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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Me too, and not just Indian doctors but the first doctor who told me things about a health issue I had that other doctors hadn't caused a definite shift in my thinking. This came back to bite me when I had cellulitis due to MRSA, something that recurred at least 1x a year for about 10 years (3 years free, knock wood), went to urgent care, ME doctor (fantastically handsome and wearing VERY designer suit and shirt, my temp was 102 and my BP was 90/40 so I was in a daze between his good looks and my illness) prescribed an antibiotic that had never been considered during my previous episodes. Looked up some thing when I got home and the drug was from absolutely the wrong class of antibiotics for MRSA so I went back the next day sicker to get the right one.

[Anonymous]

Being white, female, and attractive gives you special treatment everywhere whether you want it or not.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only white woman here who has followed around by security in stores? I look poor. I assume that’s why they do it.

[Anonymous]

Been followed *

[Anonymous]

Thank you Fenty Beauty! I wonder if white women realize how much the cosmetic industry has catered almost solely to their needs and interests up until relatively recently. When I was a teenager, my Mom would drive me to far-flung-malls to find Fashion Fair makeup -- the only line that came even close to matching my skin tone. And no, paying for two bottles of foundation to mix them at home isn't "almost the same". While I truly appreciate Fashion Fair and Iman, it was not until Fenty Beauty -- a couple of years ago -- that I could walk into a store and buy foundation that matches my skin.

Bandaids, ballet shoes and tights, pantyhose, "nude" bras and panties.....I'm glad that it's finally getting better now.

[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.

Also agree. Black crime is the root of the problem with the black community is viewed and treated by police and a lot of the prejudices black people feel
from others of different races.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only white woman here who has followed around by security in stores? I look poor. I assume that’s why they do it.

Yes, a few times, I think I was also profiled as a potential drug mule once when I was returning to the US (young raggedy white woman, traveling alone, no clear means of financial support). But, each of those incidents stand out in my mind because they were unusual.

[Anonymous]

Surprisingly tv sitcoms like "Friends" and "Seinfeld" were set it NYC. Yet the cast never had any black or Hispanic friends. Ever. Not even a token black or Hispanic date, since they were all single. They did have a lesbian couple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a person of color, I see white privilege as an overall "benefit of the doubt." We can all be subject to generic a-holes who would cause issues for anyone. However, as a person of color, you know that in any situation where there is the possibility of things going awry, we are not going to get the benefit of the doubt. People assume that we steal. People assume that we are violent. People assume that we are dumb. And as a result, we start behind the 8-ball. White privilege doesn't mean that bad or annoying or unfair situations don't happen to white people. It just means that it will not be because of your race. You don't have to move through this world wondering when your race will be the reason for whatever issue is happening to you. And because some white people have such a visceral reaction to blacks, that "issue" can cost you your life.

This a great summation.

[Anonymous]

[quote/]Also agree. Black crime is the root of the problem with the black community is viewed and treated by police and a lot of the prejudices black people feel from others of different races.

If black crime is the root cause of racism, then what is the root cause of sexism? Is it caused by other women who are pornstars, exotic dancers, sex workers, or those who choose to use their sexuality in a transactional way? All women are then looked on as using their sexuality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a person of color, I see white privilege as an overall "benefit of the doubt." We can all be subject to generic a-holes who would cause issues for anyone. However, as a person of color, you know that in any situation where there is the possibility of things going awry, we are not going to get the benefit of the doubt. People assume that we steal. People assume that we are violent. People assume that we are dumb. And as a result, we start behind the 8-ball. White privilege doesn't mean that bad or annoying or unfair situations don't happen to white people. It just means that it will not be because of your race. You don't have to move through this world wondering when your race will be the reason for whatever issue is happening to you. And because some white people have such a visceral reaction to blacks, that "issue" can cost you your life.

This a great summation.

+1
This is central to the concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a person of color, I see white privilege as an overall "benefit of the doubt." We can all be subject to generic a-holes who would cause issues for anyone. However, as a person of color, you know that in any situation where there is the possibility of things going awry, we are not going to get the benefit of the doubt. People assume that we steal. People assume that we are violent. People assume that we are dumb. And as a result, we start behind the 8-ball. White privilege doesn't mean that bad or annoying or unfair situations don't happen to white people. It just means that it will not be because of your race. You don't have to move through this world wondering when your race will be the reason for whatever issue is happening to you. And because some white people have such a visceral reaction to blacks, that "issue" can cost you your life.

This a great summation.

As an intelligent white woman, I know blacks are not violent or dumb. However, you don't always start behind the 8 ball. You sometimes have a chip on your shoulder, an attitude, that shows very clearly that YOU think I am a racist. You think that people think you're violent and dumb, and you LOOK for affirmation of your beliefs in every interaction and every word.

I do think as a young black woman, you most likely weren't mentored professionally by an older white man. And older white men have a lot of knowledge to share. That doesn't make you dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Also agree. Black crime is the root of the problem with the black community is viewed and treated by police and a lot of the prejudices black people feel
from others of different races.

So it’s okay to judge all Blacks as criminals because of crime by some Blacks in poor communities, but it’s not okay to judge all whites as racists despite 400 years of slavery and systemic oppression coupled with countless racist incidents and racist commentary by some whites nationwide.

That’s jive f&cked up don’t you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a person of color, I see white privilege as an overall "benefit of the doubt." We can all be subject to generic a-holes who would cause issues for anyone. However, as a person of color, you know that in any situation where there is the possibility of things going awry, we are not going to get the benefit of the doubt. People assume that we steal. People assume that we are violent. People assume that we are dumb. And as a result, we start behind the 8-ball. White privilege doesn't mean that bad or annoying or unfair situations don't happen to white people. It just means that it will not be because of your race. You don't have to move through this world wondering when your race will be the reason for whatever issue is happening to you. And because some white people have such a visceral reaction to blacks, that "issue" can cost you your life.

This a great summation.

As an intelligent white woman, I know blacks are not violent or dumb. However, you don't always start behind the 8 ball. You sometimes have a chip on your shoulder, an attitude, that shows very clearly that YOU think I am a racist. You think that people think you're violent and dumb, and you LOOK for affirmation of your beliefs in every interaction and every word.

I do think as a young black woman, you most likely weren't mentored professionally by an older white man. And older white men have a lot of knowledge to share. That doesn't make you dumb.

WTF? I wasn't mentored by an older white man, either. What does that have to do with anything?

You are not getting what the PP is saying about starting behind the 8-ball at all. It's not just about the kinds of things a white person would assume starting behind the 8-ball means, such as growing up poor. It's about the assumptions people make solely based on skin color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a person of color, I see white privilege as an overall "benefit of the doubt." We can all be subject to generic a-holes who would cause issues for anyone. However, as a person of color, you know that in any situation where there is the possibility of things going awry, we are not going to get the benefit of the doubt. People assume that we steal. People assume that we are violent. People assume that we are dumb. And as a result, we start behind the 8-ball. White privilege doesn't mean that bad or annoying or unfair situations don't happen to white people. It just means that it will not be because of your race. You don't have to move through this world wondering when your race will be the reason for whatever issue is happening to you. And because some white people have such a visceral reaction to blacks, that "issue" can cost you your life.

This a great summation.

As an intelligent white woman, I know blacks are not violent or dumb. However, you don't always start behind the 8 ball. You sometimes have a chip on your shoulder, an attitude, that shows very clearly that YOU think I am a racist. You think that people think you're violent and dumb, and you LOOK for affirmation of your beliefs in every interaction and every word.

I do think as a young black woman, you most likely weren't mentored professionally by an older white man. And older white men have a lot of knowledge to share. That doesn't make you dumb.

You’re not intelligent. And nice try advocating for young female minorities to have a creepy old white male mentor. Obviously, it would be better if they were mentored by an older, non-racist minority or white woman, but it’s telling you didn’t think of that.