I think real white privilege ended about a decade or two ago. At least it seems to have in Canada.
You are correct that "white privilege" is an inherently racist term. If someone is white it devalues anything earned through hard work, intelligence and perseverance.
It is also damaging to those of darker skin color who use it because if they don't succeed they can always shirk any personal responsibility and just blame white privileged. People who don't take personal responsibility for their decisions and actions tend to continue to make the same mistakes over and over.
Finally, I am glad you mentioned economic privilege. Why is it that certain banks and the people running them have the privilege to loan money into existence while the rest of us in the peon class do not? Inquiring minds want to know.
Yeah, it's a dead horse. Racial quotas and affirmative action in the states put an end to it. I understand that you can have great grades and perfect SAT scores but if you're white, most good universities won't accept you until their non-white racial quotas are filled. It's unfair if you're white, but it's also a bit of payback, a "sins of the father shall be visited upon the sons" sort of thing. It'll even out over time. All of us need to grow up a bit and stop this stupid racial bias crap, especially those in charge. Peoples is peoples. We're all "useless eaters." Ha ha ha.
well put. but i cant help but be the devils advocate here and take the very specific topic of college applications and ask about the underprivileged who work two jobs after school and on weekends to help feed the family instead of all those expensive extra curricular activities that are basically required to "prove" your well-roundedness as a teenager. affirmative action is great in theory, but how do you make ANY exclusive practice fair? i like to call myself an equal opportunity racist - everyones got some issue or another, LOL. peoples is peoples!! :D
Well put. We are all tribal by nature. I prefer living in mixed race communities but find, quite often, that my whiteness is a liability. I've also lived in totally white areas and have never felt challenged because of my color. I guess this is a form of white privilege.
The whole educational system is broken I fear. In the old days you got a basic education, got a job and the company that employed you was responsible for your training. With the ascent of corporate power, that expense is now outsourced to the students themselves, burdening them with untenable debt that will take their entire careers to pay off. The system wants you borrow your way through college, not work.
And, quite frankly, the most successful people I know are those who dropped out of high school and went to work, either in the trades or as entrepreneurs.
which segues nicely into another topic I was talking to @nutinbutdatruth about. We gave up "professional" 9 - 5 jobs, salaries, 401ks and pension plans to pursue life out here in California. This idea of cobbling a few part time jobs and passions together to do what you love and still pay the bills is a fairly new concept to us. Back east, its pretty much unaccepted. And unfortunately, I think we owe it all to social media. As much as I hate it, I have to play the game if I want to succeed as an entreprenuer and those high school drop are already ahead of me by NOT having college debt thatll take me 40 years to pay off.
I also had a corporate job with a car, gas credit card, pension, health, dental, stock options, etc. etc. Worst period in my entire life. I quit when they offered me a management position in another city for triple my salary as if I were their property or their prostitute! That pointless job was an aberration in my life and I never went down that path again!
I also grew weed for a time. So much fun and I felt like I was doing something positive. Quit when it became legal and less lucrative. Glad to hear that you've emancipated yourselves.
yeah, we got into the farming game 10 years too late, but Im still grateful for the learning opportunities. i think theres still some money to make in the industry over the next few years but not in growing. as with any new venture, youve got to have money to make money and with the current president its still very risky. we'll see how this emancipation works out for us! i do miss paid vacations and the 401k benefits but thats about it.