Random Things You've Learned from GC

[bevinpiphi]

I don't remember who, but someone had a link to "Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack" and it was my first exposure to the concept of white privilege (I grew up in a very insulated town and family), and it started my learning journey there.

[carnation]

Probably some zumbedo who has no idea how many white people--like about half of my white students--come from desperately poor families, in which their parents don't give a crap about them or whether they succeed in school or even stay in. They are outperformed by most of our black and Hispanic students. These kids, no matter what we do to help, have no privilege because they are white. NONE.

One of ours was killed last night by his sorry and careless dad--one of my sons coached this student--and I am VERY salty about this.

[bevinpiphi]

Originally Posted by carnation

Probably some zumbedo who has no idea how many white people--like about half of my white students--come from desperately poor families, in which their parents don't give a crap about them or whether they succeed in school or even stay in. They are outperformed by most of our black and Hispanic students. These kids, no matter what we do to help, have no privilege because they are white. NONE.

One of ours was killed last night by his sorry and careless dad--one of my sons coached this student--and I am VERY salty about this.

I am sorry for the loss of your student, especially at the hands of their father. I’ve lost students in the past because of family violence, and ones that I’ve made abuse hotline calls for, and it is heart wrenching.

America has a major class divide problem too, that impacts all in or near poverty, like 85% of my students, and I assume many of your students as well. Many of my students or their families have also experienced prejudice and acts of violence due to being Black, Hispanic, or immigrants.

I do want to note that if any other poster used “zumbedo”/“zumbado” in reference to another poster in the thread or on Greek chat, you would likely chastise them, then lock the thread.

[cheerfulgreek]

Call me dumb, but what’s a “zumbedo”/“zumbado”?

[carnation]

Originally Posted by bevinpiphi

I I do want to note that if any other poster used “zumbedo”/“zumbado” in reference to another poster in the thread or on Greek chat, you would likely chastise them, then lock the thread.

I would not, seeing that "zumbedo" is a word that my brothers totally made up.

[bevinpiphi]

Originally Posted by carnation

I would not, seeing that "zumbedo" is a word that my brothers totally made up.

Well they “totally made up” a term one letter off from calling someone out of their mind, zumbado.

[carnation]

Since they were 6 or 7, I doubt that they knew that.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by carnation

Probably some zumbedo who has no idea how many white people--like about half of my white students--come from desperately poor families, in which their parents don't give a crap about them or whether they succeed in school or even stay in. They are outperformed by most of our black and Hispanic students. These kids, no matter what we do to help, have no privilege because they are white. NONE.

One of ours was killed last night by his sorry and careless dad--one of my sons coached this student--and I am VERY salty about this.

But you know what white privilege means, and what you are describing doesn't negate white privilege.

For those who are observing this exchange, white privilege does not mean that a white person automatically has a better life in every community all the time. It means, in part, that white people are members of a legacy club (that they did not choose to be part of) that grants them better opportunities because of biases that are common in this society.

Examples:

A white child can pick up a science fiction or fantasy novel and see themselves represented most of the time. The existence of Black sci-fi fantasy does not negate whiteness being accepted as the default face for humanity.

Predominately white fraternity/sorority life is seen as the default kind of fraternity life, despite Black fraternal life having more life-long activity and a much larger community service imprint. Additionally, a white person can be guaranteed to not be excluded from the default Greek life on the basis of their race -- and would still be considered (if not fetishized!) if they were interested in Black Greek life.

I'm not even going to get into examples from policing or science/medicine.

In short, nobody ever said that "white privilege" is the same as living a "privileged" life. There are surely poor white people.

[carnation]

Partly true, but you know what? Even when I was a child, and most of you know how long ago that was, kids of all races were represented in my books and in cartoons and on TV. And some people are saying there is now both white privilege and yellow privilege because Asians have done so well here. I can guarantee you that having a white or yellow skin (especially since I have 4 Asian daughters) doesn't automatically push open doors. We all have to prove ourselves individually.

We could debate this forever. It deserves its own thread, though.

[Zach]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

But you know what white privilege means, and what you are describing doesn't negate white privilege.

For those who are observing this exchange, white privilege does not mean that a white person automatically has a better life in every community all the time. It means, in part, that white people are members of a legacy club (that they did not choose to be part of) that grants them better opportunities because of biases that are common in this society.

Examples:

A white child can pick up a science fiction or fantasy novel and see themselves represented most of the time. The existence of Black sci-fi fantasy does not negate whiteness being accepted as the default face for humanity.

Predominately white fraternity/sorority life is seen as the default kind of fraternity life, despite Black fraternal life having more life-long activity and a much larger community service imprint. Additionally, a white person can be guaranteed to not be excluded from the default Greek life on the basis of their race -- and would still be considered (if not fetishized!) if they were interested in Black Greek life.

I'm not even going to get into examples from policing or science/medicine.

In short, nobody ever said that "white privilege" is the same as living a "privileged" life. There are surely poor white people.

Facts and well said.

[Zach]

Can’t say I’ve learned anything. Not a lot going on since I’ve been posting on here, which hasn’t been long.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by bevinpiphi

I don't remember who, but someone had a link to "Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack" and it was my first exposure to the concept of white privilege (I grew up in a very insulated town and family), and it started my learning journey there.

GC was where I first learned of the Invisible Knapsack as well. chaosDST (who did not post that, but frequently posted other resources) and posters like her were essential in deepening the conversations around race here.