, as minorities, women, homosexuals, or “the other” in our society forces people to see themselves predominately as members of those groups. It is impossible not to identify oneself in terms of race and gender, and it can be empowering to do so.

However, we need to also identify and work together based on our common interests as a class, without denying our uniqueness in any way, in order to challenge the power of the economic oligarchs. Otherwise, we will fail to bring about the economic changes we need to survive as a species.

Peace,

Tex Shelters

Link: http://hub.me/af19k

Peace, 

Tex Shelters

[HiPointDem]

1. I think this is also a misleading analysis. It's not 'white privilege' v 'poverty'.

[redqueen]

6. That's the only way attempts to dismiss the idea of white privilege can work.

If analyzed logically it is impossible to dismiss.

[texshelters]

15. I don't dismiss it

read the article.

PTxS

[texshelters]

9. Fair enough

I was pointing out that using the phrase "white privilege" is not useful in the long run.

I wasn't putting them in competition: they are different things.

Thanks.

PTxS

[upaloopa]

2. Good luck with this.

I made a similar post but I learned that some people need an issue and come hell or high water they are going to preach it to you.

[texshelters]

16. Thanks.

Precariate of all races, UNITE!

PTxS

[Nye Bevan]

3. This will not be popular here. The concept of "white privilege" is cherished very highly on DU.

As though a prosperous black attorney on Manhattan's Upper East Side is somehow more disadvantaged than a single white mother in a trailer park in Mississippi who cannot afford her medications.

And even though a black guy somehow got to be elected leader of the free world. Twice.

[texshelters]

10. Thanks

I think you got my point. And I never say there is no racism. There is.

PTxS

[bettyellen]

17. Also, Beyonce! A career like that could;t happen if there was any racism left in the USA. LOL

I've seen that posted here too.
Racism is a thing of the past since Obama's election, wow. Okay. I guess I imagined all those nasty Teabagger signs with monkeys and all.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. No, but a white mother in a trailer park is more privileged than a black mother in a trailer park

White privilege doesn't mean all white people have it better off than all black people. Class privilege is also something that's very real. That doesn't mean that white privilege doesn't exist.

[ismnotwasm]

4. My favorite quote yet again

'Everyone has privilege it's a matter of what and how much"

The problem with the article is, in a word, history. Poor whites cannot claim the same experiences as poor blacks, for instance. There is a history of inequities in homeownership due to racist laws, which led to generational poverty, same with education. Affirmative action is no more, and we're already seeing less diversity in colleges. Poor whites may suffer the same economic disparity but not by the same path.

It's a big topic, and I'd have to pull out some books, or look for certain articles bur suffice it to say but I'd never dismiss white privilege out of hand.

Why? one very recent example, Look at the voting rights act. And what's happening to it

[BainsBane]

7. history and current social reality

the fact is there are massive disparities in income and opportunity for many peoples of color.

[texshelters]

11. Perhaps you missed the main point

the issue is poverty, not white privilege. How useful is it to call on "white privilege" when trying to work for economic equality. How about looking at how the 1% uses the idea to foment dissent among the lower classes.

And by the way, I believe we need affirmative action as long as there is racism in our society. And there is.

Thanks.

PTxS

[creon]

5. Double burden

It is a double burden.

Black people have the problem of race prejudice, a mtter which is difficult to overcome.

And, the burden of being born poor. This, also, is difficult to overcome.

It is difficult to separate the two factors.

[texshelters]

12. True

and I tried to address that. This need a whole book and a whole team. The bigger burden in the long run is poverty, though racism is there no matter what your class.

Thanks.

PTxS

[creon]

19. You are welcome

I think that, in the long run, poverty ( and the attendant lack of upward mobility) is the greater burden.

The USA does not have the level of upward mobility that some think that it does.

[BainsBane]

8. Intersectionality

Class is an important factor, but to deny the role of race, gender, and homophobia in discrimination is to deny historical and current social reality.

[texshelters]

13. If you read the whole article you will see I don't deny racism, sexism nor homophobia.

I make the case that we must unite under class and fight racism as well.

PTxS

[kelliekat44]

14. Yes, brought on by "white privilege." nt

[texshelters]

21. Great unsubstantiated quip and knee-jerk reaction

Sound like a Republican strategy to me.

PTxS

[bettyellen]

18. well meaning, but actually divisive. Ironic that!

why they would bother frame this as either / or is beyond me.
Guess they need to oversimplify things to reach (not offend) some people?

[texshelters]

20. Apparently you didn't read the whole piece

It's not either/or:

"Race, gender and class are intertwined."

Read the whole piece, then get back to me.

PTxS

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Why is it that people cannot grasp that both white privilege and class privilege exist?

White privilege DOES NOT mean that every single white person is doing absolutely fucking fantastic, better than any black person could hope to do. Class privilege is another serious problem and as a result, many people of all races get totally screwed. That doesn't mean that white privilege does not exist.

[texshelters]

24. Yes

Very true.

PTxS