On Sunday’s Melissa Harris Perry Show, the panel had an INTENSE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING discussion on “PRIVLEGE.”
Panelist: Tim Wise, David Webb, Chloe Angel, and Blair Kelly
Tim Wise: “Whatever people of privilege there is an obligation to use that as responsibly as possible.”
David Webb: We keep bringing it into privilege when it’s cultural. “Racism is about power and control.”
Chloe Angel: 1. “I’ll say it, we need to hear from white people.” “It is in part White people’s responsiblity to end racism.”
Blair Kelly: “Celebrities are not the stuff of “mobilizing.”
I’ll say it: Tim Wise; your WHITE PRIVILEGE is showing.
Your thoughts?
White privilege and Trayvon Martin
by United Methodist News Service
By Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton*
During a golf outing a few days ago, my playing partner hit a shot that unfortunately sliced out of bounds. After searching for a few minutes I located the ball in someone’s backyard.
“There’s your ball,” I cried. “It’s in that person’s backyard.”
“Just leave it,” he replied. “Let’s just go.”
When I inquired as to why he didn’t want to pick up his errant ball, my playing partner said, “I won’t go into someone’s backyard on a golf course. I have been threatened with stealing and trespassing in the past.”
It was there, in the peaceful confines of a golf course, that I was confronted with an unbelievably disturbing fact: my golf mate and I had two different perceptions of reality.
You see, the person I was playing with is African American. I, a tall white male, would have had no hesitation in walking into that backyard, picking up the errant ball, and making my way back onto the course. My African-American golf partner had huge hesitations based on his own experience.
My experience is called “white privilege.” His experience is called “racism.”
http://umcconnections.org/2013/07/19/white-privilege-and-the-trayvon-martin-case/
from the article:
Oldie but a goodie
I loved watching this again. Wow. They know how to call us whites out…..as they should!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/07/15/pro-trayvon-martin-protester-its-not-enough-to-not-be-a-bigot-you-need-to-check-your-white-privilege-every-single-day/
http://www.buffalonews.com/storyimage/BN/20130720/WORLD/130729910/AR/0/AR-130729910.jpg&maxW=602&maxH=602&AlignV=top&Q=80
This photo really touched my heart.
What will our society be like when she becomes an adult?
Daily Beast article: “Obama’s Trayvon Breifing Shows View on Race in America is Changing”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/21/obama-s-trayvon-martin-briefing-shows-view-on-race-in-america-is-changing.html
Article: “Top Five Quotes on the Trayvon Martin Case”
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/07/21/top-five-quotes-on-the-trayvon-martin-case/
Article: “Trayvon Martin and Making Whiteness Visible”
http://ideas.time.com/2013/07/17/trayvon-martin-and-making-whiteness-visible/
I just discovered this “White Privilege” rap song:
I never cared for Tim Wise. I reach for my remote whenever I see his face on my tv. **click**
I have learned a lot from listening to Tim Wise, but I agree with the points the three of you are making. It is sad that the white audience only seems to be able to hear about white privilege from whites = the invitation to me by the AA mother I met yesterday: “Would you please come to my group and give a talk about white privilege this Fall……they need to hear it from a white person = white people are unwilling to believe/accept/validate the Black experience and the personal examples that a Black person shares that point to the grip of the white power grip on Blacks.
I think of the black-faced actors in their day performing to audiences and of Hollywood’s early portrayal of Blacks to suit the prejudices of the movie audience. The audiences were indoctrinated by the bias that the white power structures pounded into their heads and hearts. They were unwilling to accept authentic Black actors and actresses.
I think of my indoctrination with all of those TV family programs (Leave it to Beaver, My Three Sons, etc) — I never saw a Black family TV program. I think of the Dick and Jane school books for beginning readers. I think of the color of Crayola’s “flesh” Crayon.
Yeah, I have embedded bias. The embedded, systemic bias that makes me feel like I think and speak from a platform of strength and safety as I write to you. I am sorry.
I have a lot of unlearning to do.
Note to Ametia:
I just saw and read your chemo reply and agree.
When I asked:
“Is there any chemo for this systemic disease?”
Ametia answered:
“On your about question chemo; when folks don’t want to confront their racism, bias, and project it on to us, they’re basically wanting us to take the chemo for their illness. Because, racism deadly.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottlynchnyc/9340145672/sizes/h/in/photolist-femFUm-femCgd-femExE-femAd3-fe7qiv-fe7xsZ-fe7xor-fe7xWc-femV93-femTnS-fe7ADi-femPs3-femVKG-femQzy-fefgkF-feuv9q-feuwk1-fe7zgn-femUkY-fe7BDF-fe7z6p-fe7yaF-femRuY-femTAG-fe7xjT-femRUd-fe7C1F-fe7AvZ-fe7BjR-femPAQ-fe7ydH-femRgh-femSGJ-femRMS-fe7zNR-fe7CUD-fe7xxT-fe7BWK-femS6w-fe7yhP-femTEG-fe7DcV-femQiw-femRd9-femSmu-fe7Cwk-femRMb-fe7yUc-fe7AHc-femTsh-femVA3/
Regarding, Tim Wise. I just hope black folks don’t get so IN TO Tim Wise as the authority and validator on anti-racism that they miss the point of white folks needing the education.
ABC “This Week” Roundtable.
Matthew Dowd: “It’s not race; it’s about class.”
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/week-roundtable-race-america-detroit-19727828
It was a discussion, Georgie S., but it wasn’t great. White folks in this roundtable wanted to deny race.
Dowd: “It was more about Obama’s personal evolution about his views on race.”
No; Dowd it was about white privileged folks like you who are deep in denial about RACISM in America and want to skip along to class to avoid talking about RACE.
“White folks in this roundtable wanted to deny race.”
It is hard and frightening for me with embedded racism to honestly look at myself and admit I am biased (can’t even be brave enough to say racist) and depend on the benefits of white privilege. It is like dropping my crutches without knowing if I can even walk …..dropping my crutches without knowing just how disabled I am……dropping my crutches and fearing the resulting injury from the potential fall.
keep on posting it all
Chloe Angel said what needed to be said on that panel.
I’ve read and listened to Tim Wise numerous times. His position is to teach Whites. Actually, I like Jane Elliot more because not only does she apply lessons to teach Whites about privilege, she also promotes pride among minorities. This is what I mean — something profound that she stated about people who say they don’t see color. That means they are not accepting people for who they are, because race places a significant role in their culture and experiences.
For instance, a White woman calls her Black friend who tells her she is getting ready to wash her hair. If that White friend does not see her color, she can assume that her Black friend can get out of the shower, blow dry her hair in 5 minutes and be ready to leave the house.
No doubt that Tim Wise’s intent is to educate whites. Because, for me, he’s preaching to the choir. I’m wondering just how many whites actually attend his lectures, read his books, and absorb any of his anti-racists musings. There is something that just not sit right with me, regarding Wise. Could it be that he’s cornered the market on Anti-racism education, and thus thinks he has become the leading authority on the subject?
@Ametia.
So true.
That’s an excellent question. David L. Hudson Jr. touches on the subject in his books on hate speech, but he works with the First Amendment Center. Tim Wise is an independent not under rules and policies of any organization.
Thanks for the David L.Hudson Jr. hat tip, Xena. I’ll want to check this out.
Robert Jensen, professor of media ethics and journalism at The University of Texas at Austin, is the author of the book “The Heart of Whiteness.” Jensen, who is White, wrote it for Whites. At least one of his lectures is on Youtube. I didn’t embed it because it’s about an hour long.
I will check out Hudson, Jensen, and Elliot when I get a chance.