Racism and the race: What's white privilege got to do with it?
by Maria NilesThe 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.
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Comments
Amazing post
There is so much information here Maria! (as always)
I was in HORROR over the waffle box and then had people actually trying to tell me to lighten up.
Sigh.
Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain
Lighten up
Heh. :)
Thank you for tipping me off to the latest Tim Wise essay and for the kind words.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
So important!
Ahhh, Maria - you know I'm jumping on this post like a mouse on cheese! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I'm going to read (re-read some of them!) these links and will come back w/some additional thoughts.
Lara
Notions of Identity
Thanks Lara
And, yes, I certainly thought of you as I wrote this. I look forward to your further thoughts.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
Critical Race Theory
So my initial thought is about the intersectionality of White Privilege and Critical Race Theory. When I started learning about this, I found in order to fully understand the concept of white privilege, I had to immerse myself in CRT and works by Derrick Bell and Richard Delgado. Self-interest and power are definitely at play in white privilege - whether one recognizes it or not. The question of whether I, as a white person, am willing to promote racial equity at the expense of my own self-interest is important - and often misunderstood or ignored in the discussion of racial equity. That I have a choice at all is further illustration of the privilege I have just because of the color of my skin.
Notions of Identity
CRT
Great observation. Derrick Bell provided a terrific example of promotion of equality at the expense of self-interest when he resigned his tenured position at Harvard Law because of the lack of tenured women of color.
And UCLA law professor, Kimberlé Crenshaw is a another important critical race theorist who talks about intersectionality through her African American Policy Forum:
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
So perfect
Thank you so much for putting all this information together. :)
What Tami Says had a good post about the black male privilege question this week too (read it Examining black male privilege.) She talks about the concept of kyriarchy too.
You know this post is going up (link) at my place. :)
JillWrites Like She Talks
Thanks Jill
I appreciate the link to Tami's post - just a note: her discussion of kyriarchy is is in the comments.
Also, Sudy of A Womyn's Ecdysis whose kyriarchy post Tami links to has a good point that the Peggy McIntosh essay is dated and that Racialicious (from Publisher Carmen Van Kerckhove and Editor Latoya Peterson) is a great place for more current discussions. Though you can find a mashup of generations in this Addicted to Race podcast where Carmen interviews Peggy.
Also Tami points to the beginnings of a series from Gina at What About Our Daughters examining the Black Male Privilege Checklist. Great stuff so far and I'll be watching for new entries in the series.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
Brilliant as always
Sending the link to everyone in my webosphere. I hope your book is coming soon. Somewhere, Mr. Trotter is cheering.
Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|
It takes a village
I am incredibly humbled, as always, by your kind words, Kim. And thank you as well for pointing me to some of the links in this post. I could not write these pieces if I didn't have great thinkers like each of the women who have commented here pointing me to good stuff.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
It's Too Easy to Be Willfully Ignorant
About this type of racist propaganda.
In the process of beating my head against the brick wall of a couple of "OMG, offensive?" bloggers last night I found some links that might be helpful to those who would like to understand the history of this imagery a little better.
On Jim Crow imagery, by PRwatch.
The Garbage Man: Why I collect racist objects, from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia.
The Mammy Caricature (with background on Aunt Jemima)
If you find yourself arguing with someone about the Obama Waffle situation, pass on some of these links.
Tacoma Mama
Excellent additions
Thank you, Tacoma Mama - this is a great set of resources.
Hopefully some of those who claim they don't see the racism will be willing to truly check these links out with open eyes, hearts and minds.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
Where's the GOP outrage?
Or are they only upset about sexism right now?
Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain
Hypocrisy and cynicism
Sarah Palin is white. If they had nominated Condi Rice the anti-racist bandwagon might seem a bit more attractive. Oops, I forgot, attractive is now a sexist slur.
Although the first dude is 1/16 Native American. Maybe they'll warm up eventually.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
Excellent Post
Thanks for bringing this information to light and for the resources. I wrote a letter to CNN about this. Dobbs ringing endorsement of the "product" and the message pushed me over the edge.
Glennia
The Silent I
MOMocrats
Let CNN know
Good suggestion, Glennia, to express to CNN how unacceptable is Lou Dobbs' endorsement of that box.
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
Beyond Help (Music, TV & Pop Culture)
This is a fascinating topic
... and I love how you took the reprehensible example of the "novelty" waffle box and put it in its larger perspective.
I've got some 'schoolin' to do...
School on, SocalMom!
Thanks, Donna - much appreciated. Go forth and school 'em :)
ConsumerPop Marketing
PopConsumer (Politics, Current Events & Links)
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Yeah. Laughing so I don't cry.
I have trouble believing they're actually shocked unless they've been living under a rock or, possibly, are youngsters who've been miseducated. I touched on the privilege issue briefly while discussing conservatives on McCain's "I didn't love America until ..." utterance versus Michelle Obama's first time "really" proud of America comment, and also touched it during the "n" word post.
I think some people don't want to see that they've been privileged by their skin color and cultural connection because to see it is to own it and to own it is to feel the need to either work for equality or to smile and strut because you're on top. Owning it draws you to make a moral decision about your place in the world and how you'll live your life.
If you have the upperhand, working for equality may not be in your best interest. An intelligent person who wishes to ignore his/her own conscience might then prefer to play blind and dumb. And of course, there's the guilt. Most humans avoid feeling guilty whenever possible.
Thank you, Maria. As usual, your writing is thorough and thougtful.
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."
Waffle guys weren't shocked, shocked by
accusations of racism
In fact they already had some ready made answers: "Well when we think of Aunt Jemina we think of quality." Yeah, and when I think of Hitler I think of shoe polish.
They weren't youngsters except perhaps relative to McCain. See for yourself here, if you can stand it.
I watched that video last night and I was so enraged I had to go for a walk around the block. Thanks to Maria for presenting the issues in such a thoughtful, informative way. Me, I'd probably just have cursed too much.
Letter to CNN forthcoming.
Mom-101
Thank you, Nordette
I appreciate your kind words and continued support. Thank you as well for adding your links and, as always, thoughtful commentary and context.
Thanks for all of this Maria.
Pam Spaulding just wrote about the Values Voter Summit/pancake box over at Pam's House Blend, with pictures.
Sad. What I've come to believe is that it's not that people don't know it's offensive - it's that they don't really care. But as long as they SAY they didn't know and act all shocked and dismayed that someone would think that, we can all stay complicit in this big lie and no one is held accountable.
This shouldn't be the case. And that box is ridiculous and out of hand on every level.
Thanks for including Angry Black Woman's (never did a demeanor belie an internet handle quite so much. ;)) ideas. She is one of the people I've been privileged to meet through the Blogher, and someone with whom I could openly discuss the necessity for all of us to have these conversations and challenge the status quo.
Not realizing that one is privileged is not an excuse for staying ignorant. I've really tried to live my life by that idea - starting for real in my 30s, which is when I've started feeling the need to educate myself.
It can feel overwhelming, sometimes, the amount of information and the obstacles that sometimes seem to get WORSE in the culture, not better, but maybe that's just because the conversation is started with different faces in contention for the top spots? 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.
Laurie
Thank you, Laurie
For the link to Pam's House Blend and for this:
Maybe They Meant Just What They Said
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?
And the "uppity" trait has been, and can be, attributed to many. Certainly to John Kerry, and, most recently, to Charles Gibson in his interview with Sarah Palin.
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.
Clearly, We Have Not "Moved Beyond Racism"
As this entire incident just highlights.
It is not the job of people of color to move beyond our racist behavior. I'd "move beyond" sexism, except that it seems to like to follow me around.
I'm sure they have made money, and I'm sure they will make money off of this. The market for obscure racist collectibles is apparently quite strong.
This is a story as old as slavery, the use of white privilege to blind working class white Americans to the fact that the ruling class does not represent their interests. Nothing creates unity like a common "other." I'd yawn, except I'm too nauseous.
Tacoma Mama
Racism is Not Limited by Race
If I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying that racist behavior is "ours" (whites'), but stereotypes and resentments nurtured by "people of color" do not represent racism?
I'm not denying that racism exists. I am saying, though, that it is not limited to one race, or to people without color.
I think you are not understanding correctly
I won't pretent to speak for Maria.
Racism = prejudice + plus power. In this country, historically, the dominant racist ideology has been white supremacy. The belief in white supremacy is not restricted to people who are socially constructed as white. White supremacist discourse has permeated our laws, and culture, so its not surprising that there are people of color who live down the stereotypes they have been taught to believe about themselves. That's called internalized oppression.
Personally, I think that helps to explain the complicity of women and people of color
The point here is that the individuals cited here are engaging in racist discourse and then exercising their luxury of claiming ignorance about what they are doing.
I hope that helps.
Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|
That Helps
Thanks. That helps explain some of the confusion. Or maybe it unconfuses some of the explanations. : )
Kim
feel free to speak for me anytime ;)
And maybe pigs fly while we're sleeping
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. In my first comment on Maria's post, I gave some allowances to these men, the kinds of allowances that your comment seems to think blacks should automatically give whites who make comments known to be associated with racist agendas despite the history of racism and white privilege prevailing in America. I made allowances that these men may simply be stupid, uneducated and young. I doubted that to be the case, but to play nice, I gave it to them anyway.
Another poster came along, a non-black poster, and said the waffle box creators knew exactly what they were doing. Of course, they did.
Your comment indicates that you think the waffle box creators wouldn't undermine their credibility to sell a product. If you really believe that, then you are a genuine innocent in this world, and I hope to meet you one day because you're a rare find.
Actually, the creators were being quite shrewd. The first thing a good marketer knows is how to target an audience. The audience they targeted eats this kind of nonsense up (no pun inteded here on eating waffles). In reality, the creation of such a deplorable product built their credibility with the audience they hope most to impress.
Blacks don't have to work at attaching anything in our minds to public figures who make stupid, racist statements. People who think they're big enough to get in the public's face with political commentary should also be big enough and bright enough to read a book or two and educate themselves about the history of racism in politics, culture, and practice in this country and the world as well as racism's everyday face, as though they haven't heard it or seen it in their own hometowns and maybe around their own kitchen tables.
As for the "uppity" comments, the congressman is from Georgia. Any grown white man from Georgia knows very well that the word "uppity," when uttered in reference to a black person, is usually followed by the word "negro" or "n*gg*r". Furthermore, anyone who knows political history knows that many white southern Republicans used to be white southern Democrats but left the Democratic party when it embraced inclusion and the Republican Party nailed down anti-Civil Rights planks in its platform. Trading hiding behind a white sheet for hiding in a suit with a flagpin while still talking the same talk means nothing's really changed but the ability to hide better.
I'll go out on limb here and say that it's doubtful a white Republican in Georgia can be elected to national office without at some point catering to the white racist mentality. It's called "the southern strategy."
From the end of your comment it sounds as though you believe you know something about black people and the history of black people enough to suggest we follow a policy of not firing back (verbally) until we see the whites of their eyes with pupils reflecting the lynch-mob torches. You can certainly believe as you wish, but it's been our experience that waiting and giving people who make racist comments the benefit of the doubt actually only gives people who sympathize or embrace racist thinking time to make a noose and find a tree. (I'd bet money that there were Germans who told Jews to lighten up while Hitler rose to power.)
Personally, I'd rather address what appears to be racist commentary or statements, such as the waffle box thing and the "uppity" comments upfront, let the idiot explain the statement, and then determine what he/she really meant. My survival instinct dictates I do it that way and also tells me when to let an idiot talk long enough to shoot off his own foot.
Finally, I think it's the warmth of white privilege that makes some whites unable to see why blacks give them the cold shoulder about racist outbursts supposedly uttered in ignorance. It's the subtetly of privilege that makes some whites not know that they haven't moved far enough yet past what their ancestors thought and practiced when it comes to African-Americans and other people of color.
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."