What is most troubling is that the "white privilege" diaries popping up are doing so in the context of the left (including the Congressional Black Caucus, btw) virulently speaking out against the President's latest tax compromise. (Personally, I think he did what he sincerely thought was best for the most vulnerable people, given a rancid set of choices.)
The subtext, of course, is the insinuation that anyone having a policy difference with Obama, and speaking up about it, is somehow a racist, or is operating out of racist inclinations.
This is what has people so angry.
I think most people understand that systemic white privilege exists, just as systemic male privilege exists, and systemic hetero privilege exists. This does not automatically make individuals "racist" because they are indirectly benefiting from systemic racism, any more than men benefiting from systemic sexism are chauvinists, or straights benefiting from hetero privilege are heterosexists or homophobes.
And, I have no doubt that if Hillary had won the election and were making the same horse-trades that Obama is making now, the left would be in an uproar, and Hillary's defenders would be calling her critics "sexists" and provoking debates about whether "sexism" is still at work in many of our nations' dealings.
I fought very hard against Hillary in the primaries, because I didn't want to see any more middle-class-destroying Clintonian "third-way" economics. For this, I was called a sexist I don't know how many times. It infuriated me.
Now for the checklist I promised you:
The following are examples of ways male individuals have privilege because they are male. Please read the list and place a check next to the privileges that apply to you or that you have encountered. At the end, try to list at least two more ways you have privilege based on your sex/gender.
_ 1. If I get into a car accident, I'm pretty sure people won't blame my sex/gender.
_ 2. I can go for a walk alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
_ 3. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my sex/gender represented respectfully.
_ 4. When I am told about our history, I can be sure I'll see that people of my sex/gender helped make it what it is.
_ 5. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that will respectfully and equally represent my sex/gender.
_ 6. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my sex/gender represented.
_ 7. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my sex/gender not to work against the appearance of financial responsibility.
_ 8. I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing, or body odor will be taken as a reflection on my sex/gender (or a rebuke thereof).
_ 9. I can worry about sex/gender without being seen as self-interested or self-seeking.
_ 10. I can take a job or enroll in a college with an affirmative action policy without having my co-workers or peers assume I got it because of my sex/gender.
_ 11. I can be late to a meeting without having the lateness reflect on my sex/gender.
_ 12. I can choose public accommodation with out fearing that people of my sex/gender cannot get in or will be mistreated (stalked, hit-on, raped, etc).
_ 13. I am never asked to speak for all of the people of my sex/gender group.
_ 14. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk with the "person in charge" I will be facing a person of my sex/gender.
_ 15. If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven't been singled out because of my sex/gender.
_ 16. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my sex/gender without them emphasizing my degree of perceived "sexiness."
_ 17. I can go to work an be pretty sure my boss and co-workers won't make sexual comments or overtures toward me.
_ 18. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my sex/gender.
_ 19. I can walk into a classroom and know I will not be the only member of my sex/gender. (Anyone who has worked at an engineering school knows this one.)
_ 20. I can enroll in a class at college and be sure that the majority of my professors will be of my sex/gender.
Seeing a pattern here? How about we do it with sexual orientation?
The following are examples of ways straight individuals have privilege because they are straight. Please read the list and place a check next to the privileges that apply to you or that you have encountered. At the end, try to list at least two more ways you have privilege based on your sexual orientation.
_ 1. I can arrange to be in the company of people of my sexual orientation most of the time.
_ 2. I can go for a walk alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
_ 3. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my sexual orientation represented respectfully.
_ 4. When I am told about our history, I can be sure I'll see that people of my sexual orientation helped make it what it is.
_ 5. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that will represent my sexual orientation.
_ 6. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my sexual orientation represented.
_ 7. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my sexual orientation not to work against the appearance of financial responsibility.
_ 8. I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing, or body odor will be taken as a reflection on my sexual orientation.
_ 9. I can worry about sexual orientation without being seen as self-interested or self-seeking.
_ 10. I can take a job or enroll in a college without fearing I will be dismissed due to my sexual orientation.
_ 11. I can get married anytime I want to someone I love.
_ 12. I can choose public accommodation with out fearing that my sexual orientation will be discovered and I'll be evicted.
_ 13. I am never asked to speak for all of the people of my sexual orientation.
_ 14. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk with the "person in charge" I will be facing a person of my sexual orientation.
_ 15. If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven't been singled out because of my sexual orientation.
_ 16. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my sexual orientation.
_ 17. I can go to work an be pretty sure my boss and co-workers won't make comments or judgments about my sexual orientation.
_ 18. I can comfortably bring a date to any function.
_ 19. I can walk into a classroom and know I will not be the only member of my sexual orientation
_ 20. I can enroll in a class at college and be sure that the majority of my professors will be of my sexual orientation.
Shall we do this again with gender identity?
How about socioeconomic class?
The upshot: yes, racism, sexism and homophobia, as well as classicism (which is what has people so upset about Obama's deal with the uber-rich) are all alive and well in America. Anyone who doesn't think so is blind, deaf and heartless.
This does not make people opposed to Blanche Lincoln's policies a sexist. It doesn't make peoples' upset at a Barney Frank policy a homophobe. And opposing Obama's compromises on behalf of the uber-rich does not make one a racist, and speaking up for the non-rich when it's against an Obama policy is not ALWAYS and DIRECTLY related to the very real problem of systemic white privilege. Okay?