Tim Wise - Anti-Racist Activist
A friend of mine recently passed on to me this article by Tim Wise, a major anti-racist activist in America. I am not familiar with him but i will soon begin my research on him. This essay breaks down some very interesting elements of the American society and calls into question the hypocritical nature of how many issues in their society are treated depending on who they affect. TimWise.org.
I am not going to proclaim that i agree or disagree with his claims, i am just sharing with you what i came across. Please read and comment, I would love to read your thoughts on his article.
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For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you’ll “kick their fuckin’ ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative
action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office–since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s–while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you’re black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do–like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child
labor, and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college–you’ re
somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired
confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word
answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a “light” burden.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.
White privilege is, in short, the problem.
By my posting of this is in no means saying Barack Obama is a flawless candidate, but I think he has a lot more upside than the Republican candidates running against him. Please let me know what you guys think by posting in the comments section. I think this article is a perfect catalyst to start a real dialogue about the going-ons of this the presidential election and the general make-up of race relations in America.
By Tim Wise
-SR
Glad to see this story spreading. More people need to read this and be educated, especially in our current political environment.
What a crock!
no one has said this and no one could have said it better. Thank you for saying it.
This has to be the most enlightening, truthful article I have read in a long time. It is good to see an actual White person take on what we all know is true. The White race is privileged and always will be. Barack Obama graduated from an Ivy league college and went on to become a Senator. Meanwhile John McCain was at the bottom of his class and Sarah Palin barely graduated. I hope that Whites will realize that he is the only candidate fit to be the president and his skin color has nothing to do with his abilities.
It is sad that Tim Wise has not benefited from white privilege in America. His sad treatise is neither well conceived nor persuasive. In fact, it has the opposite effect of his obvious and narrow minded intention. He obviously suffers from white guilt, ignorance, and arrogance.
This mess was here when we got here. It’s been here since we’ve been here. It’s not until we that have been here STOP the rethoric and lay down all our prejudices. We must unarm, destroy the negative pass and present. Nobody is right until we first admit we are all wrong!
I see that you failed to mention how Obama attended a number of colleges himself, yet still refuses to release his College transcripts, which many political scholars hypoticize, contain the fact that Obama was a fairly low achiever academically and was then given a racial quota preference to gain admittance into Harvard Law school at the expense of an another otherwise deserving applicant. And why did he not get a super high paying job at a prestigious law fiem as would be fitting and seem to be the norm for most heads of the Harvard Law Review? Just wondering? I guess you’ll cal me a cracker and just dismiss me out of hand. BTW, aren’t the Rastas just the crimninal element in Island society? They were when I was working down there in the mid 80’s.
Tim Wise, you are incredibly wise – thank you for this!! Well said – I will be passing this along!
Brilliant! Unquestionably brilliant. Thank you for this delivery.
Why is it when many whites are faced with “facts” – not rumors – about a white versus a non-white, facts that may discredit, incriminate, convict or reveal true dysfunctional faults of said white, whites choose to ignore the facts completely? Instead of examining said ones truth(s) versus his or her frauds, they resort to calling into question the similar faults of the non-white competitor. Is it the, “Yes, the Indians were here first, but….”, mentality, over and over again, or is it just the majority white american way?
Minnick completely steps past the negatives that have been revealed of Obama’s competition, and leaps right into Obama’s negatives. Its sad, truly sad the closed-minded idiocy of people here in this county.
Forgive the plagiarisms here, but:
If Obama’s daughter was proven to be pregnant at seventeen, he & his wife would be typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay, definitely not able to commandeer a country!
If Obama’s soon-to-be-son-in-law called himself a “thug”, and talks about how if anyone messes with him, he’ll “kick their f’in’ ass,” and talk about how he likes to “shoot shit” for fun, he would be viewed as a irresponsible “thug” worthy of prison, Obama definitely not worthy of any country’s white house, well maybe an african one.
If Obama attended four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did we’d read, “…many political scholars hypoticize, contain the fact that Obama was a fairly low achiever academically and was then given a racial quota preference to gain admittance into Harvard Law school at the expense of an another otherwise deserving applicant.”
Obama’s being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, is immediately reduced to, “And why did he not get a super high paying job at a prestigious law fiem(firm) as would be fitting and seem to be the norm for most heads of the Harvard Law Review”?
Obama being a gun enthusiast would be matched with photos of Malcolm X holding his rifle, or of The Black Panther Party, intent on making people immediately scared of him.
If Obama was a member of an extremist political party that wanted his state to secede from the Union, he wouldn’t have gotten to the first nomination.
If Obama made fun of community organizers and the work they do, he’d be branded with that typical black man assessment, ‘arrogance’.
Obama having a history of firing people who didn’t support his political campaigns, would most certainly be accused of abusing his power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, furthermore being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line non-white political machines in any major city, he would be labeled corrupt as hell.
If your name is Obama, a non-white presidential nominee, and you have ties of friendship with a black pastor who has noted that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re labeled an extremist Muslim who probably hates America. Really?! Yet he chose to run for president of that same country he hates so?!! Get outa here!
Would not Obama’s bad experiences as a POW be considered as his not having the mental or physical fortitude for the job, naturally? …even more-so deeming him unfit for president?
And finally, if brown-skinned Obama was someone running for president who has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, and his opponent was spinning that whole “change” thing, would that brown-skinned (Isn’t that considered black?) man, reach operating four more years of the same, from the oval office…, as a republican? Get real!
Are there yet race relations issues in America? According to whites, the real issues lie within the non-white community.
[...] You have probably already seen this article from Tim Wise about whiteness. It has been circulated almost everywhere, but if you haven’t seen it yet, it [...]
Tim: this is a great article. Finally, someone said it. Let’s hope more people read. great job. keep it going.
This article and the comments make me realize two things – 1) that despite many people’s best efforts, racism will continue until everyone stops looking at a person’s color before they judge their actions; and 2) so many people in this country will not vote for Obama merely because of his race.
If you are a McCain supporter and you agree with his positions on important issues, than you have a DUTY to vote for him. But people should not be voting based merely on race, gender or party lines. Voting is the most important right we hold as US citizens, and to make such a decision ignorantly or carelessly is a slap in the face to all. You shouldn’t vote Republican/Democrat because, well, that’s what your parents vote. Base your vote on ideals and plans that you believe in!!! Use your brain!!!
Tim Wise has it completely right.
If more people understood this we would be in a far better society.
[...] White Privilege [...]
Great piece. I posted it on my blog with a link back here to your post. Well put by Tim.
I am sick and tired of some trying to make me feel guilty for being white! People seem to forget that Obama is half white. Where does Obamas white privilage factor into this? Or does it not count b/c of the color of his skin? To me… THAT is racist. He preaches about Hope! Change! Well, what about the DETAILS concerning these things, hmmm? Why you think his associating with terroists should NOT be an issue is beyond me.This election should not be decided based on the color of skin, sex, or age. People ahould quit listening to the B.S. hype and take a look at the issues. The beliefs of the canidates. As far as white privilage goes… it didnt help me any when I was lost in the prison system due to hurricane Katrina, and ended up doing 11 months on a 1st offense DUI (a misdemeanor). So dont tell me about white privilage. While in some cases it may be true, in most it is NOT.
While overall interesting, I think this post really doesn’t speak of white privilege, which I do believe exists. There are issues here, but they aren’t all about race. I think you need to sharpen and refine your points. I’ve made some observations below.
“White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen…”
This is about privilege not white privilege. A poor white family would be dealt with exactly the same way as is described above.
The real issue here is not about privilege at all, it’s about hypocrisy. The problem is that the people who normally criticize about this issue (O’Reilly, Hannity, “Values” Republicans) are all on her side. They’ve never had a problem lying for one of their own and they aren’t about to start now.
We need to wake up and realize that these people never cared about these issues. They were issues that they could use to get the people to vote a certain way or watch a certain television program or station.
“White privilege is when you can call yourself a ‘fuckin’ redneck,’…”
A quick Google search of “Levi Johnston thug” gives you 64,000 results, but I think I take your point. I think you mean that were he black, the media would be painting him as a thug. I think that the media has painted him as a clueless idiot, and you can take your pick on which one is better. If your point is that the media characterizes him differently because of his race, sadly I think you are right.
However, I think the only ones who are trying to say that he is a “responsible, all-American boy” are in the McCain camp. I don’t agree but I don’t fault them too much for a necessary PR spin. We can all see through it. I don’t think you can say that the media or average Americans say he’s responsible. What you hear them saying is that he’s “doing the right thing.” That’s an opinion, an you can’t really argue one way or the other on it.
“White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges…”
This is pretty loose. The problem is that, if you were applying for a real job you would be scrutinized for this record either way. Depending on the job, it might matter, it might not.
What you have to ask yourself is, if John McCain’s VP were black, would people be making this charge? Again, I think your problem is that the people who would make the Affirmative Action charge are on her side. The bottom line is that they know that Sarah Palin is the GOP’s last, best chance to energize the base. As such, they just aren’t going to attack her, and they wouldn’t be attacking her for this regardless of her race.
“White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town…”
The argument is one of executive experience. While you might argue that tiny town mayor and low population state governor isn’t very good or very much executive experience, you can’t argue that it’s NO execute experience. You either have to argue this point on the fact that Obama’s status as a community organizer, campaign leader, etc, IS real executive experience, OR you have to go after Palin’s record of bad executive leadership.
“White privilege is being able to say that you support the words ‘under God’ in the pledge of allegiance”
Again, this is not white vs. black. This is just stupid. She said something stupid. Is it one of many things that helps to show that she is WOEfully under qualified to be VP? Absolutely. But does it clearly point to a race bias? No.
Biden said something the other day about how when the stock market crashed FDR got on the TV to communicate with the people and calm everyone down. There’s two things wrong with that. But, the idea that saying something stupid should disqualify you from holding elected office is… let’s just say quaint.
By the way, Palin said something about reading terrorists their rights. Again, it was stupid. But the above makes it sound like the Palin doesn’t want to the average Joe Citizen who gets arrested to be read their rights. Misleading arguments only hurt your case.
“White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast…”
On the gun thing, I would again say that is a privilege issue, not a white privilege issue.
On the Alaska first thing, ok, that’s just hilarious. I just Googled that and at the very least it looks like she WAS at one time part of such a party (though she has always been a registered Republican). It also looks like part of the point of the party IS to, at the very least, open a discussion of around the change of status of Alaska’s statehood.
I say again though, this has just gone unreported. I’ve never heard of it before this post. Again, this is a case where the people who would make this accusation are on her side. The liberals just don’t care about this kind of issue.
I also heard no criticism of Michelle Obama for not coming to the 9/11 memorial. I think this post makes the mistake of confusing what any random idiot might say or post as a comment to a blog with what actually gets reported or what people are actually thinking.
By the way, (speaking of the thoughts of a random idiot) I say let Alaska go. I’m not sure we need a state that takes hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government, but seems to have enough money floating around to have NO state income tax, NO state sales tax and can still hand out around $2,200 to every man woman and child in the state. Thanks Sarah! That sure sounds fiscally responsible to me. We’ll see just how close they are to Russia when they aren’t part of the U.S. any more.
But I digress.
“White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers…”
Community organizers, both white and black, were pissed off in the days after Palin made that remark. This fact was well reported. I can’t see how her making fun of them is an example of white privilege.
“White privilege is being able to convince white women…”
That’s not white privilege, that’s identity politics. That’s learning that many (not all, or even most) Clinton voters were never Democrats to begin with (I call them Clintoncrats). I think what gets missed here is that many of these women were voting for Clinton just because she is a woman. They are just as happy to do the same for Palin.
“White privilege is being able to fire people…”
Actually, she is being accused of abuse of power. There is an ongoing investigation and subpoenas have been issued.
“White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years…”
Yeah… I can’t disagree with you here. This is about a tolerance of crazy in white churches because whites are familiar that specific type of crazy.
“White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is…”
Again, I think you are getting caught it in Democrat vs. Republican, not black vs. white. The arguments around this are stuck in partisanship, not racism.
You have to go pretty far to find people who think that the Bush Doctrine question was a trick. Where I find it, is in comments on web articles about the interview. These are comments by people who are clearly partisan. They don’t even care if she’s right or wrong, let alone if she is black or white. These people would be saying that such a question was a trick (true or not) regardless of the color of Palin’s skin.
The same thing goes for the O’Reilly interview. Even O’Reilly had positive things to say about Obama after that interview. You can find people of all colors arguing all directions about this.
“White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW…”
These two things don’t track together.
How does McCain using his POW experience to show fitness as president relate to Palin’s belief that experiencing racism is a “light” burden?
I guess your argument is that the POW experience was a heavy burden and so, since McCain says it’s relates to fitness as President, that means that, by his logic, heavy burdens relate to fitness as President. Let’s forget that I don’t think McCain makes that claim. So, to attempt to connect these things, I guess you are saying that racism is a heavy burden for Obama and that in downplaying it, Palin is saying that it doesn’t count as much for fitness as president? And that is an example of white privilege that she is able to do so? That’s my best attempt, but I simply can’t see your logical connection between these two items.
Now, of course, if she said that she sure is stupid. I’d love to see a citation on this.
“The greatest stumbling block in the way of progress in the race has invariably come from within the race itself,” –Marcus Garvey–
Regina no one is trying to make you feel guilty for being white. If you’re refusing to see Obama as an equal opponent simply because of the half of him that’s black then that might be something you should feel guilty about. As far as his white privilage goes, why don’t we just say there are two white men running then, since he is half white. Since when does a person who has a white and a black parent get to be called white? You’re right, it is the color of his skin. He may have white in him, but the fact is that he does not look like white America. I don’t think it’s that common that people are “passing” anymore. People identify and are more comfortable with that which looks like them or that they can identify with. Just because you got locked up does not mean you haven’t experienced the “privliage”. You were born into it, you’ll always have it. Since you were in Katrina, you would have been “finding” supplies to live, not “looting”. I can’t explain to you what it’s like to be black, because apparently being black and experiencing racism is a “light” burden. I bet it seems that way to someone who never experienced it, but ask someone who’s lived it and I promise that is not the response you’ll get.
Since when does “white privilege” equate to everything this guy hates about George W. Bush and Sarah Palin?
“White privilege means I hate conservatives!”
Dur dur dur!
It is very obvious this article has been written by an extremely angry person who must believe that because you are black you should be given preferential treatment in this country. Affirmative action is reverse discrimination, PERIOD. To give a person (man or woman) a job based on their race, gender or economic status rather than their education and qualifications is one of many reasons this country has been slipping down the toilet for a long, long time. The author of this article has done nothing to open peaceful dialogue regarding an already heated subject. Those who believe it is”enlightening” should remove their head from the dark orifice it is entrapped in and get some oxygen.
First of all – we are talking about rich politician’s – not “poor” or middle class “white” people.
Secondly my husband is hispanic and his birth certificate – says “Caucasion”.
Thirdly, I have been subjected to this reverse dicrimination all my life, so have my family and friends ! We are all sick and tired of it !!!
Tim, thanks for standing up as an individual and not being ashame to speak out. People, if you know you have had these terrible feeling and ways for years just admit it. Now is the time to get rid of those feelings and fears. “
It’s people like this that keep racism alive. Stick to the issues and the facts. I don’t care if your white, black, brown or freakin zebra striped. Stupidity doesn’t have a color preference.
Mr. Wise, you spoke the truth. Unfortunately, many white people don’t realize that it’s White Privilege that keeps them so angry and fearful of everything. White Privilege is what keeps them from accepting the truth. The bottom line is many white people really believe that they are better than any one else, and it’s their God given right to do whatever and to be whatever they want. Until they set aside these foolish notions and realize that they are JUST people like everybody else, they will continue to be angry, fearful, and unhappy. I know this may sound a little strange, but I really feel sorry for them.
Tim your article is right on the money. Thank you.
To Regina and like minded
White privilage is a fact. You know it, love it, and never want it to end. That is the problem, but this time THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING. Terrorists? Do you even have any idea who the Weatherman were? They were for social change. If you went to college you may have been taught by one of them. Terrorists? All the men who signed the Declaration of Independence were labeled terrorists. Go visit a library and read a book!!!! Your ignorance is not only killing you, it’s killing all of us! Stop being such a hypocrite. You don’t think of Senator Obama as half white and you know it!!!!!! For those of you who want to know where the name Barack comes form read the Bible or the Torah.
Under close examination, “white privilege” may be another name for economic privilege. It’s economics that makes for such despairingly different standards. If you have money, you have privilege. O.J. Simpson arguably got away with murder due to economic privilege. Ditto Robert Blake & Phil Spector.
If you have significant resources, the world is a much easier place to navigate.
This article is not about white privilege. It’s an anti-Republican screed.
Also, the Jim Crow era is over. Get it? OVER. Stop lying to blacks by telling them otherwise, you Marxist twits.
White privilege means I don’t have to pay attaention to this disturbed adolescent who obviously feels jilted because his autistic masturbation fantasies about Sarah Plain went unfulfilled. Seriously this young feller has a mental problem. Pay him no mind, and expose yourself to this drivel in only small doses.
It’s amazing that such poorly written self-loathing can be not only consumed by the public, but accepted as if it has some accuracy or importance. The author of this trash is a petty creature who needs to get out a little more and stop seeing his own image thru a funhouse mirror.
What’s not merely sad but predictable is that the left is still so desperate to foment racial issues and tensions in the US. Without them the Democrat Party would probably cease to exist. We can only pray for the day…
This guy Wise is obviously a self-hating Jew.
Someone seems to be getting “politics” confused with “racism”. I can understand the mistake, considering the foremost political icon in the democratic party happens to be black, but it’s still a mistake that only a moron would make.
Republicans try to discredit democrats. Democrats try to discredit republicans. I assure you sir, the criticisms would be just as veracious if the democratic candidate was white (as they have been in every previous election in our entire history – do your research, they’ve each been equally nasty).
Oh, and in case you haven’t noticed, Sarah Palin wasn’t running for president! She was selected by McCain not because of her qualifications (obviously) but because he was trying to sway voters who wanted so badly for this to be an “Historic Election” – sounds like black privilege to me.
This whole notion of white privilege is absolutely absurd – it’s reverse engineered, circular logic, looking at every situation through the lense of injustice. For example: more black people are in jail than white, even though they make up a smaller portion of the population, therefor our justice system must be corrupt and racist! White privilege!
Of course, it couldn’t POSSIBLY be that African Americans have adopted a more violent and criminal culture, with a blatant disregard for the law, because of hate-peddlers like YOU that have convinced them “It doesn’t matter what you do, whites have the power, you don’t, and your life will always be unfair and unjust – the boogyman of ‘white privilege’ lurks around every corner.”
Shame on your, Sir. Shame on you.
While this fabricated, unalterable yoke of “white privilege” remains hung around the necks of African Americans, black people will never be able to embrace the true spirit of America – that you can achieve absolutely anything, and the only thing standing in one’s way is their strength of will.