BlogHer - Racism and the race: What's white privilege got to do with it? - Comments

Thanks again, and a correction

Jill.Lorraine — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:55:35 -0500

Thanks again, Maria. I misspelled Toni Morrison's name, and want to note that, it's Toni with an "i", not "y". :)

Thank you for your commitment

Maria Niles — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:10:47 -0500

to anti racism and I am very happy I was able to provide some useful information and insight.

Thank you so much for your comments.

For Nordette, Giselle, and Maria

Jill.Lorraine — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:23:53 -0500

And in thanks to everyone else for this blog...

Nordette, first, I want to thank you for your
clarity and honesty. Your comments shed light on wounds that are still deep,
that still need to be recognized and validated, because they are valid. Sugar
coating is not the way to that. If a satire is painful and offensive to many,
it is painful and offensive, period. It is certainly painful,
offensive, and saddening to me. I try to image what others
think and feel, even very conservative Republicans. I come from a very
conservative family, and I am very liberal. To me, intelligent, conservative
political satire of Obama may show him as parting the Rio
Grande like the Red Sea, or the
like. What Whitlock and DeMoss have offered as satire has so many racial
smacks, it is impossible to honestly name it anything other than racist.

Giselle, I thank you, because you shed light on
what still needs to be worked on, for all of us. I have a few things to say
about where you're coming from. It is possible the makers of the waffle box
truly thought they were not being racist. I'd call that denial, deep denial, if
they believed that. I think most comments here express doubt. Generally, it
goes like this: "Will people see it as racist?" "Maybe."
"But we didn't MEAN IT THAT WAY." It is a common default of what I
call silent segregation, or silent racism. I think your comments here touched
wounds, unintentionally. I want to offer some advise, in hopes of being
helpful. In reference to "uppity": the word has history, and touches
wounds. I liken it to something I've done or said referred to as
"emotional", "hysterical", or "illogical", common
destructive criticisms toward women. I would be offended, and offended by
anyone trying to justify it. I would be offended if these labels were pinned on
a woman I admired as well. Having to clarify my feelings of being offended
takes my time and energy, and I'd rather spend my energy on other things. I'd
rather be understood and respected. Political correctness has become synonymous
with oppressing ideas. Instead, choosing our words and actions thoughtfully, carefully,
in order to facilitate healing rather than injury, should always be considered
in these matters. My advise is: put yourself in another’s shoes, not for a
minute, but for days, for months. Read Tony Morrison’s “Beloved”, and image it
was about your family. Talk to African Americans about what they and their
families have gone through, or go through. These are really the stories of all
of us, throughout all human history, that is what we are missing.

And Maria, thank you so much for your
thoughtfulness, information, and insight. It is so important to us all. You've
given me the opportunity to think even more deeply about self sacrifice and
social change. If I were able to trade everything I have to end racism, sexism,
all the isms, I'd give my life, in a heartbeat. I'm certainly dedicating my
life to it, speaking out, even if my voice shakes!

Whispering & wedges

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:03:40 -0500

The use of the word uppity in what increasingly appears to be an intentionally coordinated whisper campaign is sad and, as you say, embarrassing.

Conversations are crucial

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:00:19 -0500

And I so appreciate everyone who is making an effort to educate themselves and engage in discussions. This is indeed how we will make progress towards a better future.

Thank you, GreyDay

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:55:26 -0500

I appreciate your kind words and look forward to your further thoughts.

Spot on analysis, Deb

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:54:38 -0500

I think you understand and explain the game brilliantly. Thanks for weighing in.

Passing on the history

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:53:17 -0500

It is important that we talk with the young people in our lives and share history with them so they can understand the world around them.

Come back and share your thoughts

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:50:28 -0500

I hope you will post or cross post your thoughts when you write them up.

Thanks for your comments and kind words.

Giving up privilege is hard!

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:47:51 -0500

It pains me that I receive white privilege that my sisters and other family do not. But, dang, if it doesn't make life easier. ;) I understand why many don't want to recognize whatever their privilege might be and come up with ways to rationalize it ("history") and hold on to it.

Kim

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:43:36 -0500

feel free to speak for me anytime ;)

Thank you, Giselle

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:39:10 -0500

I'm sorry I was unable to respond to your comments sooner. I appreciate your comments and thoughts - especially given that your viewpoint is a bit different from many here.

A couple of thoughts on your hypothesis:

I prefer to accept the statement of Whitlock and DeMoss that they were aiming for political satire. Why on earth would they have deliberately created a product that would undermine their political credibility, and that would fail to make money for them?

One of the creators (I'm sorry I can't find the link where I read this information) worked for Focus on the Family for ten years prior. Focus on the Family was one of the VVS sponsors. Thus, the box sellers might have had reason to think that their box would be welcome in that venue. Also, sales were not stopped until several days had passed and the conference was almost over and negative press started happening.

Also, as you note, the outcry has been priceless advertising and they have set up sales at their website and blog which have no doubt been helped by all the free publicity (which I will not add to with links).

Intentionally creating controversy in order to generate free publicity is also a well-worn tactic particularly in political advertising.

You are right to suggest that perhaps the creation is as innocent as they claim and that the parody of Aunt Jemimah is an homage to a trusted brand.

However, given that the homage is in service of a political attack, the multiple other racial caricatures featured on the box and the clear intent of the creators (from their site & blog) to gin up controversy and make money from it - I personally cannot accept their facile and superficial denials of racist intent.

Regarding another part of your comment:

If blacks insist on always attaching, in their minds, the rest of a deplorable "uppity" phrase, they can never themselves move beyond racism. And they will never see that others have, and will.

Your view is a matter of privilege. We cannot move past perceptions of race when we are not allowed to and are put in a position of being reminded of our race and non-whiteness on a regular basis. Whiteness gives one the luxury of not having to think about their race nor being made aware of it. I know this because I have white skin that dictates how I am treated by those who do not know or understand my racial identity. Racism is real and still exists. Pretending that it no longer does is not how we will move past racism.

Thank you, Laurie

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:18:25 -0500

For the link to Pam's House Blend and for this:

But it really comes down to being challenged to treat people better and with respect - no matter who or what or how they are - and whatever we can do with our singular lives to make things better or at least more open is worth it, I think.

Thank you, Nordette

Maria Niles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:14:02 -0500

I appreciate your kind words and continued support. Thank you as well for adding your links and, as always, thoughtful commentary and context.

Thank you, Shelley.

Nordette — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:32:41 -0500

And thanks again to Maria for writing such a provocative and educational post to set off this discussion.

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link. Most recent BlogHer post at time of this comment, "Hurricane Season: Peace after Revolution."

Racism and the race: What's white privilege got to do with it?

Maria Niles — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:15:37 -0500

The latest injection of racism into the 2008 presidential campaign comes in the form of a box of waffle mix. The box created by "Mark Whitlock and Bob DeMoss, two writers from Franklin, Tenn." depicts Barack Obama variously as an "Aunt Jemima" type character, as "wearing Arab-like headdress," and

On the back of the box, Obama is depicted in stereotypical Mexican dress, including a sombrero, above a recipe for ''Open Border Fiesta Waffles'' that says it can serve ''4 or more illegal aliens.'' The recipe includes a tip: ''While waiting for these zesty treats to invade your home, why not learn a foreign language?'

The novelty item also takes shots at 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, Obama's wife, Michelle, and Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The organizers of the conservative political conference, "Values Voters Summit," stopped sales of the boxes after learning that they were offensive rather than political satire. The creators of the box, however, are shocked, just shocked I tell you, to find out that their creation would widely be seen as racial stereotyping and not satire of policy positions.

It seems that Lou Dobbs also did not get the "it's the racism, stupid" memo and declares of the box, "my wife will love this!"

The "I didn't know that is considered racist" pleading ignorance defense has recently shown up in a couple of "uppity" incidents. First, Republican Congressman from Georgia, Lynn Westmoreland, called both Barack and Michelle Obama, uppity. A few days later, Republican congressional candidate (also in Georgia), Rick Goddard, called NBC reporter, Ron Allen, who is African American and covers the McCain campaign, "a very uppity newscaster" for a contentious exchange he had with Newt Gingrich. Both men pleaded ignorance of the long history of racist usage, originating in the south, of the word uppity which often comes with the N-word attached.

How on earth can all these white men play dumb about their behavior with a straight face? White privilege. Leading anti-racism author, Tim Wise has a new article about White Privilege and the 2008 Election. Understanding and recognizing white privilege is crucial to discussions of ending racism. However, it is challenging and often puts people on the defensive when confronted with the concept.

Privilege is not just afforded to whites, however. It is something that in this country benefits men, Christians, heterosexuals, able-bodied people, ... I am including a reading list on privilege for those who are open to learning more about the concept and not just interested in staking out a defensive, so-called color blind position. The more that we open up and engage in these discussions, the closer we inch towards eliminating racism (and sexism and every other ism out there).

One of the best known writings on white privilege is "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh. If you read only one link, this is the one to read.

Through work to bring materials from women's studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed men's unwillingness to grant that they are overprivileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to women's statues, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can't or won't support the idea of lessening men's. Denials that amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages that men gain from women's disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully acknowledged, lessened, or ended.

Thinking through unacknowledged male privilege as a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there are most likely a phenomenon, I realized that, since hierarchies in our society are interlocking, there was most likely a phenomenon of while privilege that was similarly denied and protected. As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.

I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools , and blank checks.

Several authors and bloggers have built on McIntosh's essay including:

-Robert Jensen, "White Privilege Shapes the U.S."
-Barry Deutsch, The Male Privilege Checklist: An Unabashed Imitation of an Article by Peggy McIntosh
-Jewel Woods "The Black Male Privileges Checklist"

Tim Wise Essay Collection

Restructure! How Whites benefit from fighting White privilege #1: Self-Esteem (check out the additional links at the end for further reading)

The Angry Black Woman, Things You Need To Understand #4

It is a given that, whenever I engage in debate with a white person and mention privilege, the white person in question gets all upset. “I do NOT have privilege!” they say, and then begin to tell the story of their poor, rural upbringing or something. I think this reaction stems from two sources. Firstly, White Liberal Guilt, which I have written about before. Secondly, a misunderstanding of the word ‘Privilege’.

tigtog at Finally, A Feminism 101 Blog, FAQ: What is male privilege?

Before discussing “male privilege” it is first important to define what privilege means in an anti-oppression setting. Privilege, at its core, is the advantages that people benefit from based solely on their social status. It is a status that is conferred by society to certain groups, not seized by individuals, which is why it can be difficult sometimes to see one’s own privilege.

Ajuan Mance, at Black On Campus, The Black Male Privilege Checklist: An Opportunity for Reflection?

One of the hardest things to do is to talk about people who are marginalized in one area about the privileges they have in other areas. Consider, for example, the challenges inherent in speaking with working-class and poor white people about white skin privilege, or in talking to rich white gay men about white privilege, male privilege, and class privilege. I can imagine that this is the same case when it comes to discussing male privilege with men who are Black, especially given African American males’ disproportionate poverty, incarceration, and drop-out rate. Add to this the focus in both the mainstream media and the Black press on portraying African American men as a population in crisis, and on stories like the gender achievement gap between Black men and women....

“The Black Male Privileges Checklist” has the potential to shed what Audre Lorde refers to as “a different quality of light” on the hypermasculine behavior and stereotypes that so many young African American men find so compelling. It’s emphasis on some of the ways that Black manhood and masculinity hurt Black women carries with in an important subtext, that much of what passes for “real” African American manhood also hurts Black men. In the context of workshops led by Jewel Woods and other Black male activists and mentors, an exploration of the “Checklist” could create a space for some much needed reflection on how to embrace maleness and masculinity in ways that expand rather than limit young men’s options.

BlogHer CE Maria Niles discusses her unique perspective on privilege from time to time on her blog PopConsumer.