faceless007
Member
It's long, but Ta-Nehisi Coates's Atlantic article on the subject is a must-read exploration of this idea.
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Tagg Romney: Example of White Privilege?
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It's long, but Ta-Nehisi Coates's Atlantic article on the subject is a must-read exploration of this idea.
Deified Data
Banned
I'd be a little more open to the argument if it could be proven that Tagg's statement is largely being ignored solely because of the color of his skin. It's more complicated than that. "White privelege" is a likely factor in that, but it's hardly the most important one.
It's not about White guilt. It's just about considering the differences Blacks and Whites have in our country.
There's a reason Blacks have a hard time in America in comparison to Whites, it sure as fuck doesn't have to do with them not trying.
Yeah, some of the reactions in this thread are showcasing a real lack of reading comprehension. Or maybe the words "white privilege" are triggering a leap to assumptions without bothering to read fully? I dunno.
I give you everything but this. I was in Brazil and got robbed by two white guys in hoodies. I wear a hoodie, and every time I put that hood on I feel like I must look suspicious. It's just a suspicious piece of clothing to me now, man. Which is my way of saying that I don't care WHO is wearing a hoodie, they all look suspicious to me now. You could put freaking, I dunno, Mickey Roonie in a hoodie in a dark alley and I would sweat bullets.
That said there's probably a statistic which does show that blacks and mexicans wearing hoodies are more likely to get stopped by police than whites or something, backing up your point.
Oh Ok, so you can love black people, but do shitty and terrible things to them without realizing, and that makes you not racist.
Sounds almost similar to a "but ive got ____ friends" argument.
Edit: So this thread is now about things that are not newsworthy being labeled as white privilege to desperately attempt to make this stupid shit newsworthy?
And yet in this case, common sense prevails, fuuuuck me.
Deified Data
Banned
We'll see. If they pass this up, it'll likely be due to continued debate coverage. That or they're simply not trying.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
Tagg Romney says violent thing because he can. Barack Obama can't get angry during debates because he'd scare people. Neither situation is about racism but rather privileges one has due to their race. Hillary Clinton had a similar problem in 2008 about being loud and angry because then people start with gendered insults.
MWS Natural
Member
What stood out to me the most. He's basically saying the only thing keeping him from jumping on stage and assaulting the President of the United States is the Secret Service.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
I can't make sense of this weird string of defensive posts you have been making in this thread. Why does acknowledging privilege make you so angry?
DanteFox
Member
...which is due to racism.
Count Dookkake
Member
It's kinda funny because this perfectly reflects the hilariously stupid belief held by many religious people that atheists should be just running around raping and murdering since they have no god to keep score.
I'm talking America here.
In America, a Black and White dude are walking on different sides of the street at 3am. Who looks more guilty? That's White privilege. All things being the same, the Black dude looks more guilty. He very well could be. He might have a gun, or just got done killing somebody. Or, he might be walking about from campus. Who knows, but society makes a snap judgement and if you have to choose a sidewalk, society would rather walk near the White guy.
Now in Brazil? I don't know enough about Brazil. I just know we can all agree up dat azz in that general vicinity.
empty vessel
Member
To all people: the article does not ascribe racist motivations to Tagg. It is not about what motivated Tagg to make the comment at all. It is about how society reacts under the circumstances.
Devolution
Member
There's a solid difference between explaining the privileges people have and claiming they are racist just because they indeed have them. Much of this thread cannot make the distinction which is why race threads on GAF are always a clusterfuck.
Hmm. Well that does seem like it's likely true that if it were a black guy saying it they'd jump on it, and it does seem to be an example of white privilege in this country... But I'm not particularly sure what the point of pointing it out right here is. It's a fine example, but not really anything we can do anything about. And there really is nothing we necessarily should do. The comment was in poor taste but the problem pointed out isn't really Tagg's fault.
That's likely what stopped a lot of people from getting at Bush too.
Except the shoe guy...
It boils down to this.
So this thread is now about things that are not newsworthy being labeled as white privilege to desperately attempt to make this stupid shit newsworthy?
Indrid Cold1
Member
The same society that elected a black man head of state & commander in chief.
Why the hell would stating you want to punch the 'PRESIDENT' of the goddamn United States in the face be bad? The author doesn't even go into if Tagg is racist or not. He couldn't prove it with that statement and he doesn't try to. But you guys don't see a problem with him wanting to punch the president in the face, stating it on live television and media coverage goes 'hah, yeah'?
Okay, I'm done.
It's pointed out to make an example and start a discussion that's it. Taking the opportunity to point out a moment of privilege might help a few people understand what privilege is, as evidenced is this thread shows a lacking of understanding.
See the past four years of not even hidden racism in reaction to that. See the past four years of issues the Black community still has to deal with.
Voting BO in just means a step in the right direction, kinda, in terms of it even being possible. Or, that he was a better candidate than McCain and his race didn't factor into it. But his getting elected doesn't mean the problem is gone.
starchild excalibur
Member
Not sure I totally agree with the article and some of its characterizations of the people within it.
As a minority, I feel that it's much more of a faux-pas in today's society to be a white person talking ill about a person of color than the other way around. Some of the stereotypes and labels people can and do apply to white people get laughed off while the opposite remains untrue (at least outside of 4chan). Am I saying that there aren't many, many circles where people can and do easily talk bad about minorities without repercussion? No. I'm just saying that in many parts of the public sphere, it feels that there is more walking-on-eggshells when it comes to saying disparaging things about minorities than minorities saying disparaging things about a majority.
Tagg's response was without tact, but at least honest. If a relative of Obama would have said something similar, I agree that some people would be labeling them a violent black person but I'm pretty sure most of those people would be doing so because they were already prejudiced.
As a minority, I feel that it's much more of a faux-pas in today's society to be a white person talking ill about a person of color than the other way around. Some of the stereotypes and labels people can and do apply to white people get laughed off while the opposite remains untrue (at least outside of 4chan). Am I saying that there aren't many, many circles where people can and do easily talk bad about minorities without repercussion? No. I'm just saying that in many parts of the public sphere, it feels that there is more walking-on-eggshells when it comes to saying disparaging things about minorities than minorities saying disparaging things about a majority.
Tagg's response was without tact, but at least honest. If a relative of Obama would have said something similar, I agree that some people would be labeling them a violent black person but I'm pretty sure most of those people would be doing so because they were already prejudiced.
LegendofJoe
Member
I definitely think that sort of thing happens, but it doesn't explain the deep seated fear of predominately black neighborhoods I've seen from some people. They literally think that there is a high risk of being robbed every time they walk through a predominately black neighborhood on their way to a metro or bus stop. I've seen some people even refuse to shop at older shopping strips because they're too ghetto i.e. too many black people shop there. It's even crazier when you consider the fact that some of those strips have several of the same stores they normally shop at. I put on the face_palm expression whenever I hear something like that.
Awesome, I will definitely give this a read when I get home from work.
DanteFox
Member
I never said Tagg was racist. My point is that saying they have "white privilege" while simultaneously saying it has nothing to do with racism doesn't make sense, since the causes of these privileges are racist to begin with.
The reason why race threads on GAF are always a clusterfuck is that the only accepted opinion is that white people have White Privilege.
Any other opinion and you get called a racist. That is not conducive to debate.
empty vessel
Member
Is this an argument or just a statement of fact?
MWS Natural
Member
Wow...people are still saying this? As if it hasn't been mocked enough.
He does hold both privileges for sure, but I'd say Obama's status as President of the United States of America is a bit higher than his as rich asshole.
Well there's only one correct opinion in this case, so that should be the only one that is accepted.
cubicle47b
Member
Yes, that one.
Lol that is racism.
DanteFox
Member
It's the same type of argument many are using for their own point in this very thread. i.e. because something racist happened once, that means that Obama's hypothetical son would have been all over the media.
When its your dad running against him, excuse me if I can pick up on a little tongue-in-cheek, comment.
Would I have a problem if the races of the parties were reversed?? No, because there is other context to the story.
Should it change your opinion of a person who was born with a silver platter in front of them? idk thats up to you, doesnt change mine though.
I reflected upon this and then decided he wants to make a clever point about race and then completely botches the whole thing. In fact I would say if he were Black people still wouldn't care but for very different reasons:
In general I think most people to expect a Black person to be more likely to make threats. We see this all the time in various media. It would be less surprising.
I'd also expect the Antoine Dodson "Black people say crazy shit" effect to take over.
I'd also expect from World Star Hip Hop that people might find the idea amusing.
So really I'd say people would expect less from a Black person and therefore the outcome is the same. There would be race bias, the author just has no idea how to make a point.
A much more interesting hypothetical scenario in my opinion would be to imagine Barack Obama as a woman to illustrate male privilege.
In general I think most people to expect a Black person to be more likely to make threats. We see this all the time in various media. It would be less surprising.
I'd also expect the Antoine Dodson "Black people say crazy shit" effect to take over.
I'd also expect from World Star Hip Hop that people might find the idea amusing.
So really I'd say people would expect less from a Black person and therefore the outcome is the same. There would be race bias, the author just has no idea how to make a point.
A much more interesting hypothetical scenario in my opinion would be to imagine Barack Obama as a woman to illustrate male privilege.
killdatninja
Banned
Nobody is saying the Romney is racist or said something racist. The article just mentions how it was perceived and how he didn't even hesitate anything he said about it.
White person on black person: I would have punched him!
Response: Oh you silly white person.. you would never.
White person on white person: I would have punched him!
Response: Lol you guys are dum.
Black person on white person: I would have punched him!
Response: News @ 11, black person threatens to punch a promising candidate! Real or just horseplay?
Black person on white person (realizing his response might be twisted changes his joke): We'll find out who's the king after we play fair game of chess!
White person on black person: I would have punched him!
Response: Oh you silly white person.. you would never.
White person on white person: I would have punched him!
Response: Lol you guys are dum.
Black person on white person: I would have punched him!
Response: News @ 11, black person threatens to punch a promising candidate! Real or just horseplay?
Black person on white person (realizing his response might be twisted changes his joke): We'll find out who's the king after we play fair game of chess!
D
Deleted member 20415
Unconfirmed Member
Most privileged people are white, not all white people are privileged.
Can we at least unlink the racial overtones in the original article and move past that? A man that is obscenely wealthy through no direct action of his own threatened the President and he's getting a pass so far. That's shitty.
That said, you can't Google search for headlines and when you don't see what you want to see make some base claim that there is no one in society condemning him.
Can we at least unlink the racial overtones in the original article and move past that? A man that is obscenely wealthy through no direct action of his own threatened the President and he's getting a pass so far. That's shitty.
That said, you can't Google search for headlines and when you don't see what you want to see make some base claim that there is no one in society condemning him.
Deified Data
Banned
I don't think anyone's arguing whether white privelege is rooted in racism. That much is abudantly clear. What people seem to be asking is how is this racism tied to Tagg Romney, personally? Does it make you racist for taking advantage of white privelege, even though he couldn't help where he was born?
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
Yes, this is the discussion.
DanteFox
Member
The point is, that in this case, there is no white privilege being exercised. Does that mean that white privilege doesn't exist? No. But to call this an example of white privilege is ridiculous imo.
If they're all wearing black hoodies I will think all three of them are on different sides of the street so they can fan out and make certain I don't escape the other way. If it's 3 AM and I saw 3 guys in hoodies on different sides of the street I'd probably wet myself. You couldn't get me near any one of those guys. And if one's in the middle of the road I know for sure I'm frakked.
My point in bringing up Brazil was just to explain why I don't like going near people in hoodies at night anymore. Because when those two guys came around the corner in their hoodies on their bikes, before I saw their faces or their guns I already knew there was trouble coming, and now if it were to happen again I would probably die of fear, because two guys coming at me in hoodies is scary, independent of race.
It may well be that people choose to walk on one side of the street or another based on race, but people in hoodies at 3 AM are scary as hell.
ThisWreckage
Banned
Exactly. Is there another poster on this forum that has a more clear cut agenda? I think not.
I dont think the article is remotely labelling Tagg as racist. Its referring to the racism in how media and public react differently depending on race with such things and white privilege being one of the reasons why.
I am sorry, but what does "taking advantage of white privilege" even mean?
That's more like "Republican Privilege", now "White Privilege".
It isn't -- nor does the article claim it is. It's merely about the corrosive nature of privilege in the mass media.
Deified Data
Banned
"Existing while white" is a blunt way to put it.
I agree that privelege is at the heart of the issue, but disagree as to the nature of that privelege.
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