White Skin Privilege

[abaici]

Originally posted by Dionysus
I agreed with everything you and E06 said, except for this. When we think this way, we are using the past as an excuse for not getting further ahead.

It's true, we have come far. However, the fact that a group of people whose ancestors have lived in this country for hundreds of years have to say this is beyond sad. As for using slavery as a crutch, we have to agree to disagree on this issue. We cannot ignore the past just because it's unpleasant. Studying and understanding history helps us better understand the world we live in and ourselves.

Quick note: I have heard a Jewish person say,"Let's stop harping on the Holocaust. It's in the past" They remember and they will not forget. Furthermore they will not let anyone else forget.

[Rudey]

What the heck are you talking about? Nobody knocked the validity of slavery. I said compare American blacks who've been here for generations as the result of the African diaspora and slavery and Africans who immigrate here now. And if it's about this white privilege why is it that asians who are not white don't experience it? Is it all about skin color?

You're manipulating all that into something it's not and either because you don't understand or dont' want to answer. And of course you had to bring up Jews and how they don't let you forget. Cut me a break. If you'd like to create a thread on Jews and how they're harping on the past and won't let you forget, do it; I like making people look dumb to feed my ego.

-Rudey

Originally posted by abaici
Just a few comments...

Some of the comments in this thread prove the very notion of white skin privilege. White skin privilege allows for a detachment from racial issues. I do not care what you have heard, seen, and studied. If you are a white person in America (I'm focusing on this country), you have no clue how deep the problem is.

I am appalled by the comparisons of African Americans and various immigrant groups. We have a very distinctive history. First of all, we are not immigrants! Several people made a point of comparing African Americans to African immigrants. Immigrants come to a country by their own free will. Big difference. You cannot say, "Sure slavery was bad, but it's over. You people need to get it together. Other people have done it...what's wrong with you guys!" Which is essentially what people's comments amount to. You cannot quantify the damage caused by 400 years of slavery.


Lastly, as E06 stated, people are not addressing the question posed at the beginning of the thread. It's turned into a rant against the disenfranchised.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by Rudey
What the heck are you talking about? Nobody knocked the validity of slavery. I said compare American blacks who've been here for generations as the result of the African diaspora and slavery and Africans who immigrate here now. And if it's about this white privilege why is it that asians who are not white don't experience it? Is it all about skin color?

You're manipulating all that into something it's not and either because you don't understand or dont' want to answer. And of course you had to bring up Jews and how they don't let you forget. Cut me a break. If you'd like to create a thread on Jews and how they're harping on the past and won't let you forget, do it; I like making people look dumb to feed my ego.

-Rudey

Well, Asian Americans and Asian Canadians have sometimes been asked if they spoke English by a few ignorant fools. But I guess that's not exactly what we're discussing, since people seem to be discussing one's success in life based on skin colour.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Well, Asian Americans and Asian Canadians have sometimes been asked if they spoke English by a few ignorant fools. But I guess that's not exactly what we're discussing, since people seem to be discussing one's success in life based on skin colour.

Do you generally say really bizarre things in real life as well?

-Rudey
--And spell it right since most of us are Americans; it's color.

[damasa]

Originally posted by abaici
If you are a white person in America (I'm focusing on this country), you have no clue how deep the problem is.

Just because someone is white doesn't mean they "have no clue how deep the problem is."

Some white people do know and some understand and some white people actually do care, let's not discount that.

[starang21]

Originally posted by Rudey
What the heck are you talking about? Nobody knocked the validity of slavery. I said compare American blacks who've been here for generations as the result of the African diaspora and slavery and Africans who immigrate here now. And if it's about this white privilege why is it that asians who are not white don't experience it? Is it all about skin color?

You're manipulating all that into something it's not and either because you don't understand or dont' want to answer. And of course you had to bring up Jews and how they don't let you forget. Cut me a break. If you'd like to create a thread on Jews and how they're harping on the past and won't let you forget, do it; I like making people look dumb to feed my ego.

-Rudey

actually, asians are the victim of the good ol' boy/white privilege phenomenon.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by starang21
actually, asians are the victim of the good ol' boy/white privilege phenomenon.

But you can say that it is because of the following:

1) Lack of language skills

2) Lack of "connections" because they're immigrants. Whites have been in the country longer and have had the $$$$$$ longer, and therefore have CONNECTIONS one way or another. Connections makes things easier.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Taualumna
But you can say that it is because of the following:

1) Lack of language skills

2) Lack of "connections" because they're immigrants. Whites have been in the country longer and have had the $$$$$$ longer, and therefore have CONNECTIONS one way or another. Connections makes things easier.

I don't understand what possesses you to think that all Asians are immigrants from really recent times. My family hasn't even been over here for 100 years. There's certainly Asian families that have been over here longer than that.

I truthfully think that my main beef with this thread is that some of the arguments that are being brought up are ridiculous and something that every culture has experienced from time to time. At first nobody liked the Irish or Italians when they came over. Then we moved from not liking them to not liking Eastern Europeans. I don't think anybody came over here who didn't face some discrimination.

I'm not knocking white skin priviledge, I think it definitely exists. I just think that some of the posters on this thread are acting like my family just showed up over here and said "Hi, we're white" and had fabulous jobs and gobs of money thrown at us. That didn't happen.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I'm not knocking white skin priviledge, I think it definitely exists. I just think that some of the posters on this thread are acting like my family just showed up over here and said "Hi, we're white" and had fabulous jobs and gobs of money thrown at us. That didn't happen.

Liar

-Rudey

[Tom Earp]

OK, everyone beleives in the validity of the Trials and Tribulations of the oppressed!

Whether it be by Race or Religion, there have been injustices, agreed.

This is part of History, good or bad, it is there! You cannot change it, Period.

Is not the same thing going on in Iraq at this very moment where our Soldiers are getting killed? Does anyone keep track of the color or religion? No, they are still dead!



Just how many of you have worked with People of the different Races or Religions? Did you ask them first or just find out who they were as a person?

OK, I am a white face, I have been working my ass off on my own since I was in the 7 th Grade!

I am far from the Rich and Famous!

"Dont try to wear your history like sack cloth and ashes, you are not a martyr just a person like the rest of us!"

Aimed at no one but to all!

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
......
I'm not knocking white skin priviledge, I think it definitely exists. I just think that some of the posters on this thread are acting like my family just showed up over here and said "Hi, we're white" and had fabulous jobs and gobs of money thrown at us. That didn't happen.

OMG Kath what are you talking about? Of course they just came over and said "Yello, I'ma from Italia but I'ma white so giveame a job". Then my dad proceeded to grow up very poor, and built his business from nothing. Don't you know that's how it goes? </sarcasm>

You wana know how people go from being nothing to being successful business men? They forget the past, but work harder for their future, and stop complaining about the way they are treated and disrespected. They prove to everyone that they can be something other than what others think them to be.

And that goes for white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Italian, Irish, Greeks.

[decadence]

Why must the embracing of 'new' culture(s) be seen as synonymous with rejecting or accepting the dilution, of your own?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I don't understand what possesses you to think that all Asians are immigrants from really recent times. My family hasn't even been over here for 100 years. There's certainly Asian families that have been over here longer than that.

.

The bulk of Asian immigrants haven't been around for 100+ years. Most came after WWII or later, when immigrant laws were a little more relaxed.

[madmax]

There are three guys on an airplane. A black, a white, and an Asian. The plane is going to crash but there only 2 parachutes. Who should get the parachutes?

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Taualumna
The bulk of Asian immigrants haven't been around for 100+ years. Most came after WWII or later, when immigrant laws were a little more relaxed.

You're missing my point...one side my family came overly shortly before WWII. I wouldn't exactly say we've been here forever. I just don't like the attitude I'm getting (much more from you than from the AfAm posters) that Asian people had it so much harder than Irish/Italian/Catholic/etc. My own sorority (and no doubt yours too) wouldn't have accepted my great-grandparents. I'm white. Where's my skin priviledge there? (I'm using this as an example seeing as though this is the GreekChat and all.)