Comments on: Ask the White Guy on Racism, Bigotry & White Privilege

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:23:12 +0000

I agree with the latter part of your comment, but disagree with you on the concept of “white privilege.” In my opinion, it would be like calling pig farming, “nonbovine,” “equine” or “aviary” farming “with aspects of bacon-like results.” That said, a course called “Power and Privilege” could include religion privilege, gender privilege, heterosexual privilege and other majority-culture privileges that are in our society. But white privilege has driven our culture from the very start. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: John

John — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:08:23 +0000

White privilege is a tired term used two decades ago to shock audiences and have classes bristle with defensive and antagonistic postures. I am so glad that when I was in instructor at the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute for four years 1998-2002, I was able to change their course which was entitled “White Privilege” to “Power and Privilege” which is the more correct way to view privilege. Dr. Carson is correct that people in general have to get out of the victim mentality and strive to achieve. You can ask this white guy who has been in the diversity and EEO profession since 1988 in several high profile organizations and I can tell you that it has changed dramatically for the better. Are there still racists? Sure but they are in the category now and a very distinct minority with other low life individuals who never will change. Your column should maximize the strengths and not marginalize the majority.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:13:47 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me that whites in this country actually believe they’ve suffered “racism” from black people. It is not possible. More likely what has occurred are instances of personal animosity – racism is about power – and 99% of black people are in no position to impose discriminatory practices upon whites – it is always, always the other way around. Whites as a whole are not forced to live in black neighborhoods, shop at black retail establishments, or work with for or with majority black people – but blacks on the other hand – from the moment we leave our homes to the minute we return to them – are. You cannot simply say you’ve been “discriminated” against because you are white because a black person offended you – it is definitely not the same thing. Instittionalized racism & bigotry are economic crimes against humanity – merely being treated “badly” by someone you don’t know, don’t care to know and aren’t likely ever to see again is not the same thing as knowing your black face – not your resume – determines not only your immediate future – but that of your generations as well.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:39:14 +0000

My sentiments are similar to those of the writer above who started out, “White privilege: I get what you are saying yet I have never felt it.” I agree with the idea that there is “white privilege” in America. Yet privilege is always relative and it is each person’s personal experiences that shape her perception of the world. I know a woman who grew up years ago as a blonde haole on one of the smaller islands in Hawaii. She was forced into the role of outsider, which helped to shape who she is today.

There are many people in every ethnic group who have had to struggle for every achievement and many who have been treated less well than they deserve. It is often those people who struggle with the idea of affirmative action. How can we fault people for not understanding something they have never experienced?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:12:13 +0000

Racism and bigotry could be subconscious as well. I am a Hispanic male living in the Los Angeles area who is 6 feet tall, with broad shoulders working as an engineer at a Fortune 100 company. My company has a respect campaign where we are expected to acknowledge each others presence. One example is by greeting people as you pass them in the hall way. Some women who are not originally from Southern California, feel uncomfortable being smiled at by a large Hispanic male who is a stranger. I have seen the same women smile back at blond haired blue eyed men.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:17:53 +0000

I have enjoyed the comments, keep them comming.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:44:03 +0000

I also take issue with the claim that the U.S. is closer to an ideal meritocracy than any country. In a country where slightly more than half of our citizens are women, only 15% of congressional representives are women. Is that because women lack merit? We also have never had a female president, despite the fact that women are the majority population of this country. Many countries have elected female presidents and produce much better gender balance in national political representation. As evidenced by the faces of Fortune 500 CEOs, top Wall Street power brokers, etc., women and people of color are still rarely included in the predominately white male U.S. political and economic power structures. And it’s hard to believe that exclusion is based on lack of merit. Sadly, race, class and gender still trump, or at least challenge, merit in the U.S. Let’s look to other countries/cultures who may be doing better than us in these areas and see what we can learn. We can still have pride in what we do well as Americans and yet learn from others who are doing better than us in some realms.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:06:18 +0000

I think the definitions of racism and bogotry and (although not mentioned here) predjudice, are being mixed up here. Racism is the belief that genetic factors like race are a primary determinant of human capacities and that one race is superior over another; Bigotry is a person’s intolerance toward another race because of their personal opinions and predjudices about that race; Predjudice is a preconceived judgement toward a race without having absolute knowledge that it pertains to all members of the race. These things are all very present in America today. When President Obama was elected, everyone was acting as if that one victory alone would erase racism, bigotry and predjudice forever and that in and of itself, it meant we had finally seen their absence. Not true on any level. I will not make any blanket statements here about any race as if I were an expert. I can only share my own thoughts. I believe more white people are racist than Black people for the sole reason that racism is defined as a “belief that genetics determine human capacities and causes one race to be superior to another”. I say this because I do not personally believe that many Black people believe that genetics “causes a difference” or that their race is “superior” to any other because of this. That’s just my personal opinion. I believe this because, pulling even solely from slavery times, it is evident that some white people have indeed believed this concept. I also believe that there are probably just as many white bigots as there are Black bigots. And I believe all people have predjudices, just different people let their different predjudices drive their actions to different degrees. I don’t think these things have anything to do with being proud to be an American. Americans have backgrounds from all over the world. Nevertheless, we fight amongst ourselves and magnify our differences. It is almost like self hate. We are all American but we hate that we are a melting pot? We are proud to be American in the sense that we all know we enjoy many civil liberties that people from other countries do not enjoy. In despite of that, through racism and bogotry and predudice, we do not embrace what being an American really comes down to. And as a Black woman (and this could absolutely be one of my predjudices but) I believe that white privilege exists and is utilized today as the silent sleeper cell version of the blatant race discrimination of the 60′s and 70′s.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:53:03 +0000

Luke,
Thanks for an insightful analysis, as always, of the discomfort of dominant groupsgroups.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:39:23 +0000

How to have this healing, national conversation on race? I agree with others that it is warranted, if not an essential first step toward reconciliation. White privilege, going back to the beginning of unseating the Native Americans, is the result of violence, death, oppression, lies, and deceit. Why – I could hardly blame those who feel the first step in the conversation is to PROVE their points of discrimination, to punch back with logic, proof, and exercises to reveal injustice. While I agree such content is meaningful, I believe our reconciliation must first start with deep understanding of and feeling for our oneness and what we have in common. There’s my two cents on an early step in the process – for those who take the action to having these conversations in your schools, religious organizations, or businessess.