Comments on: White Privilege

By: Ben R

Ben R — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:40:42 +0000

The trouble is with this focus on privilege that the discussion supresses the considerable evidence that groups differ in average ability.

By ignoring these factors, we risk demonising successful groups, as happened to the Armenian Jews or Jews in Germany. Also the Chinese in Mayaysia.

We know in terms of evolution, that groups exposed to different environmental pressures may develop distinct genetic traits. This is clear in athletics.

In terms of academic ability, it is quite clear that Ashkenazi Jews & East Asians, on average, outperform whites.

For example, in Brazil, it is the Japanese who are the highest-achieving group. They were brought in as indentured labourers to work the plantations after slavery was abolished in 1888. Yet, today, the Japanese outscore Whites on IQ tests. Seven studies of Jews in Britain yield a median IQ of 110. In educational achievement, East Asians in Britain also outperform the indigenous Whites. Similarly in Australia, East Asians (mostly Chinese and Vietnamese) average higher than Whites in IQ, educational achievement, and earnings. There are pockets of ethnic Chinese elsewhere in the world such as in Mexico, Argentina, and especially Hawaii, where they also do well.

These results are remarkably consistent over time, place, and situation, irrespective of the original status of the people, or the language, history, and political organization of the country concerned.

By: Omyword! Did I Say That?

Omyword! Did I Say That? — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:14:42 +0000

Oh crap – bidy profile should be body profile.

By: Omyword! Did I Say That?

Omyword! Did I Say That? — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:13:40 +0000

Great post. Even if I’m late on commenting, I wanted to say that I think this is an awareness issue. Not a blame issue. Awareness that others have different experiences in life because of their ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, bidy profile, etc, makes us more inclined to make objective decisions when hiring or interacting with people in general. Guilt is a nonproductive emotion. Awareness can change behavior.

My awareness came when I had a garage sale in the 80s in Laguna Beach, California. A Mexican guy bought my BetaMax VCR for $5. He asked me if I could create a written receipt. I said sure, but why? He smiled and said, “Mexican guy walking down the street in this neighborhood carrying a VCR?” Bingo. Got it. If a cop stopped him, he’d have the receipt.

By: V-Grrrl

V-Grrrl — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:47:09 +0000

Funny that everyone talks about a Black man running for president as if this is a wonder of wonders! Obama is only HALF black, was raised by his WHITE mother. He’s every bit as much white as he is black. Does that make a difference for him? Is that white privilege with a “black” face on it?

By: A Post on Privilege « Burned, Broken, But Still Awesome

A Post on Privilege « Burned, Broken, But Still Awesome — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:04:15 +0000

[...] racism — Burn @ 4:04 am In my random tinkerings with the interwebs, I discovered this lovely article which quantifies the typical power ladder in America, be it corporate or slumming with Joe. It’s blunt, incredibly honest, and presents some valid [...]

By: thedemigod

thedemigod — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:49:48 +0000

Incredibly well-written. The comments are also an interesting mix, but clearly people are still very passionate about this issue. It’s abrasive, but thought-provoking, and the more it’s talked about, the more light we can shed on the new privilege issues of this millenium. I’d be nitpicking if I complained about excluding my rung on the ladder (slightly-heavier asian homosexual NOT born to wealthy, well-known parents, adopted by Arab-American USMC father), but I think this is an excellent article.

Thanks for the thought of the day!

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:04:52 +0000

Resolution of this is tough, especially in this economy.

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:50:00 +0000

Jack — I agree with that. That is the bigger picture at the moment, even if race is a big part of the scenario. And much harder to resolve.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:23:46 +0000

I KNOW that if I were a person of color, that would not have happened to me.

No you do not know that. You don’t know for a moment what would have happened. You think that you know, but all you are doing is speculating.

We spend far too much time worrying about what is fair and what is not. Truth is that it is really easy to make a list of things that are unfair for virtually any group.

At this moment in time we have a Black man running for president and came within a hair of having a woman run for the same office.

And regardless of your party affiliation we need to mention that there is a female candidate for VP.

IMO the bigger issue these days is not race, but socioeconomic status and education.

Those are two things that have a tremendous impact upon what you can do in life.

By: chantel

chantel — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:10:16 +0000

First: Thanks for writing this; you’re really good at this. Considered doing this for a living have you??? ha, ha, ha!!

P.S. you should include Poor White Trash Women with red hair. We are way low on that list.