Opinion: When being white doesn't help
Editor’s note: Susan Bodnar is a clinical psychologist who works with people from diverse backgrounds and teaches at Columbia University’s Teachers College and at The Stephen Mitchell Center for Relational Studies. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, two children and all of their pets.
By Susan Bodnar, Special to CNN
W.E.B. Dubois once said that even working white people benefited from the “the psychological wages” of membership in a dominant race. There is, however, more to the story of class in white America than dominance. The hardship and success of upward mobility has created a myth about white American class structure that obscures our truth.
TV shows like "Gossip Girl" make it seem as though most white Americans are simply privileged. Yet, according to U.S. Census data, almost 22 million white people live in poverty. An analysis of reported incomes suggests that people in that income bracket, as well as those with higher incomes, identify with being middle class. In a series of interviews about class status with white Americans, most are uncomfortable being seen as poor or wealthy.
Further, many don’t know what class status they inhabit. Despite the hard work that once ensured upward mobility, many white families have seen stagnant income growth. Others have accrued wealth without anything even resembling a work ethic. When members of different cultural groups marry, diverse traditions of class meet at the kitchen table. Siblings, parents and children can occupy different financial statuses. Some identify with class backgrounds from childhood more than their own.
Behaviors like how to speak, dress, move and gesticulate define class as much as income in white America. On a visit to Westport, Connecticut, I overheard residents complain about a guy who could afford a big house filling the driveway with fixer-upper cars perched on cement blocks. He had the money but not the class.
Gene Bailly, a retired professional living in Vermont who was raised in South Carolina, felt identified with his culture of poverty despite comparative financial success.
He explained, “Even though I worked as an administrator at Columbia University and was pursuing a graduate degree, I behaved and understood the behaviors of others through the lens of a kid growing up in the cotton mills. "
My father-in-law, Sam Schatsky, grew up poor on Manhattan’s Lower East Side but become a manager of an arts supply store, proudly raising a family in a New York City suburb. The direct line from ethnic immigrant to a thriving member of the so-called melting pot is no longer typical. So many white Americans have more than one socio-economic affiliation and their connection to each has been a circuitous path rather than a straight line. Lifestyles and values interact with incomes to create a class structure that is more kaleidoscope than pie chart.
Aren’t all of us part long-skirted immigrant grandmother, part someone who longs to work with his or her hands, part kid dreaming of becoming a firefighter or part parent working too hard to achieve a secure financial future?
Further, those of us who now enjoy an easier standard of living sometimes find the concept of class alien. We have been so self-guided, self-driven, self-educated and self-blaming that we no longer consider ourselves members of any group. Many succeed economically, but falter emotionally, having lost family support and friendships in the quest to fulfill an ambition.
Some relatives and friends still feel angry that I moved on, not realizing how much it hurts to leave home and disconnect from loved ones to fulfill yearning dreams. A young woman who attended a prestigious private high school on scholarship expressed similar feelings when recalling what happened when her mom volunteered for the new school’s fundraiser: “I watched her pick up her coat and leave while the other moms stayed for the event. She couldn’t afford a ticket.”
Newly acquired class status brings the fear of losing it, and the worry about how loss would affect family and community. Even though the median net worth of white Americans is just more than $81,000, economic insecurity is at a record high of 20.5%. Especially in these times, it seems like anyone’s financial architecture could crumble without warning.
Jeanne Egan, a marketing consultant in New Jersey, who comes from an Irish-American working class family, explains, “I got here on my own and I’m still on my own even though I have a supportive and loving partner. But the minute I stop making my new life happen economically is the minute status can slip away.”
Sadly, white racism is legendary. Yet tensions between the classes also occur. Some white people aim to buttress their self-worth by enacting superiority over other white people derogatorily termed, “white trash.” Bailly, the son of the teenage cotton mill workers, revealed “even though I was in the top 15 or 20 of my high school class of 200, the guidance counselor never once suggested my going to college because I was the kid of mill workers and he didn’t see us as college material.”
Scott Lenz started working at age 14 and eventually graduated with a bachelor's of business administration in economics from a college he could afford. He was hired as a corporate logistics manager. When his job performance evaluations indicated he qualified for a promotion to the financial department, he was denied because “I didn’t have the markers of the right background.”
The assumption that white people should be able to “make it” in the style of Horatio Alger, despite economic stickiness at the higher and lower income brackets, also contributes to class tension. Is the wealth of those who work in finance a new standard that renders others less worthy? Even successful people perceive that they have failed, making excuses for what used to be considered triumphs. Doctors, artists, small business owners and teachers, as well as those performing the maintenance tasks that support a functional society, bristle at being undervalued. The fundamental respect traditionally granted to everyone’s contributions, including those still building their lives, has waned.
Charles S. Smith, a 30-year-old custodian working the night shift at a Tucson middle school, keeps trying to afford to complete college. He feels stung when people assume he is an immigrant because of the job he holds. “People come up to me while I’m at work and start speaking foreign languages to me,” he said, “as if they can’t believe that a regular white American could be doing such a job.”
Kelly Washburn, a strategy and communications consultant in New York, lost her job during the "Great Recession." Comparing her life to how hard it was for her widowed mother to raise a family, she now feels the expectation that "anyone can make it" denies a piece of reality.
She said, “We can’t, by definition, all be exceptional. We can’t all transcend the statistics."
Yet we relentlessly demand it of our selves. We trudge forward in pursuit of the same things that motivate most Americans: healthy meals, an excellent education, travel, a decent place to live, and a few good clothes. But those things now cost more money than most people have.
The real secret of class in white America is that whiteness is like our own Frankenstein. We built a giant creature of spectacle and entitlement that has taken on a life of its own, requiring more of our resources to feed it. But no matter what their class status, no white American is ever quite that white.
The opinions expressed are solely those of Susan Bodnar.
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there are so many post one may not get to my story i hope so. for all those who brag about being white and never got anything because they are white is the reason they end up getting everything they did. they can't hide being white no more than i can hide being black. black is the first thing white people see when they look at hiring for a job and then once they see that black skin they start associating every stereotype they can with it whenever and whereever they can and if a black person does one thing the white person assumes they will that is all white laser focus on. anyway when i was 18 i went into the military young black female, graduated from my AIT class in a week, sent to the best duty assignment (didn't know it at the time) man they knew i was smart (i didn't know it though, never told it to my face because everyone wanted me to be a black dummy) after the military i went on to having several jobs dishwasher, collection agency, rest home, then i took the test for the Post Office, passed the test with 90 and got 5 points vets credit but so did every other vet. anyway i went on to be a window clerk after perhaps 10 years of working at the Post Office and during that time there was an uprising about affirimitive action caused by ward connelly here in california and from that minute on all i ever heard from white male customers was white men couldn't get jobs because of affirmitive action their kids couldn't go to college because of affirmitive action and i only got that i guess very prestigious job was because of affirmitive action. i hated that job more than anything. so when i hear white men whinning about affirmitive action i remember bill clinton telling white men they are not loosing anything through affirmitive action. remember whites will do for each other before they will ever do for blacks. these white people didn't even know me but just automaticly stereotype me because i am black. and i have probably did more for this country than they ever did, but whine.
I just want to say, THANK YOU for your service to our country...
msfaye2u, I would also like to that you for your service.. You mentioned that all you had ever heard before you entered the military was that you were a Black dummy? Maybe you mis-spoke, but it shocks me that your own family and friends would speak to you that way. If you mis-spoke and meant that others outside your family spoke to you that way, then maybe you also mis-spoke when you implied that all White man he came to your window in the Post Office complained about Affirmative Action. We tend to get into trouble when we make generalizations about anything. I did enjoy your post though, and appreciate your thoughts..
You can't let any of that stop you. Those same "white pople who discriminated agaist minorities were themselves sent here, forced here, came here to build somkething other than that which had oppressed them. Time is a great healer of wounds and even though America progressed because of slavery, it did not stop those who believed in THEMSELVES. History is fraught with injustices and very bad behavior, we're all humans after all and act and think in basic ways at imes. What does that have to do with self perception in the modern world? Despite all you say America has shown, unquestionably, that ANYONE can achieve here. Too many examples of that exist to list here, but read some of them and see how often race and class are mentioned as obstacles too overcome instead of forces too entrenched to change. Our POTUS is a great example of this. How do you think he got to where he is today?
I'm not reading all that.
With a tip of my hat to all you've been through, I have to say that something sounds... odd about your story. You graduated from AIT in a week? What the heck was your MOS? I've never heard of a week-long AIT, and NOBODY "graduates early." You go through the whole program, regardless of how smart you are, according to the set schedule.
I'm just a bit perplexed by that part of your story.
I can understand how you would have some of the anger you vent here, but your comments also show your ignorance. If you view white people solely as oppressors, as your post heavily suggests, you ignore that whites who have worked hard toward racial equality are your biggest ally. You are making horrible, incorrect stereotypical statements ("remember whites will do for each other before they will ever do for blacks") that are correct only about a few, and alientate the many who are, or would otherwise be, wanting the same thing you do. I've hired many black people into my research group over the years; never have I looked at someone a priori and thought the nonsense you wrote ("black is the first thing white people see when they look at hiring for a job and then once they see that black skin they start associating every stereotype"), otherwise, why would I have hired them? I'm sorry your personal experience was so bad, but making such irrational, incorrect generalizations about 75% of the country based on your very narrow experience is profoundly short sighted and impedes your own progress more than any white man ever will.
Well, that was a fun racist rant.
Unbelievable!!!! I will say what most won't....."I am ashamed of this country" This is the most racist country on earth. Lets address the racial divide.. First, it has only been roughly 40+ years since segregation was abolished. Some of the minorities (especially blacks) were crippled. They lacked education, jobs, and rights to economic equality and guess what, it was legally okay. On the other hand, non minorities have benefited from good education, heir property, and social status for 'centuries' (not decades). Why would anyone not thing that support for minorities to equal the playing feel is the right thing. Those that don't are of course racist. I am a minority with more education than most whites, higher income than most whites, but yet I still feel the sting of racism. The best example is the President. Everyone really knows that the issue is not how bad he is doing, but the fact that he is a minority. That point applies to a lot, but not all that feel a minority just isn't "socially" acceptable, and they want to retain the ethnic divide. As someone else indicated, this country will never change. The comments hear prove that.
You sound rather ignorant.
Africa has been doing poorly for ever. Why should other nations sacrifice their success to artificially prop up a people whom have yet to invent the wheel.
That was an ugly and unfortunate comment.
You sound very ignorant.
'heir property for centuries' exactally.
I think your example of raciam is way off base.......everyone has a right to express their opinion of government, the fact people say how they feel....even though the president is black, is perhaps a better indication of equality than you may believe....if it was racist it would be whispered...the unemployment rates are criminal, and tthe deficit will cripple generations of this country, regardless of race..
What is wrong with people who are not as strong getting a headstart in the race. What is wrong with people who are not as smart getting chosen for jobs over, higher IQ, more qualified people. This is what America is all about!
Because when it is done in context to race.................That is racism, pure and simple.
Really? Don't you see the problem with that premise? In a free market system where companies have to compete with each other, not just for success but even to stay in business, you're going to make a company purposely choose an employee that will weaken it's ability to compete?
Buckwheat..... it's about hard work and qualifications. However, white America has bent over backwards and frontwards to accomodate minority achievement through various legislative reforms. Affirmative action, extra points on civil servant job tests for minorities, etc. How about "White History Month"? anyone?
"Whiteness" is just another form of trying to make white people feel guilty for success. Whatever.
Still waiting, DIMITRI – why did US tax dollars help you out simply based on the fact that you came from the Ukraine? Why should that matter AT ALL?
In my early college days I took a number of Fire Science classes wanting to be a fireman by profession. Early 20's living in the Los Angeles area. When I went to apply for a fireman position, after acquiring a large number of units, I was told "no, you cannot apply because you are the wrong color(white). These were the days of affirmative action. I was stunned but told to forget if for at least 5 years. These were the late 1970's.
so what your saying is that the unit should have hired you in order for it to stay all white like it was in the 60? and that the black fireman should not be hired because he was black?
Sorry buddy, you miss the point. No, I'm saying let me apply against everyone else, white or black. Take the best qualified. If I'm not best qualified, then I don't deserve the job!
The system was"dumbed downed with affirmative action".
Ideally, the best qualified candidate would be chosen without regard for color or other discriminatory factors. The city gets good firefighters and the neighborhoods get to see a mixed group of coworkers working well with each other and enjoying each other even! Friends!
Question: What nation was number one in math and sience in the 40s, 50s and into the 60s................Answer: The same U.S.A. who now only naroowly defeated for last place by countries such as Mexico and Africa.
DIMITRI: Why should our US Tax dollars help you out just because you came from the Ukraine? Please explain why you should be helped out more than others?
Because this is the United States of America and not the Ukraine maybe ? I'd rather help them than those tea perty traitors,the Ukranians might end up on America's side rather then the side of the wealthy,powerful, and corrupt, we need all the help we can get to eradicate the conservative etsablishment and drive a wooden stake through it's heart
I am unsure how the thought of welfare became synonymous with a minority group. Despite prevailing stereotype, whites, not blacks, collect the greatest share of public aid dollars. SAY the word "welfare" and immediately the image of the lazy Black welfare queen who breeds for profit surfaces in the minds of those who have come to believe the stereotype. It is a myth that persists despite government figures and authoritative studies showing that Whites overwhelmingly reap the lion's share of the dole. It is thought of helping a poor Black family that riles the "working class," but the thought of helping a White family is perceived as a hand up and not a hand-out. Things that make you say, "Hmmmmmmmmmm."
Thank You
Good Point.
God can come down and repeat what you have said and god will be called a liar
I was sociology minor and read all those statistics..it doesn't mean squat really. Anybody I don't care you're black/white/hispanic/asian who collects welfare to abuse the system is the same in my book. Who cares what percentage of what ethnic group collects what? The fact is, the system is broken and too many people are on welfare for way too long. People stay in that victim mentality and the cycle continues.
can't argue with you too much there, i have been on job for 30 years and get treated like welfare recieptient i swear almost everywhere. i went to the hospital of which i have been a member from birth, just to ask a question and the lady automaticly assumed i was under some welfare program before i could even tell her what i there for.
BOOOOHOOOHOOO! The poor whites receiving 1/100 of the frustration every other minority has experienced since the beginning of time! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
move awy
move from america
Sounds like you do your own fair share of racial whining.
You're a loser because you're not that bright and make stupid decisions. Stop blaming white people.
You whine about others whining.. mmmmmm
This article made me think about something. How can we call this the land of equality when we have such a pronounced class system? How is this the land of equality when one child attends an inferior public school and others attend better public schools based on their class?
America is not a land of equality and has never been. As soon as we recognize this, we can do something about it and change it for the better. But we need to bypass the political system that has done nothing for us and implement our own changes independently of government.
People in government do not care. They mostly are wealthy and most have convinced themselves we have earned our "poverty" and "middle class". Most of interested in shoving their own views and agendas down our throats instead of making meaningful change that helps the country as a whole.
Everyone has an opportunity to succeed in America. Doesn't mean everyone can or will.
In the movie a Time to Kill, the attorney asked the juriors to close their as he went through the account and then asked how they would vote if the girl was white. Close your eyes to the picture of the author and ask youself, What would I say if the author was black and from Compton or Harlem?
Any white person especially a white man who is not making it in America is just simply a loser. There is nothing holding back white people. And reverse discrimination is just a big lie concocted by racists who don't want minorities to move up at all.
Pretty much nailed it.
Dimitri is an idiot.
It is time to stop giving Israel $3 Billion of our tax dollars each year. We need nation building right here.
I think the toughest part of being white Dan.....is looking in the mirror and having no one to blame for your sucesses and failures but yourself.......
Dan, there is no such thing as reverse racism.. Racism is racism.. But there are uninformed and bigoted people in the world.. Look in the mirror for one..
Have you ever heard of the National Association for the Advancement of White People? Me neither. Bottom line is that there is an infinite number of organizations geared towards helping minorities. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but some white people do indeed receive the short end of the stick in the seemingly never ending quest for diversity.
Yeah, but it's called the KKK
So you are saying the KKK is the white equivalent of the NAACP?
The same statement is true for any race.
The key difference is whites don't generally blame our personal shortcomings on the boogeyman named "racism". If they did, they'd never see a reason to change and continue being losers.
Any white person in America who isn't making it a loser?
Really?
Try having a brain tumor, and the medical expenses are through the roof, even with Insurance.
So, we are losers because we are white Americans struggling to feed our kids and keep our house with medical bills higher than our mortgage due to my brain tumor?
Americans are odd. We spend so much time trying to define race/religion/economic status etc. The honest answer is we are all mutts (Im sure we all have many variouls cultures that have come together to make up any given person). We spend so much energy trying to say one group is better off or worse off. Yes there are benefits and disadvantages to any sitiuation, but why spend so much energy on the obvious? If a family is out of work and cant feed their family–does it matter what color their skin is? What religion they are?
This artlicle I thought was good. Didnt come across to me as pro-white but more of pointed out that regardless of color, people are people. We define ourselves in unique ways. I always tell myself this "the sun is going to burn out someday and all life will be gone" so does it really matter how or why you define groups of people. I prefer to focus on more benefical and productive interests– never bloged anything wanted to see what wasting 10 min of my life was like– dont really understand why so many of you enjoy it- going to go spend time with family and friends now have fun with your computers–im sure all the race talk here will change the human condition 🙂
G you deserve all the gold stars.
My father is an immigrant from Chile, his mother(my grandmother) is half Chilean and half Italian. His father(my grandfather) immigrated to Chile from the Ukraine. My mother born in Chicago, both her grandparents immigrated from Czechoslovakia. Looking at my entire family you wouldn't even know we where related by skin color, hair type/color and eye color, even certain physical features are not necessarily "white".
I for one have naturally dirty blonde straight hair(which I color it chocolate brown) fair skin(but tan very dark) and blue eyes. My youngest sister and I have the same traits except I have a narrow nose, oval face shape, blue eyes and she has wide nose, round face, brown eyes.
My middle sister has olive skin, narrow nose that is fuller at the nostrils, dark brown eyes with yellow specks, heart shaped face and naturally dark brown wavy hair. She has people come up to her, speak Spanish or treat her differently then me and I am often referred to as "white girl".
My brother has dark skin without a tan, with it he could pass as a full Latino, dark brown eyes, his hair though is a golden dirty blonde, a narrow nose and oval face shape.
My mother for the most part is from a mostly Czechoslovakian family, a few had french relatives. She has dark olive skin(tans dark like my brother) has dark brown eyes, oval face, wide nose, her hair is naturally very thick/wavy. All her life people have asked if she was mixed.
My father being the immigrant he is(not to mention has held a job since high school, over 20 years and had at one time 3 jobs to support us,even though he never was able to finish college) has fair skin, green hazel eyes, narrow nose, oval face, and black hair.
When we would go places as a family, people would have the nerve to ask if we were all from the same father or if we were all my mothers. The answer is YES.
I could go further into detail of all my other family members and their trait differences but that's ridiculous because we are family so what does it matter right? ...So I don't see why we have to talk about others traits we are all family, we are all Americans and its ridiculous. We are on the same team. When someone is successful praise them. When someone is struggling help them. No matter the ethnicity, race, situation, statistics, whatever.... Everyone needs to get rid of this petty behavior. We all deserve the same chance.
It doesn't help when you're white and say things like being white doesn't help. Hahaha!! Walk in my skin for a couple of years and see how that helps....
Lady, you are a very warped racist individual. Those items you mention are the basics that everyone would like to obtain. It is not a White Frankenstein. You probably think that everyone should just exist and be given a house, food to eat, a little money to live on while the government and the liberal elites like yourself wade above us.We the great unwashed should be happy just to exist in your liberal utopia..
Welcome, white males and white females, to my world. Minority woman lawyer with two small kids, no health insurance, cancer survivor, rotting teeth who can only get temp work. 52 years old. Been working since I was 16 years old. What were you doing when you were 16? Cry babies. Still think the world is supposed to stop turning because you are getting a taste of what the rest of us have lived with for generations.
Minority Attys have it so good right now. You are either extremely lazy or a bold face liar. How do I know this? My wife (also a minority) is in charge of diversity for a major law firm, and they BEG for minority associates to join their ranks. Their CLIENTS demand having them as part of their case work so they can show a more open and inclusive set at trial. It's not fair, but it is reality.
Oh, rotting teeth? Yeah, there are MANY dentist offices in major cities that offer free dental care to those that are unable to provide for themselves. Wow... just wow.
What I was doing was working full time on my white father's dairy farm for no pay, while going to high school full time. When I left for college I had some clothes, a small amount of savings, dad's old suitcase and the burden of his income and assets held against me while my parents contributed nothing to getting me through college, except for the summer weekends I worked for him. I lost the value of a full ride National Merit Scholarship because dad made too much.
The real problem is the belief that we are all created equally. What a lie. I can honestly say that I have never known two brothers, or two sisters, born of the same parents, appxrx. the same age whom where equal. The sooner we realize that, the sooner the U.S. can get back to it's former greatness. The use of education to "equalize people is just as stupid. You can give a monkey a degree, but he is still a monkey, is he not?
the key word is 'created', when you were created you were no better/worse than any one else in the world created at the time. You obviously have developed into a racist jerk, but that has nothing to do with where you were created.
I respectfully disagree! Some groups have higher capabilities when it comes to controlling themselves, and being able to keep their amnimal insticts in check. Example: Do you know of any word that will cause the average white to start acting like an animal at the mere mention of the word?
"Example: Do you know of any word that will cause the average white to start acting like an animal at the mere mention of the word?" << What kind of nonsense are you talking about..
What subhuman group did you emerge from ? Every race can be completely evil, there are examples throughout history.
Joe – Even our judicial system acknowledges that blacks are incapable of controlling themselves when a certain word is used by a white. They have let murderers walk free because one of the cops said the n-word before. How can we believe they are equal when their actions so blantantly prove they are not........in some ways, anyhow?
lol ILMFAO right on the head Joe!
Things like this make people from other countries (even white people) hate white Americans. Go ahead and continue giving white's a bad name.
Bingo! Most white Canadians (the non-racist ones) can't believe how racist the USA is. The idea of there being neighbourhoods where you cannot go is bizarre. When we visit, we see how you interact and it's ridiculous. And when we are nice to black people, they are pleasantly surprised. And sometimes when white people see us being nice to black people, they get nasty looks on their faces like we're the enemy. And by nice, I just mean treating them like anybody else. USA is deeply racist.
You are embarrassing yourself with these post, please stop..
go to any traffic court in a white or multiracial area, and you will see who is privilaged and who is not in america. being white does have it's privilages expecially in the financial, and judicial systems. There are no white only scholarships, or white only college organizations for the same reason germany can no longer have a military. whites can take their privilages and oppress people with them. i'm married to a white man...whenever i need anything important..i send him because they never say no to him, or give him the racist run around..
Agree with you on this (although Germany does have a military) but surprisingly enough, white's do have basically what amount to white only scholarships. They just aren't called white scholarships but a minority will never win them. Black colleges exist because blacks couldn't go to other colleges (when black colleges began) so, basically, any non-minority college is a white college, and yes, these colleges have to meet quotas (for white students) like white colleges do for minorities.
Just because you say something does not make it true. Name a scholarship that only Whites get!! You will most likely not name any, because you do not know of any. And someone that begins their post by saying Germany cannot have an army obviously isn't real strong on getting facts right either..
Just curious ... since when can't Germany have a military?
I'm not sure how you define privileged. When ever I have been to traffic court, the white folks are pleading guilty and paying their fines. The poor folks are pleading poverty and getting extensions on their fines.
correction on previous post. ... black folks are pleading poverty getting extensions on their fines. This could have something to do with having money. But where is the privilege you are claiming? I see avoiding the fines as privildge.
More CNN racialism.
CNN: They report and you decide not to watch.
Being a tall south asian girl coming from an top ivy league school, married to a white European invites lot of wrath from some white girls in sometimes offending manner. It is not my skin color/race that got me into good schools but hard work studying into late nights on a daily basis and making it top of the class. I do notice that at work place being a white girl set's the path ahead more easily and lot of Asian women have to struggle 10 times harder to prove themselves and standout. One white female VP even asked me to photo copy things for her, (I have graduate degrees) while she made a while girl (undergrad ) sit next to her to go through the presentation. Of course I suggested her to request our sec to send them to printing center and walked away.
Then stop hanging out with racialist liberals. I work with several multi racial couples and get along with all of them; they're the salt of the earth.
And I am a Republican.
awsome lol...
Shutttttttt up. South asian,ivy league,graduate degree.................are u the same chick abusing subway conductor in NY city, LOL. Anyways,no one cares about your ivy league,or your height and marital status.
I am very glad that this article touched upon a very important issue here in America that has been overlooked: Classicism. It is this certain type of classicism that exists within the White race that is rarely addressed, but is very difficult to address because of the overarching issues of race and racial discrimination here in America. I believe there is a certain degree of "white privilege" in American society, but there is also a such a thing as "class privilege" here in America as well. I think there is certain type of caste system or classicism that still exist within the White race. People can often be defined by there socio-economic background no matter how much they have achieved academically and monetarily. They will never be fully accepted into the upper crust of White American society.
Well said, sometimes you don't find meaning responses to articles, but yours truly highlights what exist.
Finally an article that tells the truth, being white doesn't mean you're given everything. So tired of minorities whining about white people being so privileged.
“Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then fashions it to his needs through the work ethic, common sense, resilience, technology, and, if need be, racism and imperialism.”
― Carlos Fuentes, Myself with Others: Selected Essays
Too many people want it to be us against them, whatever side we happen to get lumped into. All I know is I have never been sold into slavery and I never sold or bought anyone. Have I been discriminated against? Of course. I would be surprise if I hadn't. Does that stop me? No. There is afine linebetween discrimination and perfence. I have never been able to define it nor has anyone ever been to explain it to me. But any system that gives preferencial treatment no matter the reason will by it's own nature be discrimintory.
AMEN. Well said. They government should not even ask what race a person is – why should that have any bearing on anything? What does it matter? Either their is a legitimate need or there isn't – period.
Ahh, finally someone who puts a little thought into their post..
Absolutly! As a dark skinned human I have been discriminated against and I have NEVER let it stop me from achieving. I remember being given an extra spot on a work study program in college when they wanted to fill a quota (a government program. I didn't like that because it seemed (and was) preferential. It was a merit program and the slots was filled by election. I lost out along with 5 others but on the streangth of my portfolio alone they created an extra slot for me. My supervisor HATED me. He said to my face on my first day" I don't want any nigg__s in my shop!" It was my "white trash" forman who stood up for me time and again. At the risk of his hard earned reputation. This is in a preceived racist stae. If you are confident in your abilities, intelligent, fair and truthful in your dealings with others you can succeed in America like nowhere else. No matter what someones perceptions of you are. In that state where I went to work the people portrayed as somehow "less than" were the nicest, fairest, non-predjudicial folk I have ever met before or since and there were 2 black families in a town of 200.
“The darkest secret of this country, I am afraid, is that too many of its citizens imagine that they belong to a much higher civilization somewhere else. That higher civilization doesn’t have to be another country. It can be the past instead—the United States as it was before it was spoiled by immigrants and the enfranchisement of the blacks.
This state of mind allows too many of us to lie and cheat and steal from the rest of us, to sell us junk and addictive poisons and corrupting entertainments. What are the rest of us, after all, but sub-human aborigines?”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Bluebeard
The Bottom line is this: The federal government should base scholarships, social benefits and any other type of government help SOLELY on need and not on your race. Just like it would be wrong to grant a person a scholarship just because he is white, it is equally wrong to grant them a scholarship simply based on the fact that they ARE NOT white.
Oh they give out scholarships of being white all the time. They're not as blatantly obvious as saying 'CONGRATULATIONS WHITE GUY, HERE IS FREE MONEY' But being from the Ukraine? I netted a good amount of scholarship funds when studying Law. Same as the Italians would get scholarships from Italian backers, or Irish from Irish scholariships, or maybe I can bring something up American? Sons and Daughters of the Revolution give scholarships, I don't see many blacks getting those. Or perhaps the Jewish Educational Scholarships, hm.. another group of whites getting free money. Stop whining, and see the big picture.
And somehow those scholarships are ignored, they don't discriminate at all.
Dimitri, if you are gonna reply to someone try to be accurate .. He specifically mentioned the Federal Government, and then you go about talking about private scholarships. Two different things..
It doesn't matter whether it's private or not, are there scholarships that are hedged towards whites or not??? Money is money regardless of where you get it from.
Stranger, you don't seem to understand our political system. It does matter. The Federal Government represents us all, and because of that should not discriminate at all. Private scholarships are just that, private. If a group wants to give their money only to left handed blind short people they can do it, it is their money. If you don't understand the difference then then I'm not sure you can contribute much to the discussion..
This article had a lot of promise but it is poorly written. I would have guessed the author was a freshman in highschool. Bottom line, CNN promotes the racial divide in this country with absurd programs like "hispanic in America" and "Black in America Part 5." Affirmative action should be ended. People will not respect minorities who have made it via AA and it is damaging to all parties involved. Economic status is the major hinderance to achievement; it is no longer an issue of whether you are black, it is an issue of if you are a rich black going to the best schools or a poor kid going to the worst schools. Way too much government involvement in this area, forcing companies to hire minorities. The productivity lost and the damage to the perception of race and achievement in the workplace is enough to say this needs to stop.
“We first crush people to the earth, and then claim the right of trampling on them forever, because they are prostrate."
― Lydia Maria Francis Child
If you are a state employee in Illinois, you are discriminated against for following the law and serving the public.Over 17 years I have observed Illinois encourages racial diversity in hiring and protects minority and LGBT employees in the course of their employment. However, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and his Attorney General support a patently discriminatory culture that targets honest and ethical employees with retaliation in employment and promotion. It's time we address the culture of bigotry against public service.
Dimitri: I do not even know where to begin to answer you so I will just tell you this, my friend: As a Russian immigrant, you and your children will get minority help and scholarships now but, your grandkids and definitely your great grandchildren will fall into the "white" ethnic class (since your of Russian heritage; my father is of German heritage) and they will be discriminated against if the laws have not changed. Enjoy you special status now, Dimitri, because you posterity will not have the advantages you now have – all because they will be considered "white".
An Apple does not fall far from it's tree! If your bloodline comes from a nation, where they run around half naked, chopping eachother up for what appears to be no reason at all, or the men only stick around long enough to impregnate one, before they are off to find another for their "harim", then you can not expect much more out of that person in his or her adopted country. If your bloodline come from a people who have eight to fifteen kids per female, that will hold them back also. However, if your bloodline comes from a nation more civilized, then you are also to carry the attributes which made your nation of origin great also.
There you go, continueing to embarrass yourdelf..
If anyone asks yet again, why the OCCUPIERS all over the United States are protesting. Listen up!
“You control our world. You've poisoned the air we breathe, contaminated the water we drink, and copyrighted the food we eat. We fight in your wars, die for your causes, and sacrifice our freedoms to protect you. You've liquidated our savings, destroyed our middle class, and used our tax dollars to bailout your unending greed. We are slaves to your corporations, zombies to your airwaves, servants... to your decadence. You've stolen our elections, assassinated our leaders, and abolished our basic human rights as human beings. You own our property, shipped away our jobs, and shredded our unions. You've profited off of disaster, destabilized our currencies, and raised our cost of living(while lowering our wages). You've monopolized our freedom, stripped away our education, and have almost extinguished our flame. Now you are trying to silence us with SOPA/PIPA type legislation that cripples /sabotages the internet under false pretenses. We are hit...we are bleeding... but we ain't got time to bleed. We will bring the giants to their knees and you will witness our revolution! WAKE UP AMERICA! SUPPORT OCCUPY!
Dude, go take a few more hits off the bong, put on some tunes and go back to sleep.
Although I have not been sympathetic to the Occupy cause, I think you have summed up the state of the country concisely and accurately. I wish I had more answers. But having moved here from a social democratic country I cringe whenever the thought of injecting any social programs is criticized as a Communist or Socialist ideal that is a bad thing or could not possibly be the solution. I think this capitalist democracy is the poison here. The fact that your health is a profitable business to a large segment of this country is appalling. Ditto for your education.
I don't live in America. Only White people were rich ( 60's). One day, I saw one working at a gas station as an
employee and I was shocked. I then realized there were all kinds. Rich and ordinary.
I'll say this first, I'm white. Next, I'm in college, with no handouts, and I have a mountain of debt. Third, although this article hits on some good stuff, it misses a lot. This article is right, and accurate, unless you remember that every member of a minority has all of the same problems, but also have the problem of being racially discriminated against. Sure, people of all colors and creeds are racist, but almost all of the white people commenting on this article prove that race is a bigger deal than 'white class'. The laws are actually helping to level it out, as much as it means people like me have to fight a little harder to get there. The trick there is, as a white person, the cream will always rise to the top because we have the opportunity. Laws are giving people who aren't as privileged (often because of race) a chance at the same, that is all. It isn't some free meal ticket, you still have to work to get it done. The only reason some white people are mad, is because they can't keep up, and they often wouldn't have cut it in the first place were the playing field even from the get go. So let me know make this clear: if you aren't looking at the issue of racial discrimination from the perspective of a minority person, you're not looking at the issue at all. Being white, I get that I will never get it, I suggest some of the other people reading this do the same.
Connor – you're a disgrace. In a sea of Politically Correct CNN articles that harp and drone mind-numbingly on and on about the hardships of everyone other group of people, there's nothing wrong with 1 article/year on this particular group. You do yourself, your family, and your brethren a disservice.
You're a white coward.
Survival of the fittest. I hope the American White will not go the way of the dinosaur. I'm from the former USSR, Ukraine specifically, with my family who had absolutely -nothing- when coming into the country, were given a easier time the Latinos who were doing the same exact thing, trying to get a better life. And that parallel is easy to see.
In almost every post you make you feel the need to mention your connection to the former Soviet Union, and where you are from.. Have you ever read an actual history book, not communist propaganda?? Not really sure why you feel the need to mention that all the time, and then put down the very country you immigrated too in order to get away from the poverty and oppression of your homeland. You are just full of contradictions, inaccurate ones at that..
I agree with everything you said, especially 'the laws helping level it out'. People can't seem to comprehend that.
Economics background does not matter.
I see wealthy kids w/ low GPA and test score. I see poor kids from 3rd world country with 4.0 GPA and high test scores.
Its down to whom wants it more. Black, White, Asian, Mexican, or Indian...if you want it more and you have the talent and drive...it will show it in the grades and test scores. Universities should not put quotas on their student body...this is the reason why we have articles like this.
I would go to the school that doesn't not discriminate againts grades and test score. Allowing only the ones that meets or exceed the criteria. I don't care if I walk in there and see only blacks...I would know everyone that is there is on the level playing field.
The real reason we have this issue is because little Johnny is not smart enough, and instead of finding something more fitting for him...we try to go thru the back door. But it only hurts Johnny and the system. Face it Johnny is not smart enough...and your pride/ego is hurt as a parent. BUT THATS LIFE.
uh oh,
Seems like all the lazy unemployed white males on here are blaming the minorities for their underemployment.
You guys sound just like those lazy black folks...:)
I guess you'll want food stamps next!
I am a black Guy from Africa, I just want to say that, racism is in your Head.even if I am discriminated against, i will not see it as an act of racism,but lack of skill. the only thing I am hundred percent sure is that, you deserve a job you got it.white , black ,yellow , red. all that for me doesn't matter.I have also realized that my most of my brother (not all off course)american are really lazy and would not take any job, they would rather beg for $1 on the streets.which I hate.btw, I work as a baker and I am really proud of what I am doing.
Thank you for this comment.
I agree that there are a lot of lazy Americans (from every race, although only blacks get called out on it) that would rather get handouts. I gotta say I disagree about getting a job though, I could be wrong but if affirmative action was not in place, I'd be willing to bet minority unemployment would jump. BTW, you should be proud to have a job and be contributing to society, that is an excellent trait to have.
Berty – good comment.
Not white – screw you.
Actually, in the United States – there's this thing called Affirmative Action that gives preferential treatment to non-white males in the job market. Employers are encouraged to have "diversity" and don't always hire the best candidate for the job, but the one who meets the right racial/ethnic requirements to make their business more diverse for legal reasons. It isn't just employers... Colleges have been proven to have the same bias when accepting students. So, no, racial discrimination still exists in the United States, and white non-hispanic males are victims of it as well – they just don't get the same publicity. We need a white man's Al Sharpton.
WOW!!! Lazy and poor are colorless/raceless. If you're not in the top 3%, why would you post such harsh words? We are all struggling. The job market out there is horrible. But in all honesty, the bigotry in some of the posts is not very surprising. My husband holds a degree and several certifications in his field and yet, he has not been able to find a decent paying job in his field. Has he complained that any particular race is holding him back? No, he hasn't. He has taken what was available and continued to look for something better. My next comment is directed at ALL races: STOP WHINING and look at what WE can do better to make things work in everyone's favor. I've worked with people from many countries and I can definitely say, I've heard and seen a lot of reasons why they supposedly didn't get the pay raise or the new position. Grow up and look in the mirror. Maybe the reason you didn't get that job or raise is because YOU DIDN"T DESERVE IT!!! This article and many I've seen on this website serve as one thing...to continue to show that we are still a very divided country and nothing will ever change.
Let's see ...small fork on the inside or?
IMO, "Real Class" is that scruffy, manner-less, out of work guy or gal that will stop and assist me when I fall on a
sidewalk and have a stroke or heart attack when all the well-heeled snobs refuse to get their hands dirty or be
involved. Watch out who you look down upon. Human beings are silly.
It should be like sports! in sport if you're the fastest, strongest, smartest, you win. Go to the next level. Doesn't matter what color you are.
Life should be the same way for jobs and school. If you the smartest and can prove it with grades and test...you go to the next level.
On any team...its strenghts depends on the weakest link. America has alot of weak links admitted to Universites – whites and blacks due to quota. IT SHOULD BE STRICTLY based on performance. That way if you don't score well you have no one to blame but yourself. The school administrators don't have to spend much resources on politics and save that for education.
I see whites demanding to be admitted to universities because they feel its their right, but their grades don't meet the requirements. I see blacks demanding admission, because they feel its due to them because of equal rights, but their grades don't meet the requirements. Have a idea...the person with the highest SAT/ACT/HS GPA gets admitted. NO OTHER ISSUES needed.
Just like any sport...The final score dictates the winner. SIMPLE. don't make it harder by letting politicians get involved.
And typically that would be a perfect world, am I right? You're still not seeing the big picture. It's not those attributes that actually get you anywhere in the world, It's not be outright skill and intelligence, because the world has been woefully lacking in that department. It's not what you know, but who you know.
No one wants to give up ny edge they may have. If you are white and try to make a point, it is invalid and you are a racist. If you are black then you're an Uncle Tom playing the white man's game. You can't win. There is no disputing that that vast majority of scholarships are not for whites. Every application you fill in for school or work has an 'optional' area concerning race. Of course it is use only for 'demographics'. How about doing the demographics after you are admitted or hired. If we truly want to be a non racial based society then let's do it. After that I would to see a president elected who doesn't make over a million dollars a year.
Why are all the "hyphenated" Americans people of "color"? Why are they the only ones "discriminated" against? St. Patrick's Day is NOT an Irish phenomenon. It was started by poor Irish-American Catholics (they wear the GREEN) that were discriminated against by Irish-American Protestants (they wear the ORANGE) as a protest and demonstration of solidarity. They got to see signs like "HELP WANTED – no Irish need apply"
Look at the high school dropout rates. They tell the real reason certain ethnic groups are not "prospering"
For those who took my post as a "whine" you mis-understood the whole point so I will SAY it without using examples to SHOW it because, obviously, there are some low comprehension skills out there. Here it is: IN TODAY'S AMERICA, THE WHITE MALE IS THE MOST DISCRIMINATED PERSON THERE IS. IT HAS BECOME REVERSE DISCRIMINATION THAT IS LEGAL AND ACCEPTED IN SOCIETY BECAUSE...I ASSUME....THAT PEOPLE THINK YOUR WHITE SKIN SOMEHOW GETS YOU PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT WHICH IT DOES NOT.
It does. are you forgetting the amazing amount of supremacy baked into your countries history. Pick up a history book and read your countries history. Not a textbook, a reputable academic historical account of the history. But I'm sorry that the veil has been pulled from your eyes and you realize the truth that you've been lied to, and that people like me from the former USSR will take your lunch. This is survival of the fittest, and the moment you slow down, and become slack at the wheel, we will not hesitate to take what you could've had.
If you are truly a citizen of the sormer Soviet Union, a country which was one of the worst Human Rights l violators inthe history on mankind, you have little standing to criticize anyone or any nation.. Josheph Stalin routinely ranks at the top of the list of worse mass murders of the 20th century. I cannot believe that you would cite your connection to that regime and then critisize someone else for anything... But then again, communist are not exactly known for their use of facts and/or good judgement..
When a white makes a point it's whining. Anyone else is valid. How about this. Who is the minority in California? Here are the US Census numbers:
•Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders make up 0.3% of California's population.
•Asians make up 12.8% of California’s population.
•People of color make up 59.9% of California's population.
•African Americans make up 5.8% of California’s population.
•Latinos make up 37.6% of California's population.
•Native Americans and Alaska Natives make up 0.4% of California's population.
Source: U.S. Census 2010, U.S. Census Bureau
Now tell me where are the white? Even in the US census they are not even listed. By the way, if total it up it comes out to oever 100%. And I have no idea what people of color are. But if I read this as is, there are no whites in California anymore.
Look at the real facts here: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html
White people make up 56% of the California population, and African-americans are 6%. Thats 62% for you.
According to Census.gov's 2010 data... Non-hispanic whites make up 40.1% of California.. Despite being less than half of the state's population, they're still a larger group than any other. State-wide at least. The distribution is, as commonly known, not even across the entire state.
'THE WHITE MALE IS THE MOST DISCRIMINATED PERSON THERE IS.' STFU with the whining already.
Really? Dude you had a 400 year headstart in America. When Black folks were being enslaved, when Native Americans were literally being exterminated for their land and resources, when Mexicans were being stripped of New Mexico, Texas, California, Arizona, who do you think prospered from all that death and destruction? All that was for White people. If you can't cash in on that, it's you. Or maybe, just maybe, it's a case of karma and chickens coming home to roost. Either way, man up and stop complaining because you're dishonoring your forefathers.
The Spanish came here before the white Protestants, right? Performed some nice acts of genocide on the indigenous people of the Americas (in search of gold, a fountain of youth..?) and so on... so by your reasoning, does that mean all of the bad stuff that happens to the spanish-speaking Americans of today is karma for what their ancestors did to the Native Americans? Also, alas, should they not also be further ahead economically and socially, thanks to their "headstart"....? Africans come from the oldest civilaztions on earth, but are still far behind technologically... it's a continent that's still full of genocide, warlords, famine, and disease.... They had thousands of years to get a headstart on any other race, so, again, by your reasoning, shouldn't they have been the ones colonizing the Americas and shipping white slaves in to do their work?
There is no such thing as reverse discrimination, only discrimination (regardless of what race it is against) and whites aren't discriminated against. Are whites discriminating against themselves??? Whites still own the majority of this country, and the poor (non-owners) don't make the rules so that's basically what you are saying. How big do whites think these affirmative action quotas are??? Aren't women (they're considered minorities) allowed to fill these quotas???? If there was no affirmative action, would minorities be able to get jobs or go to college in this country???
My feeling is that the author is a fraud. What does a clinical psychologist working in the isolated academia world at Columbia University who lives in Manhatten know about racism and struggling? Just another book trained liberal spewing false opinions. I know a young woman in her early 30s who is a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts in Boston who is white and comes from a upper class community. She brings her liberal ideals into the classroom which include racism, how bad the white man is, and how we need more social weklfare programs for minorities. Now tell me...what life experiences do you think this young woman has to be able to teach her liberal ideas to students on these issues? I'll tell you...she has no life experience. She read it in a book.
blacks are the biggest racists hippocrites in the universe
Here is a good example of how being white was a disadvantage. I didn't go to college immediately after high school and worked minimum wage jobs. I was 26 when I finally decided I was tired of working for minimum wage. Because I was a white single male, I did not qualify for a single grant or scholarship. My classmates on the other hand, I had two single moms getting full rides via grants and scholarships dedicated to helping single moms get back on their feet. One black student also getting a full ride because of his minority status. Two Vietnamese classmates also getting a full ride because their parents were imigrants during the Vietnam war, giving them imigrant status as well. When the story is done, I was the only student working a full time job to pay rent, and taking out loans to pay for my entire tuition.
Then when I graduated, top of my class by the way, I was passed over by two different companies that I applied at because my minority classmates also applied and the companies were affirmative action. Living in the midwest where there aren't a lot of minorities means that my classmates were needed to fill affirmative action quota's even though they scored lower on the qualification tests and had lower grades. Two other jobs I applied for I was passed over simply because I had worked minimum wage jobs all my life and they didn't think that I would be able to perform at the expectations of the job I was applying for.
My point is that people of minority actually have more opportunities than white people, if they just apply themselves and put a little more effort to life than looking for handouts or blaming white people for all their problems.
Temper your claims with valid resources, statistics, and a plausible argument, not with half-baked emotions and assumptions. Another whining american. I'm sorry your free pass is gone, pull yourself up and actually fight for everything you have. No one gets a free pass in this life.
Dimitry, these are not half baked emotional responses either. It is a statistaical fact that the midwest does not have the same amount of minorities percentage wise. Go to a small town in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, etc... and you will not find very many minorities. Just come to the midwest and visit a small town someday, or would you prefer to just sit behind your laptop and understand life the way a bunch of activist would want you to understand it. These are statistics that are easily looked up if you are too lazy to travel and look at the Real World.
Unfortunately this is my life story, so there are no statistics to validate my life. I have trained some of these affirmative action employees and had to stop and teach them some of the basics to their college degree before I could get to the material required for the job. Again there are no statistacal facts for this, just part of my life story.
Do you realize asians applying to universities such as Harvard, MIT and Stanford are consistently rejected despite scoring full points on their SATs, etc? White people complain about inequality when they are denied opportunities, but when others do, they get little but your pity.
The Vietmanese classmates I refer to were children of war refugees. This gave them another qualification for grants and scholarships, beyond their Asian status.
Aww, I'll trade you that for 400 years of slavery, three-fifths of a human being status, Jim Crow, an unfair justice system and basic racism Black people have to deal with every single day.
I take offense at your comment. You are insenuating that simply because I am white that my ancestors were slave owners. My ancestors did not move to America until the 1850's and lived in slave free states, there was no way that they were slave owners. Since you are bringing up slavery, it goes back much further than 400 years, until the last 200 to 300 years, slavery has been a part of all mankind, no matter what part of the world or skin color. So if you are wanting to insinuate that my ancestors were slave owners than then we can all admit to having ancestors that were either slaves or slave owners if we go back far enough. It is time to live life in today, not yesterday.
Can you name me a Race that has not sometime in their history done bad things to others?
I am black and agree people (not just black people) need to apply themselves. I too did not go to college right away because we were so poor I went to work just like my older siblings before me. I and many other blacks would love to access all the scholarships and jobs you say we get and do not earn. You are a product of your experiences and so am I. The fact of the matter is most blacks like everybody else have to work for what they get in life. My sister, my brother and I worked our way through college. My sister took out lots of loans that took her 20 years to payoff. My brother and I took advantage of our jobs college programs where they reimbursed us for course credits only not all the other expenses of college attendance. Just like our parents we work hard everyday and earn everything we have.
Debbie, You understand my point exactly. I had classmates getting a free ride because ofone status or another. I did not qualify for any assistance, and was rather frustrated when I was applying for financial assistance that all the groups that were able to get assistance for one reason or another. I had to work my way through school, live on little sleep in order to make time for homework and studying, sneaking naps in on the hallway floor while I was waiting to go into my next class. I did not get a free ride and had to work for everything I have now. Meanwhile, I watch people saying that simply because I am white I got a free ride, and get called racist if I try to tell them how full of it they are.
I disagree. I am black and I started college when I was 18. I didnt get any minority handouts. I had to take out loans and pay out of pocket. I struggled financially to get through college and I was a C student. But even though i was a C student, I made sure I knew everything that was taught. I was just bad at taking test. Just because someone finishes at the top of there class doesnt make them any smarter than a C or D student. I got a job straight out of college because GOD's grace and skill. Not by having some minority priviledges.
Also I live in the state of Mississippi where whites are the majority. And some of racist but others are not. I befriend the ones that are not and pray for the ones that are. The racist ones close doors but the unracist ones opened doors for me. So dont whine about your situation do something about it. When one door closes, knock on another door.
Sandman, I am not whining about my status or anything like that. I am just trying to point out that because I am white I didn't get a free handout, or that I had any advantages because of my skin color. What I am trying to point out is that anybody can succeed if they put effort into it. I was passed up for jobs twice because I wasn't a minority, but did I give up? No, I kept applying. I didn't get any grants or scholarships to pay for my education but did I sit on my rear end claiming I couldn't go to college becuase I couldn't get any financial assistance? No, I worked full time while going to school, sacraficing social life and sleep. Did I continue working minimum wage jobs blaming my lack of fortune on others? No, I got off of my rear end and put some effort into life.
I've had lawyers (female as well as male) tell me that they would not take my case because I was neither female or a minority!!! The result was that I lost everything I owned because I was too sick to work.
Never in world history has the majority "upper class" developed such affirmative-action systems to support the "oppressed" class. In this case, black folks being the focused recipient of such artificial opportunity. The elephant in the room is that they have not, apparently, been able to capitalize on it. At the same time, formerly despised groups (Asians of all stripes) and jews have arrived and have enjoyed an amazing success (in spite of popular anti-semitism and hate from the mid-century wars). They sit at the top of public school academic performance and career opportunity. This, in spite of the "blue eye'd devil", right?
I wish this article were a little more cohesive and direct, but it still brings up some interesting points. For instance, the deluded middle-class. So many of us, black and white, are poor, and yet stubbornly cling to the illusion that we belong to a middle class. The "Frankenstein of Whiteness" works well as a metaphor for the psychology of imperialism . What is it we always say? The "If you're poor, it's you're fault" bamboozles us day after day. There have been only a handful of self-made individuals that have attained great wealth, maybe even less than a handful when compared to the more than 300millinon souls that inhabit this county. And if you take the world population and compare it to the number of rich men, you will soon see the face and figure of our monstrous Frankenstein.
As a White Male, I think we are actually the MOST discriminated class there is. There are no "minority scholarships" for a white male or anything like that. I joined the Air Force and retired from it after 21years and no one gave me anything – I had to work for everything I got. While in the Air Force, as an enlisted, I obtained my bachelors degree and worked hard to get it. Anyone could have chosen to do that but very few do (about 2% of the enlisted force actually gets there BS/BA). No one gave me any special help because I had blond hair and blue eyes. It is frustrating that my sons, who are now in college, cannot get any aid simply because they are white and not considered a "minority". I do not understand why a person is now penalized for being a 4th generation American of European decent and, yet, someone can migrate from Egypt and their children get scholarship money because they are a minority – it is not correct; natural born Americans are penalized and foreigners are rewarded.
Cry me a river....
You misunderstand, Joe – I am not asking for pity nor do I look for it; with God's help, I have done very well for myself. My point is, however, to believe that a Male male is given special "privileges" because of their being white is a total lie.
Wowee.. that was a whiny, whiny post.
Not whining, just stating facts, that is all. Prove me wrong?!
Well, tell us which part of the post is not true?
I agree totally. In this day and age it is now more difficult to succeed if you are a white male than if you are anything else.
I agree completely. Same for being a white female. The affirmative action quota must be met. It's bee over 4 decades since the Civil Rights Act – how much help do minorities need?
Congratulations on getting your BA and thanks for your service to this country. The minority scholarships and affirmative action aren't as big as most people think. I had a 3.5 GPA coming out of high school and couldn't get a single scholarship, my younger brother had a 4.0 (he was the Valedictorian) and his school was only partially paid for (he owes well over 30,000 now that he has graduated) so, there isn't as big a gap as people seem to think.
Discrimination isn't as bad as it was in the 60's but to say that white's are the most discriminated class is reaching.
regardless of what others may say, I totally agree and sympathize with you.
People need to bring themselves down from the clouds. The days of getting a job because you are white are over. The demographics of america is changing as more minorites are coming here. That is something of the past and is not revelant. This issue is important if you make it important. America will be so change in fifty years you will not recognize it. People who think they have an edge because of race, better wake up and realize they are being left behind. Keep on believing everything that the media puts out. The people I know are striving and doing well. Do you really think we are sitting around a table talking about racism. NOT. As long as you think you are better than others, the JOKE will always be on you!
Its not so much minorities coming to the states, its the evolution of workers overseas. There was a time before the internet and the increase of education worldwide that just being 'american' was good enough. Now with the internet, worldwide free communications and english taught to virtually every student, it is no longer the case.
No one gets jobs, or ever did, because they were white. People may not have gotten jobs because the were not white, but being white didn't land a jobs. That's her (Susan's) point.
I took my daughter on a college visit and during the tour another family was with us that their white son was looking into their porgrams as well. It was a great tour until we got to the student union area where our guide was naming the various groups served. There was no general student group but had a women's, gay, black, hispanic, asian and native indian association. When he asked if there was an association in which he could participate the answer was no. The look on his face was so crest fallen that at that point it hit me that we have gone so far as to creat equality, that we now have a silent racism on our hands. I will never forget the disappointment and stunned disbelieve on his face.
Ah please, stop whining, there are student groups for every possible interest.
For my daughter yes. But for him no. Unless you were on the tour.
Obviously, there aren't.
Joe, There have been recent cases of white males trying to form social groups in colleges being forced to disband because they were considered racist.
Joe, I have read some of your comments and you do not contribute nuch to the discussion.. Name calling is for grade schoolers, put some thought into your posts and maybe we could have a real discussion..
Please, you should do some research on racism and its definition. Racism against white people is not possible, being as one has to be in the majority and wield societal power against a minority group for it to exist. Also, please go look up the definition of privilege. It is obvious that your race and the "threat" you feel to your race by these student groups are blinding you to the truth in the matter.
Teh current census in the state in question show that white is the minority.
Have you reallllllly step foot on a campus ever in your life? There's association for every possible interest that you may want to be in. If you live in a tiny town with a tiny college then make your own special group.
Mikey, you obviously haven't been on a college campus in a while. If you try to form a social group for white males only you will be labeled racist and encouraged to disband.
White male is such an easy target now
I'm sure your daughter can join the KKK group on campus
Both of my girlfriend's parents were sharecroppers. I had no idea that people were sharecropping even into the 50's! Through insanely hard work ethic (morning until night), they are doing very well. In fact, they are better off than any of their offspring. (We're all white, btw) In terms of privilege or upward mobility is green. Whiteness does not matter one bit. If you have a work ethic and a needed skill, you have arrived. That's the good news. The bad news is that most folks have neither.
Hard work is absolutely a necessity in upward mobility. But luck plays a role as well. There are many hard working small business owners, for example, who do NOT make it big and barely eke out a living while others just happen to hit a trend or open at the right time. Hard work and wanting to succeed do not assure anyone anything. That's the myth of the American Dream.
Very Strong article and thank you for shedding light on this issue. Hopefully it inspires others to bring awareness to the culture divide and mis perceptions about white America.
I wish you were Black though, It would have drawn more readers. It is sad but true. Your article is very well written however if your Black you would have an advantage over because you would have the hype factor.
I wouldn't sell her short. There are more than whites than blacks in this country, she'll get her fair share of views.
Racism is eternal, because some members of any given race cannot resist the temptation to associate their race with their level of success. For most in such situations, their intent is entirely good, but they do damage to society they do not even realize.
That may be true for some races, but I am not noticing that among whites. In fact, just the opposite. The wealthy white people that I know, if anything, bemoan the absence of other races among their social circles. Yes, they are sensitive about race, but in the sense that they seek more race diversity.
@ohbehave, I think it's a valid point you make, but I don't think that kind of thing adds much fuel to the racism fire. As time goes on, racism becomes less acceptable in society. When a given race states it is being victimized or actions or taken to assist that race, it often stokes that fire and causes the reverse of the intended effect. A good work ethic and patience are all that's needed to eliminate virtually all racism in America.
As a 25 year old black woman, it's both easy AND difficult to be successful.
If my name were something rediculous like "Laquisha" or "Uneeque", or if I didn't know how to speak and write properly, I'd have a a pretty hard time landing a decent job.
THE STEREOTYPES ARE THERE FOR A REASON! And there is no "man" to blame for such ignorance. It's generational madness that's getting passed down.
It's not just blacks or whites, but EVERYONE. Every race has that group of people that makes the race as a whole look bad. They are the reason for why sometimes whites get hired over blacks that are equally qualified.
You can't take someone like that seriously.
Let's kill tham all- I mean, err uhh, Increase government spending towards public schools!
White trash, you mean the types that are instantly recognized in the 'You know your a redneck if..' You know exactly who they are. Of course they are overlooked for jobs/promotions as are those covered in tattoos and piercings. The higher up you go in society/business there is an expectation of civility (but dont confuse that with ethics or morality)
I think this article misses the point. The label, "white in America" has nothing to do with how individuals feel about themselves, it has to do with how you're treated by others. Unfortunately even in today's world, I'll be treated differently in a job interview than a black person would with my same qualifications. Being white in America has more to do with an automatic nod of approval, whereas minorities must still work to "fit in." And that's a shame.
You nailed it. Gene Bailly, said “Even though I worked as an administrator at Columbia University and was pursuing a graduate degree, I behaved and understood the behaviors of others through the lens of a kid growing up in the cotton mills." What Mr. Bailly doesn't seem to understand he was able to BECOME an administrator at Columbia University without having to worry about fitting in.
It's not racism, he's just a loser.
I agree, because the unfortunate truth is that I've been looking for a job for quite some time now. I am college educated and nearly 20 years in my field, however I cannot even get a call back because of the Hispanic name on my resume. I know this to be true because I began sending out my resume with the name Joseph and I began to get calls. Joseph received calls for an interview but Jose did not. White people may not have the same advantage that their parents or grandparents did, however lets not kid ourselves that minorities have acquired that mobility. They will still have the advantage over me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not crying about it. I will simply educate my children so they will break the pattern.
I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully someday you're kids won't have the same problem.
When I was in college for engineering, the pattern became obvious, that it was the same 5 to 10 of us white males alternating as the top scoring student on exams in the make-or-break classes like thermodynamics. Come the time for finding a job though, the engineering placement office's statistics showed women engineers and minority engineers on the average receiving a premium pay offer a few percent higher than the "ordinary" (white male) engineer with the same training. This was at a large Big10 school with a highly nationally ranked engineering program.
Your engineering roots are showing from your obvious lack of statistical knowledge. You and your 10 white colleagues may have scored the highest, but there were also 90 other of your white peers who probably "broke" the white average of your make-or-break class. Do you even know how your minority and women peers scored?? If they scored in the middle or above compared to the average of your class, then on average they should start with higher salaries. If you are indeed the best student, then you should have no problem getting a high starting salary.
Now you know what the rest of the non-white male population has been struggling with for DECADES. Sucks huh? Not fair, right? Well, do what the rest of us in the minority have been doing for a long time:Stop complaining, keep your head down and push ahead no matter what obstacles lie in your path. Persevere. It's how you overcome.
Ha! You didn't stop complaining. Everyone needs to put a sock in it about this. It's an even playing field.
Ken, I have been through what you are talking about. When I graduated college, I was second in my class. When I applied for work, I was applying at the same company, for the same positions as most of my classmates. There was a qualification exam to get in and we talked about our scores, and I had the highest score, yet I had to apply at the company multiple times before I got a job and my minority classmates were already working there when I was finally hired. I work as an electronics technician and actually had to teach an affirmative action electrical engineer ohms law.
To clarify, this occurred in the 1970's when many major corporations were in the early stages of grappling with requirements for demonstrating progress on affirmative action to get or keep large government contracts. The rational economic effect is they bid against each other for the relatively scarce minority or female engineers, resulting in a salary premium for those that would let them fill one or more of the check boxes. Think what a handicapped minority female veteran might have been worth in the eyes of those HR departments; several check boxes in one employee! Can feature her on the cover of our annual report!
'upward mobility"....'diversity"...call it whatever you want its reverse discrimination no matter how spun
No such thing as reverse discrimination. Racism is racism.
Look, here's the deal. No matter how much education you may have, white, black, red, or blue, if the way you present yourself is uneducated, slovenly, and immature, you will not get ahead. My father came from the deep bayou country in Louisiana, and he is the only one of his brothers who took the 'yat' accent out of his speech so that people wouldn't judge him because of it. There is no way he would have been hired to work for the government if he sounded like my uncles do back home, white or no.
One can disguise an accent, but you can't change your color. Regardless of what a person of color does, he is seen as that color in spite of everything else.
To a degree, but white establishment also see's the color's culture as well. If you come in with cornrows and say axe instead of ask, we're going to instantly judge you for that.
Why would want to be hired by the government where advancement is not based on acheivment?
Yes, because the private sector is so meritocratic. My experience has been that it is not those that are the "best" at what they do that get ahead. Those that keep their head down and work hard are not the winners. It is the conniving self advertising slick employees who get ahead. They play the game well and the game is not to be the "best" in terms of being measured by actual work, but to be the "best" at brown-nosing, people pleasing, and scavenging off of the hard working employees. Eventually they move up to become managers of their "under performing" peers and just make them do all the work for them that they could never do in the first place.
The real people to be angry with are the top 1% that own everything. From the military-industrial complex where most of our taxes go, to the fortune 500 companies and the exchange itself. If you want to be angry at someone be angry at them. They love it when the poor (everyone making less than the top 1% is poor compared to them), fight amongst themselves over a few apples that fall from the truck, when we should be stopping the truck, taking all the apples and tossing the driver under the carriage LMAO! Keep at it black america, be distracted by the same old same old and that way you don't get no new ideas bout' no change yo! LOL
Just one white guy's observations...
Let the driver be, he's just trying to feed his family. It's the owners of the truck that deserve your attention.
Howard Zinn's book PEOPLES HISTORY OF AMERICA FROM 1492 TO PRESENT...wrote that the middle class was the barrier/safety bumper between the elite and the poor...Our middle class is declining so the elite have much to worry...Many in the middle class 40 – 50 even 10 years ago are now below the poverty line, in all colors.. That is why OWS has made a dent...they pulled the Oz curtain open and we all see now and when we start to ask questions hopefully there will be some action done to help ALL the people below the one percent.
Yes, very true
Uh, I think the OCCUPY blog is one page over.......
Do you have any stats to back that assertion up? I'm betting you're just reciting what you've heard on TV and various blogs. Here's a stat for you, the top 1% you speak of had only 17% of the National AGI. They also paid 37% of the total National Income Taxes. The cutoff for the 1% is $343,000, so essentially if you are a successful small business owner or doctor, you're in the 1%. So for you, or anyone else to claim that "the 1% controls 99% of the wealth" or "the 1% needs to pay their fair share" is not only wrong, its dangerous. So quit spewing the class warfare speech and open your eyes once in a while.
How shallow! Columbia University’s Teachers College – that explains it.
I agree with Adam. I'm a white male from a middle class background and have had to fight for everything I have. From the time I first applied to college I found out very quickly that because I am a white male from the middle class I couldn't get a single dime, scrap, bone, or whatever you want to call it of financial aid, money, or grants to go to school. I've paid for mostly everything myself since I was age 14. During all of my struggles I have sat back and watched the "underpriveleged" get all of the handouts which were paid for with tax money paid by my parents. Thus, my parents had less to help me with and the so called "underpriveleged" called me "priveleged" and lazy. I have three "white male" brothers who have also suffered because of this. In my 25 years or more so since that time I've seen little change and very few of these people who got these benefits really flourish. We should have more say on how our tax money is spent.
Did you and your brothers go to college? Get a degree worth something? I'd be extremely surprised if a person with a science, engineering,medical or a similar degree not have a clear path to success in America. It is still the country where if you are smart, talented and educated, you have more opportunities than anywhere else in the world. The American Dream is still alive, but its too bad only the immigrants know about it.
Ditto, dude, re having to scrap for every nickel it took to get through college. The plus side of that though is it teaches us how to be one of those who always can manage no matter how little income we have, rather than come up short no matter how much.
everyone has to work for their stuff. th amount of effort put in is the class you place YOURSELF in.
In all our family's generations, my son was the first to go to college. There were no plans, grants, scholarships, nothing. My wife & I worked 2 jobs each and he worked 1 so we could pay as he went. He graduated with a BS in Computer Scicence with no debt. So we've been there, done that, didn't get a t-shirt! Yes, white people do clean toilets to get an education.
This is an inferiority complex lie that I've heard stated by many of my fellow WASPS. Yes, convince yourself that you are overcoming so much adversity to get ahead in life. It's pretty much an even playing field these days, so get over yourself. I am White and grew up in poverty. I received plenty of financial aid and scholarships. I'm doing just fine, and you probably are too.
Mike, we can speak only from our experience and knowledge so I can appreciate what you are expressing, even though I am a black male with a different view. Many people work hard in all races and ethnicities and in both genders. What many did not know was that money for the once federally funded minority scholarships came from the same pot of money that allowed white students to attend predominantly black colleges and universities. They were called other race grants and all a person had to do to get one at a predominantly black school was to not be black. Some people never knew about this, but in fact there was balance and equality with our tax dollars to bring about greater balance and inequality.
There seems to me to be a bit of a fallacy in the thinking that there was total unfairness or that some were getting a pass. As a writer for The New Yorker once said at a seminar I attended, some people (not saying this is your story) attend prestigious private primary and secondary schools and their parents funded their extracurricular programs in quality after school and summer organizations and then that person went onto great success and everyone called that merit.
In short, it's complicated. I know a wonderful story of a black male whose parents were drug addicted and his slightly older brother raised him, living in a car. He went to college, worked hard, graduated despite the obstacles. We all have stories and struggles. We have to do our best, love and help others.
Yea, you know the majority of people in this country dont mean anything. Its all about appeasing the .03 percent of the population with huge special interest spending budgets.
Anyone who thinks blacks are treated equally with whites in America is severely mistaken or lying.
However, everyone always ignores the vast numbers of dirt-poor whites who live throughout Appalachia!!! (Blacks are trapped there too, of course, but there are more whites, I believe.)
When I see urban poverty in our major cities, it's generally blacks & other minorities living in huge projects/apartment buildings, receiving welfare, food stamps, & other social services. However, in Appalachia, I see families living in dilapidated shacks without inside plumbing, kids with missing & green teeth, no shoes, soot/dirt on their faces like animals!!! They exist mostly on canned food & other stuff donated by charity, not even on a reliable basis!!!
We need to get the 1% to relinquish their stranglehold on everyone, and this includes poverty-stricken rural people too!!!
Joe Bageant's books can explain about the Appalachian whites. They have this inborn stubborness to go it along. They also don't have a good education and are easily influenced by family and peers in their same enviroment. I have a brother that is called Bubba and is not from the Appalachians but he is so proud to be ignorant of the other countries and ethnics. He hated differences and especially hates Obama. He gets most of his information from Fox News. so sad.
Darlene: What an stereotyped and bigoted statement about Appalachia! Your liberal snobbery is disgusting. There is an innate sense of stubborn independence among the Scotch-Irish who settled these valleys and ridges in the 1700s, but by no means are they proud of ignorance or hate others for their success. While trapped in an unending cycle of poverty, they teach values to their children and endure being ridiculed by the Hollywood-educated public. Truth is that they are the last ethnic and social class in America that people can ridicule without consequences. No one has tried to help these people since FDR and the New Deal. I am proud that they are my ancestors.
Oh, Goody...... the liberals are back......
Being white hasn't meant anything for decades. There is money to be made in the racism game so all will keep picking at that old wound until the end of time.
I agree......most blacks in this country simply feel they are victims of the all powerful white man. They have an excuse not to work hard and not to seek an education. it will always be an "Us against them" mentality.
John, just how many blacks do you actually know, not counting the ones who shine your shoes or bring your car around? Many educated blacks still do not have jobs that are comparable to their education or skills, because your daddy reserves those jobs for people like you and other unqualified slackers who get by on the color (or lack thereof) of their skin.
Typical response from those who have. I'll bet you wouldn't trade your white skin for a million dollars, would you? Being white has its rewards!
I myself come from a working class white family. I have watched as the government has consistantly pushed our way of life down, so they could point at us and tell the minorities "Look they are patheticly poor also.......see you are equal now". But we survive by using our superior brain power. Example: a young poor white man gets a job and uses his first few paychecks to buy an old pickup from a relitive, versus, a young minority male, gets a job, saves his first few paychecks, and goes and puts a down payment on an expensive BMW..........Who starts putting money in their savings first, and thus begins moving "upward" in the socio-economic scale?..........Some things will never change!
"[S]uperior brain power"??
Peer pressure guides the activities and thought of the young. IMO superior brain power is not defined by race nor gender but a community provides a great deal of power it just happens, although there are low level trends that give advantage to the children of those with greater reasoning ability.
Your hate and jealousy towards a non-white person buying a BMW which you cant afford is obvious. Good luck trying to "move up" in the white social ladder. You'll continue to be forever looked down upon.
Certainly such shallow attribution lacks general validity, however there is a great amount of evidence that speaks to the truth that the most obvious expensive and flashy cars are operated by minorities who wish imply their wealth.
Sir Non-white, you do not have a clue. This hypothesis considers that both make the same amount of money. The fact that you feel someone will be "jealous" of your BMW payments shows the exact materialistic BS that keeps so many of your kind where they are at. Dressing, driving and being housed in levels far above one's income level, shows a pathetic need to have other poeple see you for something you are not.
When you hear the word "BLING" with whom do you associate it?
You failed to mention the amount of zeros in their paychecks.
I AM ONE OF THE GAYS THAT GOT THE TRUCK NOT THE B.M.W. HARD TO PUT MY TOOLS IN A BMW.MY TRUCK CAN GET ME TO WORK.NOT TO A CLUB,MY TRUCK WILL HELP ME BUILD THAT SCHOOL OR B.M.W. DEALSHIP.
THANK YOU.WE NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK. WERE ARE THE SHOVEL GET TO WORK JOBS? IM TOOLS ARE GETTING RUSTED,AND THE I.R,S IS WONDERING WHERE IIM AT,IVE PAID TAXES SINCE I WAS 13 ,NOT THIS YEAR,I HAVE NOT HAD HELP FROM THE GOV. NEED HELP OBAMA. MY TRUCK NEEDS AN WORK.'
That BMW analogy is total nonsense.
We all hold or experience certain pressures, expectations OR stereotypes with race. As a 'white', I was impatient with college, I was still attending it, but I wanted to START earning money and getting-on-with my 'adult life'. I had been denied jobs, that I had earned and was qualified-for and "it had been stated to me OR implied to me" that I wasn't brown enough to have these jobs by interviewers...thus keeping me in college, until I could qualify for jobs I 'should have'. Part of me is pleased with 'social discrimination' that forced me to NOT 'settle for less'...but I also can see, that at that time, I easily could have fallen into angry dissent over the reverse discrimination of the 'equal opportunity' movement. I was denied jobs for YEARS and recall being frustrated and depressed at the lack of any positive employment progress even in the area I grew up in...Patience and persistence, despite our social prejudices, is the only way find some semblance of achievement.
I understand the focus of this article is on the effects of class on white people, and that's fine as far as it goes. But I think the author has to acknowledge - even in this context - the issue of white privilege, which comes leaking through. Charles Smith provides the best example, where he says that because he's a custodian, he's assumed to be an immigrant by others, "as if they can’t believe that a regular white American could be doing such a job." There you have it in a nutshell: Being white is the the "regular" condition. Mr. Smith is experiencing the reverse of the situation where a black or Hispanic man in a tuxedo is assumed to be part of the staff at an event, not a a guest. White privilege is real and can't be pushed to the side, even in a review of issues related to intra-white class problems. I am a white male, and as an Asian-American female friend of mine put it: Class issues trump race issues *only if* you are white. Race issues trump class issues in all other contexts.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You summed up very nicely what was going through my head while reading this opinion piece.
great observation over allr, especially "Class issues trump race issues *only if* you are white. Race issues trump class issues in all other contexts"!
Finally some "common" sense. I was getting worried there.
Being white doesn't help, but not for the reasons in this article. I've seen well qualified white college applicants who all but parted the Red Sea get denied entry into top universities, while blacks and hispanics with much lower credentials get accepted without hesitation. "If only I was black or hispanic", they say. Not only that, once blacks and hispanics and other minorities get accepted, the faucet is turned on and free money flows to them like a river so they graduate with no debt. Meanwhile, the white kids graduate with mountains of debt. Federal and state aid (free medical care, free food, free dental care, etc), yes, that flows like a river to blacks and hispanics and other minorities as well. I've heard people say they'd gladly give up their white ethnicity in order to receive all the free stuff. If you're white and you need that kind of help, well, get a ticket, stand in line and prepare to jump through thousands of hoops and you'll still be denied at the end. Yes, their is still oppression in America, it's called being white and having to pay for all the minorities to have a free ride. Yes, being white does not help at all.
I absolutely agree with you, The Real Truth. In fact, I experienced it when my son was attending college majoring in Electrical Engineering and began job interviewing before graduation. Even though his grades were exceptional, if he interviewed against a female, a black (especially a black female), or any minority he would more than likely not get the job. Sad but true. Whatever happened to the most qualified applicant gets the job? I also worked at a data entry job where a white female (passed the typing test) was rejected during hiring for a black female that had never typed – even on a typewriter!!! She didn't make it thru probation.
Your son is lying to you, he needs to learn how to build an effective resume and interview better, employers don't ask for grades...
After the 1964 civil rights act, employers are concerned about defending their hiring choices. They look for validation by seeking those with certification or degrees and visible validation by hiring minorities. These civil rights acts should have applied ONLY to the public (government) sector. Applying these acts have broadened to include any business that serves the public denying the business of choice in whom to serve. Without choice it is slavery.
Seriously – Get your head out of your butt – this happens ALL THE TIME! Been there, done that over and over!
I was in that exact position, and it wasn't fun: being a poor white kid with a 4.1 gpa, tons of ap credits, an IB diploma on the way, extracurriculars, etc; being told I should try to see if I have any native american roots, cause that would qualify me for some scholarships. I graduated undergrad with over $80k debt and grad with another twenty. However, now that I'm out, that "white privilege" that seemed to be a fable when I was a kid has shown up. I get through interviews easily, because the white person interviewing me has an easier time relating with me and feels more comfortable. In my first job after undergrad, the owner of the company actually stood up and shouted, "we're not hiring anymore black people. We tried that experiment." I've heard countless jokes told about the laziness of various races, but never about whites. So yeah, non-whites have better access to scholarships. Great. I wouldn't trade that for the easier life I have being white.
The sad part about your statement is that it's the very thing that keeps the divide between the races. Minorities get these benfits due to what whites denied them from the onset and STILL would deny if they could. There was no free ride... this is blood debt!
So, you're saying that keeping things unequal will unite the races? By giving the minorities a free ride and sticking it to white people, that's going to bring about change for the better? No, I don't think so. That is not a solution by a long stretch. And that is what needs to change about our society. If it's equality that everyone wants, then it's equality that should be practiced. Meaning no more easy college entrances for minorities because of race, no more "race quotas" when hiring for jobs, and EQUAL financial benefits for whites and minorities when it comes to college scholarships, federal or state aid, or any other kind of financial benefit. And it's time that this "blood debt" philosophy be put to bed. Many bad things have happened to groups of people throughout history, but punishing people of today, particularly white people, for what happened hundreds of years of ago will never change anything for the better. It will only make the division worse.
Number 1.... These "things" didnt happen a hundred years ago, minus slavery, they still occur in maddening numbers. Number 2... People smarter than you long understood that if AMERICA (not AmeriKKKa) is going to become a true superpower, it's people MUST be brought along in order to move closer to that goal... Number 3.... America, while undertaking it's journey to becoming the prominent leader on the world stage quickly realized that it CAN NOT be is she treats her own people with disdain. Meaning, she must put laws and rules in place to minimize that rabid dog of racism so she could Sucessfully point her finger in other county's faces when pointing out others idignation of their people and say, "at least we are remedying our injustices, etc, etc". I could go on, but if youre a thinking man/woman, I think you get my point. Just as a side note, the crumbs of allowing qualified minorities into schools or limited numbers of jobs pale in comparison to having the ability of belonging to a society that can identify only with white faces.... dont start half a story unless youre willing to delve into the whole of it all...
You can bloviate all you want about America being a superpower, but America is not "remedying her injustices" by creating injustices for other people. Apparently I have to repeat this point because you were not bright enough to see it earlier. Your vision of America apparently is "Rob Peter to Pay Paul". Thank God you're not President !! And these "crumbs" you speak of are hardly that. Why don't you put everything you've got into a college application only to have the door shut in your face because you're not black or hispanic? Try applying for a job, nailing the interview because you're well qualified only to have the job given to a minority who can't even speak english because they need to meet "diversity quotas"??!! It's BS. It's reverse discrimination. And it's not right!! And there is no way to justify it!!
Well.. I guess I missed out on the money faucet. I must have missed it while I busted my butt working through college...
I completely agree. I work in an university in Puerto Rico, which is an Hispanic University. Many of our below average graduates get multiple offers for summer internships, jobs and all expense paid admissions from graduate schools quite easily. I know that many white and Asian students with 4.0 GPA are denied admission to colleges and have difficulty in getting jobs. This is reverse discrimination. In my opinion only economically underprivileged blacks should be given some advantage. Why should a poor immigrant taxi driver from India or Italy not given any special advantage, whereas children of rich and/or educated immigrants from Cuba, Honduras, Mexico..............even Argentina are given special minority privileges?
To be quite honest I think you're painting the situation with a wide brush. Not all Black people get accepted as you say... I am mixed – half Black, half German – and I by no means had the red carpet rolled out for me. I had great credentials, and applied to good private schools. I was accepted to my first choice, but again on far more hesitant terms than how you described. No faucet was turned on for me, I took on loans just like all the White students... and graduated with a burden of debt....
And as for the points addressed in the article, I agree in theory with the argument expressed in this article, just some how believe that maybe it could have been written in another way.
I guess this has nothing to with being white, if you make more than a certain amount of money (ridiculously low btw), you won't qualify for free tuition or any other aid. I know three colleagues of mine (Indian, Chinese and Guatemalan) whose kids didn't qualify for any aid due to their economic status. All their dads were IT workers in an insurance company.
Sadly, you miss the point. The "free stuff" you speak of ONLY goes to those living at the poverty level. All that so-called good free stuff barely helps people slide by from day to day. No one in their right mind would want to live like that, scraping by from day to day just to get their basic needs met. People like you treat social welfare programs as if they are free candy on street corners when they are actually the beans and rice that keep people from starving.
The difference between poor whites and poor blacks is that white people do the best they can and don't cry about it being someone else's fault.
awsome. my point exactly. Who can I blame for my problems...oh yeah the Whites!
Really?? You really think all people in a specific category are exactly alike, that all whites are hardworking and blacks are whiners??
No, I don't think that at all. I have black friends that have worked hard all their life. Whites just don't scream racism or discrimination every time they are rejected.
Joann no, not all, but how often do you hear white folks blaming their position on society on another race? Always exceptions to the rule and my point would be to stop blaming others for your problems. Ask African Americans of success what the biggest problem in the "black" spectrum is lack of education and family structure. Why is this to blame on whites?
It doesn't matter what color you are. The government is turning us all, except the really rich, into economic slaves. Dependent on a large and benevolent government. Gone are the days of personal responsibility and community sharing. Welcome to the world of cradle to grave socialism. Only those with privileged backgrounds or exceptional work ethic will rise above the shackles.
You're right, but people still want to blame someone else for their problems white and black. If you were fired or didn't get the job – it was you most of the time. You weren't good enough – period. Blaming other races for you not getting the necessary education or not getting into a school or not getting a job is b***sh** most of the time. Blacks whine because of the oppression of "the man" – who doesn't exist actually and whites whine because the small percentage of blacks in the country are taking everything from them and that's just b***sh** too. Stop falling for these lies and recognize that this IS a class issue. The middle class (of all colors) is dwindling and so many of us are still caught up in this smokescreen.
It is obvious by your comment you live in another world. Why do whites whine and complain about "other" peole taking their jobs or their place in college?
Out of concern for the generations to follow in our own families that will be at a relative disadvantage because of the color of their skin, at admission to what has long been regarded as the gateway to success, admission to a good university. Public universities have in place currently what are clearly quota systems. As a thought experiment, turn it around. Imagine your children or grandchildren and all your cousins' (except those that married someone from another race) at peril of receiving a refusal letter from university admissions because the quota for their race classification has been filled.
I think Joe Bageant would agree with much of what you have said....Read his DEER HUNTING WITH JESUS...It is about his Appalachian roots and his people.
The idea that being "white" in America somehow means you are automatically first in line for anything became a joke to me when I went looking for college scholarships in my guidance counselor's office in high school FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. Four drawers full of scholarships and being "white" with a 3.5 unweighted GPA without an arm's length list of extracurricular activities, AND a two page essay on a scholarly topic, got me qualified for four (the only ones without ethic qualifications outside of the "Tall Person's Scholarship", which I didn't qualify for at 5 foot 3) - of which I was approved for none. But being black or hispanic with a 2.0 GPA and a 500 word essay on how "hard" being ethnic was would have gotten me the other four drawers. And after being laid off last year, now I have to speak Spanish or Creole to get a new job ($9-$10/hr) in Miami in a regular office. Yeah, I don't think there's any advantage to ticking off that "white" box.
3.5 is a terrible GPA out of HS. The kids who get scholarships have near 4.0. 2.0 getting scholarships for being minority?? Yeah right. Way to make up stats to make yourself feel better for being a pathetic 3.5-er.
Well "continue to stick your head in the sand", it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if there are no jobs in the inner city, one would need to relocate. I've relocated to many different states to get get work. This is not the 50s, where you work all your life in one place and continue to move up. To move up now days, one has to move.
Bodnar's complaints simply re-center whiteness as the most viable and important standard unit of analysis, an enduring trait of white supremacy.
She must be a racist if she says anything supporting whites. Imagine if we had a White history month or NAACP for whites. Oh god the roof would come crashing down on those Hood wearing KKK
Good article and sums up nicely what a lot of us "white folks" feel.
Is this article necessary? For what purpose, other than get banjo country all riled up. You have become a bunch of clowns.
Are a you a racist?
This seems to treat "being white is not a panacea that solves all problems" with "being white doesn't help." Yes, white people are often unemployed as well. That doesn't mean being white doesn't help. Racial profiling, being the target of racial abuse, all of these things still happen. The fact that white people often don't have jobs as well does not mean that they don't still, just by virtue of being white, have an easier time in America than black people do.
And I say this, for what it's worth, as a badly underemployed white man.
Well said!!
BS, being white is advantageous every time, and all the time. By the way, I am black, with two of my three daughters married to white men. My granddaughters are probably 95% white. I know what I am talking about.
Were the 3000 White European farmers in South Africa priviledged when they were murdered just for being White these past few years?
please, apples and oranges bro. We're talking American whites.
Please at least google fact check yourself
That does not make sense. Are you discounting the millions of Africans that where killed under the apartheid system? South African whites are still abusing blacks and you dare to even lament about the plight of white south Africans.
David do you actually believe this or did someone teach you to believe this?
Racism will never cease until blacks stop blaming whites for all their problems. I am Asian and I see more racism from blacks toward whites than anything else. Stop blaming someone for your problems. Spend more time improving yourself and less blaming others. Take some accountability for your actions and stop the hate.
Really? Black people blame white people for all of their problems? None of my black family members or friends do. They acknowledge that racism exists (and frankly, more likely to affect Black people than Asian people, as various statistics show), but know that they can achieve anything they want in America if they work hard for it. You know, the way Barack Obama did, the way Oprah did, the way Colin Powell did. I don't think they blame white people for all their problems, either.
Where did you get the evidence to back your statement, a Fox News report? Try to think a little harder before making blanket statements without any actual evidence to support them.
I'm also asian, and I completely agree with Sean's statement. Being a "safe" minority has allowed me to watch (literally dozens of times) how much hatred is spit at whites from blacks who pull the race card for any sort of perceived slight. One of the greatest injustices that I see perpetrated every day, is the stripping away of the achievements of whites by political correctness and history being improperly taught. It's sad really when most whites only see themselves through the recent paradigm of popular media, liberal college professors and some minorities who wrap themselves in fake racial rage.
First of all Phong, something tells me you are not Asian, but rather a white person posing as Asian trying to get your point across under a guise (nice try). Second, I find it hard to believe that an Asian or White person personally encounters a lot of black people "spitting hate" against white people. That would mean either you have a lot of black friends who are angry about white people (and I sincerely doubt you are the kind of person who would have a lot of these types of black friends) or you randomly encounter a lot of black strangers who are willing to spit hate about white people to you for whatever reason (which is also very hard to believe). Again nice try, but not buying it.
Nice try on saying im not Asian. Moved here from Vietnam when I was five years old. Typical... try to discredit another minority who is calling it as it is. My experience with blacks you say? I dated a black girl in college for two years and had two black roommates in college. Stanford, class of 2005 if you must ask. But yes, pretend in your small little world that this isn't a fairly common conversation among asians.
Yes Phong, and the three blacks you mentioned represent a great sample size for the entire black population. Because God knows if your girlfriend and two friends spoke that way, all of us do!!! Think you should go back to college.
I disagree. Just a few centuries ago Irish was not considered white. Today anyone with a fair complexion is white whether they are from Africa, South America, or the United States. Your comment smacks of racism.
Being white DOES NOT have advantage when aspiring for a career in the NFL or NBA – so you are wrong, bro.
How about trying to get a career based on your education? Also, sports are one place where your athletic ability is the only true measure, and if you fail to meet the cut, then crying foul gets you nothing but sitting on the sidelines.
If it's apples and oranges, why say "being white is advantageous every time." That seems to be a prejudiced and racist statement.
Your daughters likely married white men so they 1)wouldn't get AIDS, 2) wouldn't get the crap beaten out of them routinely, 3)wouldn't get cheated on, 4) wouldn't have the police knocking on the door once a week, etc. Black men are the absolute worst marriage material there be. Do some research and you'll see this is so!
Being white does not make me an expert on white privilege. Being black or married to a white person makes you an expert on neither, as well.
I'm white. I have been treated badly. I have been not-hired. I have been insulted for my race. This does not make me believe that it is bad to be white in america. If I were raised to believe such a thing, I would believe that the world was anti-white. Having a cat does not make you a cat expert. Having a child does not make you a child expert. People think WAY too much about their expertise on a subject. Life is bumpy for almost everyone. Some have been taught that it is because life is tough... others have been taught that it is the fault of other people.
Your son in laws are doing better than you are because they work harder and make better decisions. Your daughters saw the bad decisions you made and the way you blame other people for your failures. They decided they wanted no part of that.
How can you say something like that? You don't know this man personally. I've personally seen black fathers, and they seem to be doing their best. You (right now) are just talking out of your ASS.
"BS, being white is advantageous every time, and all the time. By the way, I am black, with two of my three daughters married to white men. My granddaughters are probably 95% white. I know what I am talking about."
Re-read this. Reread this ten more time until you get it into your head. This man is RIGHT. Who raised the daughters? A BLACK MAN. Who did his daughters marry? WHITE MAN
Go to China and you'll no doubt be looked down on cause your white. Same with Africa. Human nature is such that people want to be with their own kind. Like all other species. Sure you can force us all to share the same cave but we don't really want to. The main thing is to be a good person.
How can you end your post with "be a good person" when the rest of your post espouses prejudice and racism? Those are seemingly at odds.
Since when did stating the truth become racist and prejudiced? Leading scientific research shows that there is less violence and conflict when different ethnic and religious groups have a geographical buffer between them. See "Good Fences: The Importance of Setting Boundaries for Peaceful Coexistence" by Rutherford et. al. 2011 arXiv:1110.1409v1 [physics.soc-ph]
Like most psycholigists, she practices a very inexact science, if it can be called that. The reason being white no longer matters is because of the idiotic multi-culturism that has swept the country. We are becoming a race of mongrels and, as with dogs, doesn't bode well. Incidentally, my degrees are in clinical psychology.
He's talking ABOUT racism, s***-for-brains, not ESPOUSING racism! Re-read the big words s-l-o-w-e-r next time!
white racism is legendary. And they made it worldwide...
Don't you think that maybe the Americans that work 120 hours a week between couples may have an advantage to those that want to work 30 hours a week and then cry that they work too hard and can't seem to get anywhere? Or the other people that sit and wait for the food stamps and welfare check once a month. Slavery was a long time ago. It doesn't affect anyone now. Just like the other people that had to work for a living. At least they had a place to live and eat. People are such hypocritical cry babies it's funny. Dumb animals at best. Just get an education. A job. And live your life and stop crying. There is discrimination on both sides. As a matter of fact one side is much more discriminant than the other right now. And they are loudly stating it. Guess which side this is. Try to get a job at a black run business or something and you will see. Funny how that works but they can still cry foul.
your dreaming. I'm a white guy. "Slavery ended a long time ago." Thats total BS. Being white is advantageous in a America everytime.
You're right. Black Africans living in some African countries still practice slavery on other Africans to this very day.
Right, and there is also white on white slavery in other countries. We are talking USA here...sorry to be like this, but if you love those other countries so much, why don't you move there.
Yes, racism still exists in America. I'm a low income white guy and see myself get promoted over qualified minoritys all the time.
At this point in the game, blacks allow it to happen! There's enough affirmative action laws out there to even it up. Go out and get it yourself and stop crying how its not given to you!
@Ryan This isn't just about America, this is about White European people everywhere, because "White guilt" and "priviledge" is being bandied about by "minority" groups in every single White European country right now in order to get their way. Neglecting this only shows that you are Anti-White.
@marshviperX...anit-white? I am white dude, white, american, male. Do I have white guilt? Sure. Do a receive benefits from being white? sure. I've paid my way since I was 18. "Worked" hard and provided for myself and wife. Own a house, a car, health care....all the "American Dream". If I wasn't white, I wouldn't have gotten some of the high paying jobs I did. I wouldn't have gotten through the door. So, no, I'm pro-white...in fact I love being white because I know I have it easier. I also can plainly see reality and the fact the minorities, especially blacks, have less opportunities than I do. We can talk affirmative action and race quotas all day but the fact is that you don't walk down the street and get randomly frisked if your white. Well, maybe in the suburbs but thats a whole different article.
@marshviperX....
ps. It is only about America...this opinion section is called "In America".
Other countries have their own history with race, but this section is about "America".....I think they say "Love it or Leave it"
If you want to correct others, it might be more readilly accepted if you used proper spelling & grammar.
Get over yourself....it's called communication, not a spelling test. from wired magazione:
So who shud tell us how to spel? Ourselves. Language is not static—or constantly degenerating, as many claim. It is ever evolving, and spelling evolves, too, as we create new words, styles, and guidelines (rules governing use of the semicolon date to the 18th century, meaning they’re a more recent innovation than the steam engine). The most widely used American word in the world, OK, was invented during the age of the telegraph because it was concise. No one considers it, or abbreviations like ASAP and IOU, a sign of corruption. More recent textisms signal a similarly creative, bottom-up play with language: “won” becomes “1,” “later” becomes “l8r.” After all, new technology creates new inertia for change: The apostrophe requires an additional step on an iPhone, so we send text messages using “your” (or “UR”) instead of “you’re.” And it doesn’t matter—the messagee will still understand our message.
and you spelt readily wrong! please. next!
To some of these posts, in the South go to any manufacturing plant and see how many Blacks there are working, none or one or two. Blacks are highly unemployed, not because they don't apply or don't have the education, because the plants will not hire them. I know this for a fact, first hand. No matter how many jobs are created, Blacks will not get them. Sorry....
Interesting article. Which makes me wonder, why is it that those of White European descent are singled out as havng priviledge, and therefore must be destroyed, according to people such as Harvard Professor Noel Ignatiev? Do White Europeans have priviledge when in the Middle East or East-Asia, or South Africa? Why is multiculturalism and immigration only being promoted in every single traditionally White European country, and most non-European countries are still monocultural, despite their growing economies. Why are groups like the Un-Fair Campaign claiming that race doesn't exst, but then promote the racial stereotype that White Europeans and only White Europeans are racist?
Male, 32, White, No college education.
Agree on many of the points in the article but I can't help but realize the omission of "white privilege"
Living in a neighbor that is gentrifying and a city (philly) that has some deep race issues, I know that I get better jobs than other non- college educated males of the same age. Even if it only initially opens doors, a door that wouldn't open for a black male or "white trash" male, white privilege has kept covert racism in-tact in this country since the 60's.
I find it funny that this article garnered so many positive responses when most CNN boards are filled with racist filth. I agree with this idea of "white guilt" and live it everyday, but an article like this needs to explore the negative sides of white privilege before we give the white majority a feel good article like this. In times of a recession, I bet on a whole, minority populations feel the effects much worse than whites. Thanks for a thought provoking piece.
You are so on target! I am also white, but when I listen to my friends who are non-white, I hear story after story of discrimination.
Is this a premonition that CNN is going to start its own TV special, "White in America" with Soledad O'Brien? 🙂
🙂
Yeah, maybe she can cover Silicon Valley, like she did with "Black In America." Think she won't find any whites in high level positions there?
Good article but I think you overlooked several contributing factors that at least deserved a brief mention.
This story is simply an exercise in mental masturbation.
Please get a real job.
Often I think some Americans think white people don't suffer. That we have it easy. Maybe 50+ years ago, but now I really don't feel we have any advantages and maybe the whole illusion was just that, an illusion. I, like the man that was reported was not spoken at all about colleges. I eventually got a Bachelor's, but in today's world it got me no where. I have met people with Masters degrees mostly white working for $10 an hour – good luck getting a head with that wage not too mention paying back the student loans that most white Americans have.
I truly hope that people do not use your article as an opportunity to rank class disparity but, rather, to think deeply about the class structure in the US in contemporary times and reflect on the heightened sense more feel, white and non-white, feel about the tenuousness of our position's in that structure. There is more of a brother/sisterhood of THAT then we may have considered. I wonder if, on some level, THIS is where the Occupy and Tea Party Movements converge ... Your thoughts?
When I was a kid, my dad, with his HS education and some company training, worked 3rd shift 7 days a week as a machinist. He always hammered home the value of education. My two siblings have advanced degrees, and I have a Ph.D. and MBA, and even became a Presbyterian after growing up Pentecostal in the South. I felt like this article NAILED my life, my constant struggle to advance economically and socially, driven by fear of poverty and not fitting in with my colleagues and neighbors from more privileged backgrounds. How can something be so archetypal, and yet so personally dead-on! 🙂
"We have been so self-guided, self-driven, self-educated and self-blaming that we no longer consider ourselves members of any group."
Yes, that might have some disadvantages – but I think it also makes those folks less willing to assign OTHERS to any group. At least in my experience.....
Thought provoking article....
wow.. a story about white folks.. what will happen next rights for white folks????
...great article. Thanks for writing it.
Of course white doesn't help today ... in fact, even if you are more qualified, you are most likely discriminated against and the scholarships and open slots for college/jobs will go to the black, Latin or Asian .... fill in the blank – anything but white candidate. It's the truth and we all know it!!!
not true.
Its actually more true then you would believe. Since there are so many laws against discrimination, companies will in fact turn away many white qualified workers for less qualified non white in order to keep their minority percentage high enough. While this may not be seen in the corporate market as much but in the "blue collar" work you will see it often.
Added to the fact that when it comes to scholarships, there are many more that have a non white race requirement, because its assumed most white families can afford it easier.
Granted its not a giant issue, but its still there.
The wanted multi-culturalism and they got it. Now we are becoming a race of mongrels.
False
More like BS. Look at the top levels of EVERY compy; you still find few if any minorities. How many minorities work where you work? How many of them are in management?
Great article, very interesting read. Thank you.
"So Cry Me a River for the white man"
Stupid articular, no true and full of half trues, their are very few system in American that does not favor white males. For the vast majority of this country history white male have benefited off the misery and torment of Minorities, Women, Children, Native American and immigrants, "So cry me a river". No the system is more in balance with the "Social Economic make-up of the nation at large"".
Couldn't agree more, well said!
you must be a lobbyist for the NAACP...dont let the facts get in the way of a good destruction of America...
So, like a bigot you automatically blame every white male, even those who have fought and died for civil rights for all, including gay people which you conveniently left out of your rant probably because you are bigoted against gays as well. In other words, you appear to be the very thing you claim to despise, a bigot. While you point an accusing finger of hatred at the poor white kid, who is in the same boat as the poor any kid of any race, the elitists of this nation are taking the entire nation to the cleaners, committing financial crimes to the tune of trillions of dollars, so long as the corrupt criminals at the top can keep the peasants hating and fighting their tribalist bigoted fights, the crooks at the top stay on top, continue pulling their massive ponzi schemes, and when the USA becomes a Shanty Town nation with the majority of its inhabitants living the lifestyle of a Phillipino ghetto, will you still blame the poor white family living in the corrugated roofed cardboard paper shack just down the sewer/street from your shack? We can all either get together and raise up the standard of living for us all or we can all bicker at each other while a few elitists destroy the USA beyond repair. Its time to take off your white dunce cap and white sheet of whatever bigoted party you belong to and join the HUMAN RACE!
Cry me a river too. My parents abused me as their parents abused them. Should I be guilty because the stinkers who are now dead may have harmed your ancestors too. As i told my inner city high school classes, "If you want middle classiness, try not punctuating your sentences with the F word."
Lets get off the history rubbish and face the now. We all have lots of legitimate gripes but who's ancestors did what to whom is not one of them.
The way I read it, she was trying to point out the complexities of racism and class structure. Generalizations like you have made add nothing to the discussion and only discredit the point you were trying to make.
Sooooo very,very true!!!!
Really interesting article. I really identified with this but I didn't realize that until towards the end of the article. The cultural references were good too.
Often white people do not think in these terms or talk about white opinions or white values, even though there are clearly social expectations and conventions that the vast majority of white people live by.
You should examine the degree of white poverty, including generational, in some rural Texas counties.
Is that why some racism occurs, because some white people feel inadequately placed in their own racial societal circles that they try and bring down members of other races to make themselves feel more superior?
I find that to feel or be better than someone else you have to either work really hard or make them feel more worthless than they actually are. Suggestions?
Cassidy – that is why some racism, even white on white racism, occurs. As usual these things are complicated and multiply determined. When a persons derive self esteem or confidence from making other people worthless that person usually feels worse, and then enacts it even more, in a kind of vicious cycle. These cycles then become reified as truths that become embedded in the social structure. Suggestions? Some would argue that an equitable socioeconomic structure makes a big difference. But I also think exposure, contact and interaction helps. When people do things together they tend to stop seeing each other as a category and more as people with individual, specific and complicated stories. At that moment everyone is a mosaic of strengths and weaknesses and in that frame it is easier to hold onto a more equal relationship.
This was obvious to me growing up in Flushing Queens in the 70's. Looks were part of it too, seems like all the kids fell in line with the program! Not me, made a bee line towards Manhattan and never looked back.
Thoughtful & challenging item. At first I wondered if it minimizes white privilege (irrespective of class). But no, it looks more like you're examining class dynamics in ways that could ultimately help subvert white privilege. Nice.
Interesting. And very relevant for me, Susan. I test water wells for industrial pollution and recently canvassed neighborhoods outside a North Carolina city that was formerly a major textile town.
Some residents were retirees (from better economic times), living in neatly-kept brick/frame homes. But many more were low-income individuals, or families, living in small, weathered modular homes, in spare subdivisions. Despite NC's population demography (30% black & latino) about 95 % of the people I met were white. In my experience, this has been more the rule than the exception.
Loved the article..
being white doesnt help when applying for a job,or applying for a college loan,or for applying for food stamps,or for free medical service at charity hospital,or for fema aid after a disaster.i have been denied jobs and all forms of assistance because im a white male.at least thats what i was told by the people denying me.
I wrote this article to draw attention to how complicated social categories affect everybody's lives. Abstractions don't really tell the story of how those categories are intertwined with how we treat each other.
Which abstractions are you referring to?
ya i imagine it does help being white when youre applying for jobs etc. when youre a early 20s black male living in an inner city environment, i have to ask at what point did you drink the kool aid? its a proven fact that being a white male automatically gives you an edge in this country. im sick of this idea that white people think theyre going to escape the truth by pointing out that for the first time in a long time the racial poverty line is starting to even out. see, white people are just nowing hitting a "bottom" that many other racial minorities have been living with for a very long time, thats why this has become an issue. so, save it man i get the article but it doesnt change the truth of the continued hypocrisy of a nation that still hasnt in many ways moved away from 60s era jim crow type ideologies and behaviors. oh and btw after all this theres still no mention of native americans lol. every other race on this planet has a country to call their own, that they can return to at any time. american inidians on the other hand dont seem to be lucky enough to be allowed this priviledge.
White still has the edge? Your completely delusional. Affirmative action laws and quotas for schools and colleges for the past 40-50 years, how much time do minorities need to get on their feet? 100 years, 200 years? I've been turned down for jobs because of affirmative action crap far too many times. Stop crying and get out there and give it your best, I'll do the same and may the best man for the job, GET THE JOB!!!!
Plenty of that kool aid to go around buddy they're not going to run out of that any time soon! "When being white doesn't help" It may not help some, but it's a definite advantage to most. At least a third of the country will be voting along color lines believing a white president will be an advantage. I wonder all the time if MLK really helped us as a whole. I wish I could live long enough to ask this question in a few hundred years.
Well "continue to stick your head in the sand", it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if there are no jobs in the inner city, one would need to relocate. I've relocated to many different states to get get work. This is not the 50s, where you work all your life in one place and continue to move up. To move up now days, one has to move. Good luck.
@Adam how many years did slavery last? There would be no affirmative action if everyone played on a leveled field!
I for one never did and will never use affirmative action. My view on this country is do your own thing, if you can't do that then use everything you can to your advantage but if you're going to rely on someone else for your survival then you can expect they're not going to look after your interest as they would for those who looks like them unless you're the better person for their bottom line, but that very rarely happens and that's a fact.
If anyone told you that you were denied food stamps or FEMA because you are white, that person is uninformed, lying or engaging in corruption, because the rules are exactly the same for all races. If jobs are more likely to go to whites, then why is the unemployment rate twice as high for blacks as for whites?
Corruption happens all time, yet no one is punished which is why it will continue. Search youtube for "PERM Fake Job Ads defraud Americans to secure green card".
try lack of education and poor family structures along with a built in excuse that if I don't succeed it was not my fault. It's the racist system I am a part of. Don't you see how this thought process perpetuates itself.