The Problem With “White Privilege”
First and foremost I would like to acknowledge the horrific treatment of George Floyd and countless African-American/Canadians, who experience unjustified prejudice because of the color of their skin. There is no justification for these acts, and the mission of the police is and always should be to “serve and protect”. As the body who is charged with enforcing the law they are required to thereby exemplify it in all aspects, so for any law abiding citizen to feel threatened by their presence is a testament for reformation.
I believe in equal rights and freedom of expression for all people on all topics. But for some it might be good to know that this article consists of my thoughts and ignored facts that I see as a POC.
The term “White Privilege” as we interpret it today emerged after 1964, the year that the Civil Rights act was passed outlawing discrimination based on race. Before white privilege was contributed to the legal fact that “whites” were favored over other American citizens, but once this new legislature passed it was used to describe the mentality of white Americans to favor and protect their own people. It should go without saying that this mentality it wrong, however, based on the current developments within our society you can’t be too careful. Still now, “White privilege” has taken on a new meaning to also include historical elements as well. The disparity in living conditions across the U.S and Canada statistically shows that African-American/Canadian’s dominate in low income housing, and the lack of representation at the upper levels of government and the economy reflects this as well. Many black members of our society have pointed out that they have transitioned into the 21st century well behind the starting line.
I would like to provide an overview of certain elements that are not necessarily my thoughts on the matter, but are facts that I believe should be considered for a holistic perspective.
From the ancient Egyptians to the Romans and British empire, history is packed full of one people or empire conquering another. Unfortunately, human history has had one consistent theme, the desire of a people to subject another for their own benefit. The Egyptians enslaved the Hebrew people for over 200 years, along with slaves being taken by the Roman’s from every nation they conquered. It can be pointed out that the African people who were taken as slaves by the British to America is no unique atrocity, and thereby to blame and require accountability from “white” people is unfair. History also shows that when a group of people were oppressed by another, any resolution required either generations of gradual integration or complete separation. African-American voluntary assimilation into the American culture is a first in human history, so understandably there are lots of things that need to be worked out. Even so, the civil rights act that passed in 1964 was barely a full generation ago, meaning that there has not been enough time to fully weed out the old mentality. This brings up the question of whether or not it is right for African-Americans to assimilate into “white’ society, if so, what importance is placed on their history and culture? North America is touted as a cultural melting pot, where people of different backgrounds, beliefs and ideas can come together and are stronger because of their diversity. The obvious question is, stronger in regards to what? Diverse opinions is a foundation for strength only if there is a common goal. Society today has lost its drive for cooperation, and instead looks to further individual pursuits and ideals.
There is not a single person in the world today, who is not where they are at because of their ancestors. Our recent history still has terrible things that have been done to the black community in North America by “white” people. But for many, the ones alive today do not share the same beliefs and perspectives as those before, so what is the justification in punishing the child for the sins of the parent? It is an awful and unfair situation for the black community, but just because society and technology follows Moore’s law doesn’t mean people do. Not waiting for generational change to occur and seeking swift action to a human problem comes with risks, ones that threaten the longevity and sustainability of the movement.
I recently saw a post that said “this movement cannot take root until it is no longer a black problem, but a white one as well”. This is completely true and a necessity to which I applaud. Therefore I see an issue with the term “White Privilege”, which by its nature looks to point blame at one group of people based on the color of their skin. Blame that is not just dependent on the individual’s actions but placed in tandem with their ancestor’s acts, for which they have no control over. Furthermore, there has developed a micro culture within the BLM movement which takes the stance of, “if you are white, you can’t comment or have an opinion of the struggles of black people unless you agree with them”. Because of the fundamental truth that all people are created equal, and the desire of the BLM movement to see true equality, this is a counter productive stance which prohibits some “white” people from joining in on the movement and helping.
From what I can see, as well as my experience, we have come to a point in history where the emotional and mental health of the individual is deemed as important as physical health. This is a simplification, but the issue at hand is not dissimilar to the toxic high school “clique”, with “black” people on the outside and getting bullied by those within. There are no rules in high school to separate students, but nonetheless some are deemed “outsiders” through perception. There is no doubt that this type of toxic culture must end, but bring that scenario to the real world, how do we invoke legislature to address a mentality? Should we create laws that govern thought? Throughout history we have never encountered this situation before, so is it possible to introduce measures that allow us to skip the generational time frame?
My only desire to fully understand the elements of this complex problem. With the most challenging aspect being how deep and emotionally damaging this issue is for those affected. We must find a way forward, and as hard as it will be, it cannot be guided by emotion alone and will require all people involved to rise above themselves to help. It is my perspective that the term “White Privilege” alienates a group a people who are needed to resolve this problem. Where instead of attracting strong allies, it requires “white” people to subject themselves to guilt or to simply follow along. There is no truer endeavor than one that looks to raise people up, but I worry this term lifts one people up while putting another down.
I would appreciate any of your perspectives on the matter, please comment below if you think there is something I haven’t considered, if you have a counter point or what you agree with.
Stay safe, get involved, and seek to effect change.
Louis.