Re: Absolute truth, the testament of truth.
Defender, I can rebut this. And for what it's worth, thank you for coming at this from an angle I can grasp.
You have some decent points here, and let me start by saying that there is absolutely such a thing as class privilege, male privilege, etc. There is also, in some circles, female privilege as well, particularly in the legal system when it comes to custody of children (though we're working on this one). And in certain parts of the world, black privilege is probably a thing too.
Privilege refers to unearned advantages and benefits due to an unrelated characteristic. If you're a white person and you've never been stopped or harassed due to your skin colour in, say, an airport or at a Starbucks or something, then you're experiencing white privilege, because this happens to black people sometimes and it needn't. There are examples I could ascribe to class and gender as well. For instance, people in stores often give more unsolicited advice to women when they appear lost or uncertain vs. men, and you are more likely to be questioned by security if you're loitering in an area wearing "shabby" clothing instead of more middle or high-class apparel. This doesn't mean there aren't glaring exceptions to the rule. There absolutely are. What it means is that these things happen enough that they form part of society's lens by which they view difference.
The trick here, I think, is to recognize that white privilege is not an individual problem, it's a systemic one. I am not in the least angry with you because you've experienced white privilege. Hell, how could I be? I get it all the time! No...instead of being angry that others experience this phenomenon, I'd rather try and get at the root of why it's happening. Anyone who is using the existence of white privilege to fuel a hatred of white people in general does not represent what we're after. Anyone claiming all white people are innately evil and oppressive and awful is, again, missing the point. Some people do this, of course, but I daresay they do not represent the majority, and we actively try to repudiate such rhetoric.
The reason we don't call it "racial imbalance" is a simple one. Racial imbalance would be a term that neatly lets the dominant group (in this case, whites) off the hook. It means we don't have to confront the big bad elephant in the living room anymore, and can pull the "racial imbalance" card any time a person of colour acts in a way that is more harmful than helpful in the struggle for equality, because god knows it does happen. It makes the problems faced by whites, on a racial level, look fundamentally equal to the problems faced by virtually everyone else, and this is simply not accurate and not tenable. So we're calling it what it is. Privilege.
And we're working on it. We want no part of guilt, by the way. We want recognition, ownership and help above all else.
As I said to Ironcross, the first and most important step is to recognize that white privilege exists and is a systemic problem. This doesn't mean taking on a burden of responsibility for awful acts committed by other white people. It doesn't mean thinking you're slime because of the colour of your skin. No one interested in equality actually wants that, not for a single second, so please don't let anyone tell you any different. What we're after is an acceptance that if you belong to certain groups, you've enjoyed some advantages others have not, and with this recognition, we hope that you will use the power you have accrued for good. Listen to those whose experiences don't match your own. Ask them if you can help somehow, and listen to their responses. Validate them insofar as it makes sense to do so. Own the privilege, and be a part of the movement which makes it go away. Because that's ultimately what we're seeking: a system where people truly are equal, where gender and race and all those things are no longer social determinants of success, respect or potential. It's going to take time, and the first and biggest step is the acceptance and abolition of white privilege.
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