Re: Tim Wise - The Pathology of White Privilege
Reply #6 - June 06, 2010, 06:35 PM
Its actually interesting watching that as a white man and being honestly aware of my thoughts as im watching it. I have only watched the first one but as I was watching it I found myself getting a bit pissed off with him and a lot of his assumptions. Im not going to argue that some of this will not come from the comfort of the 'bestowed privilidge' by virtue of my being born white. I think I am one of the least concsciously racist people around. I say concsiously becuase I think subconsciously we are all a little bit racist( Copyright Avenue Q ) in as much as whether we know it or not we make decisions or asumptions based on race as well as other factors, dress, demeanour , accents , etc etc
He is of course spot on with a lot of his observations , or as he pointed out the observations of brown and black people whose voices he was a mere white ventrilquist for, but I found myself getting pissed off and tried to be a spectator in my own brain to work out why. My conclusion is that I dont go for the whole collective white guilt trip. In fact I think its racist to think I should or that Im racist becuase I dont.
Im quite clear in my own mind that while history stands stark on the issues and anyone who argues against it is obviously in racist -denial , I am not responsible for acts of the past or the present by people of a similar hue to myself. Yes its true I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy certain benefits by virtue of having been born with a lack of pigmentation in this country but I didnt pray to some god as a tiny wee racist sperm to please let me be born white. So im fucked if Im going to be wailing and lashing myself becuase of something I had no choice over. I will live and be judged by my own principles, beliefs and behaviour.
I also dislike any debate on race that starts from Big Bad Whitey Vs People of Colour. As if it were the case that if Whitey dissapeared tomorrow the planet would be a racially harmonious paradise. Bollocks, there would be some other mob wanting to stand up and claim themselves the purest of races or some shite. The debate on race will only progress if it is approached with honesty of all those taking part in it and that would include recognition of human foibles as well as an inherent disposition to some form of elitism or superiority ( usually through successful war outccomes ) based on tribal or racial lines by any race. By recognising that and being vigilant against it we can at least minimalise its malevolent by-products.
I'll say it loud ! Im white and........ I burn a lot easier than brown people and its not as easy to hide blemishes or bruises.
According to the polls only 1.6 % of Americans are athiests. So what gives you the right to call the other 80% morons?'
Topic: Tim Wise - The Pathology of White Privilege