In what nuanced ways did you NOT realize you had white privilege?

[Anonymous]

I am a white woman. Back in the late 80’s and early nineties, I lived in Brookland (Near 12th and Kearney). I took the metro to work (near L’Enfant Plaza). Twice, when I was being approached by men while I was upping my ticket - the metro guy in the Kiosk (always big burly black men) came running out to shoo them away. At the time, I attributed to being a young woman, but now think it probably was a mixture of gender and race. It left me with a feeling of being protected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My feeling of dread when being pulled over by a police officer is that I'm going to get a ticket, not that I'm going to get arrested, beat up, or possibly shot or killed.

My lack of awareness that I can drive my fancy car in any neighborhood whatsoever without some cop suspecting me of stealing the car.

I am an UMC white woman who has had awful experiences with police. When I get pulled over, I definitely fear for my safety. I know that they can rape or kill me and no one will take my side. i have also had positive experiences. But I know it’s entirely a crapshoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I wasn’t driving cross country with my kids and, on a long flat stretch in Kansas, I got pulled over doing 90 in a 65 zone. When the cop came to the window, I rummaged around in the pile of coats and garbage on the passenger seat for my wallet and never though once that he could have pulled a gun on me or hauled me out of the car. I got a ticket for going 75 in a 65 and a kind admonishment to pay attention.

Meant to say “was” driving cross country , obviously. Forgot to mention that I was 6 weeks out from a boob job too, so I had some of that big boob privilege going in addition to the white privilege I was born with.

This is a serious reach. Now you’re just looking for ways to flagellate yourself. Big boob privilege? Please.

I disagree. As a black man, I can say that the chances of me being able to aimlessly rummage around a pile of stuff in my car for my wallet without a cop pulling out his weapon would be low.

Ok but how many white women carry guns and shoot cops, and how many black men do? Prejudice comes from generalizations derived from real statistical differences. I don’t think the prejudice will change until the underlying statistical differences begin to change, sadly.

Agree. This is an uncomfortable fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn’t driving cross country with my kids and, on a long flat stretch in Kansas, I got pulled over doing 90 in a 65 zone. When the cop came to the window, I rummaged around in the pile of coats and garbage on the passenger seat for my wallet and never though once that he could have pulled a gun on me or hauled me out of the car. I got a ticket for going 75 in a 65 and a kind admonishment to pay attention.

Meant to say “was” driving cross country , obviously. Forgot to mention that I was 6 weeks out from a boob job too, so I had some of that big boob privilege going in addition to the white privilege I was born with.

This is a serious reach. Now you’re just looking for ways to flagellate yourself. Big boob privilege? Please.

I disagree. As a black man, I can say that the chances of me being able to aimlessly rummage around a pile of stuff in my car for my wallet without a cop pulling out his weapon would be low.

Ok but how many white women carry guns and shoot cops, and how many black men do? Prejudice comes from generalizations derived from real statistical differences. I don’t think the prejudice will change until the underlying statistical differences begin to change, sadly.

Agree. This is an uncomfortable fact.

Do white men kill coops?
Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Is it "privilege" to not belong to the demographic that commits 95% of the violent and street crime in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it "privilege" to not belong to the demographic that commits 95% of the violent and street crime in DC?

It’s a privilege to belong to the demographic that commits 95% of white collar crime which coincidentally no one raises an eyebrow at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Mine is similar -- I've brought my own shopping bag into stores, strolled around putting a few groceries in it, and then gone to the checkout and emptied it onto the conveyor belt. Just to avoid dragging around a basket.

Pure white privilege. I've stopped doing it.

I do that too and I am asian

I do it too, though I'm half white, half Asian (I look "ethnicy"). But I don't do this nonchalantly - I am showy about scrunching up my bag after emptying it, or holding it upside down, to point out "see my bag is totally empty, I've taken nothing."

I stopped doing this because a checker at Trader Joe’s told me it’s really annoying! It takes them longer when they have to un-bag all your groceries and then re-bag them. If you use a basket, your stuff goes straight from the basket to your bag. After he told me it was annoying, I stopped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once travelled abroad on a business trip with a very accomplished and elegant black colleague with an African name. Every customs and airport agent looked at my passport and I went right through. My colleague was questioned extensively and rudely
at every check point. I never forgot it and was horrified by her treatment.

Yup. I was born in this country and my white dad’s family has been here for over 300 years. But my mom is an immigrant and I look vaguely “ethnic” and so I always make a point of chatting up the passport control people so they hear my American accent. Like I do that very intentionally after too many unpleasant interactions in the past where I was clearly receiving more scrutiny than my travel companions. As an example, once I was in a car with 3 other people (all white) and we were stopped at a border control checkpoint just south of the Canadian border, and I was the only one asked to produce identification (I wasn’t the driver either). The others were like “gosh, why were you the only one who got grilled?” They seriously didn’t have a clue until I explained it to them.

My look kind of makes me a question mark and I notice when people hear me speak they can sort me into the “white” category and move on with their day. I am very aware of this, so I can imagine what it is like for people who are clearly black or brown. White people just don’t even see it so I’m glad some people are starting to get it. Like the PP above who traveled with her work colleague, you get it now and that’s a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it "privilege" to not belong to the demographic that commits 95% of the violent and street crime in DC?

White woman pp here. Please educate yourself on systemic racism and how our society has screwed black Americans over and over again. As a result, I think many have internalized that their black lives don't matter. It's up to us white people to fix the system for them, to improve their lives and make our society better and stronger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it "privilege" to not belong to the demographic that commits 95% of the violent and street crime in DC?

Yes. This is exactly what privilege is. If you were born white in DC, you’re born into privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it "privilege" to not belong to the demographic that commits 95% of the violent and street crime in DC?

Yes. This is exactly what privilege is. If you were born white in DC, you’re born into privilege.

Born white anywhere. You got a decided advantage when you walk in a store when you get in your car when you buy a house when you apply for a loan when you want a promotion when your kid acts up in school when you have a mental illness when etc etc etc list goes on and on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me , my patients trust me more. It probably took me about 6 months into my career before a co-worker was complaining about it. It never occurred to me that those of another race would face difficulty, especially with the elderly population. Now it is something I notice and holy crap it is so prevalent.

I trust Indian doctors more than white doctors. They are more studious and take school more seriously. They are less materialistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it "privilege" to not belong to the demographic that commits 95% of the violent and street crime in DC?

White woman pp here. Please educate yourself on systemic racism and how our society has screwed black Americans over and over again. As a result, I think many have internalized that their black lives don't matter. It's up to us white people to fix the system for them, to improve their lives and make our society better and stronger.

A different white woman here. I would say it's time to fix the system together.

I detest social media most of the time. The one redeeming thing to me has been the opportunity it has presented for the general public to finally hear more voices and experiences of POC. White people hearing the experiences of various POC and POC hearing others who share their experiences of racism and marginalization. Additionally, white people finally learning through modern-day word of mouth about things we should have been taught as children in history class. And, of course, the videos that force us to SEE the injustices against POC. This is revolutionary and so completely overdue.

The other important thing is the increased representation of voices of POC in the arts. The arts are such a powerful way to educate about history and to give people a window into the lives of others. We need to support POC in the arts, so that they can keep spreading important history and perspectives to a wider and wider audience. People will tune out if you lecture them. People may not read that article you send them, but they will watch a movie. They will go to the musical. People are moved by the arts. We have to reach hearts and minds and listen to these stories.

The result of this ongoing reeducation for me is to see that my life is permeated with white privilege. There is nothing nuanced about it. I was just ignorant. Now that I see it, I can't unsee it, and that is good.

[Anonymous]

I realize my white privilege when I can apply zinc sunscreen to my face. It blends in even though it leaves a white cast. My black friend has a tougher time finding natural mineral based sunscreen that blends in with darker skin.

I also have white privilege when I see a historical film or tv show, especially on channels like PBS Masterpiece and the BBC. I know that "Poldark" will not be a television show featuring diverse pole dancers. In order for Disney to be diverse in their character representations, they must break with historical truth. There wouldn't be a black princess in a place like Arandelle (Norway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn’t driving cross country with my kids and, on a long flat stretch in Kansas, I got pulled over doing 90 in a 65 zone. When the cop came to the window, I rummaged around in the pile of coats and garbage on the passenger seat for my wallet and never though once that he could have pulled a gun on me or hauled me out of the car. I got a ticket for going 75 in a 65 and a kind admonishment to pay attention.

Meant to say “was” driving cross country , obviously. Forgot to mention that I was 6 weeks out from a boob job too, so I had some of that big boob privilege going in addition to the white privilege I was born with.

This is a serious reach. Now you’re just looking for ways to flagellate yourself. Big boob privilege? Please.

I disagree. As a black man, I can say that the chances of me being able to aimlessly rummage around a pile of stuff in my car for my wallet without a cop pulling out his weapon would be low.

Ok but how many white women carry guns and shoot cops, and how many black men do? Prejudice comes from generalizations derived from real statistical differences. I don’t think the prejudice will change until the underlying statistical differences begin to change, sadly.

While you were talking about "real statistical differences" that you did not bother to provide or bother to provide a context for, I hope that seared into your brain is the image of the cops buying Dylan Roof a fricking cheeseburger after he slaughtered a roomful of black people in a church.