*** Posted To The African-American Group ***

[1StrongBlackMan]

Is it me ... Or, has there been an up-tick in white DUers, actually (or, seemingly) WANTING to be subject to racism?

Why?

Is being subject to racism better than, merely, being subject to bigotry?

[lib87]

1. Good Question. Maybe the Knowledge of Their Privilege is too Uncomfortable?

I think since racism is being discussed a little more than usual it is bringing out the uninformed members. Those who believe that since a Black person was mean to them once or called them a cracker or honkey that they too are systematically oppressed and able to dictate how 'fellow' oppressed people should behave...and vote. Just an observation lol.


I'll just stick to playing my violin when I read their attempts to center the discussion about their feelings.

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Oh ... you saw the ...

"Bigoted, anti-white aggression" comment, too?!?

[WIProgressive88]

8. Anti-white aggression?! Jesus...sounds like something you'd hear from Rush Limbaugh

or Michael Savage, not a poster on a "progressive" message board.

[lib87]

14. Lol yessir

I was traveling yesterday and had time to read the delusional tears. I am sure the next few months will be full of more delusional craziness.

[Starry Messenger]

2. They think it gives them standing to dispute oppression of others.

And if they do that, then they can recenter their concerns as the primary ones.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Good point! And, I suspect the re-centering will be ...

Now that I, too, am subject to racism ... why can't you get passed it to focus on the REAL problem? I was able to!

[Starry Messenger]

6. Exactly!

See, it all works out. And if you deny their interpretation of the REAL problem, then they can try to paint you as being the real bigot.

I can't type here what I think of that kind of thing, but this kind of false equivalency seems very popular in discussions about race.

[Warpy]

15. More likely, the ability to be able to evade the collective guilt.

Well, that and too many people conflate bigotry with racism. The media do nothing to discourage them from that.

[scarletwoman]

3. I'm going to re-post part of something I wrote a couple of weeks ago, with some additional thoughts:

Victimhood - gotta have some of that sweet, sweet victimhood.

As with all things filtered through, and appropriated by, the dominant culture, victimhood is a prized commodity.

The claim to victimhood cancels out all notions of White Privilege. "How can you accuse me of White Privilege when I'm a victim, too?"

There are white people who look for opportunities to cast themselves as victims, in order to absolve themselves of the need to recognize that they are beneficiaries of the White Supremacist System we all live within.

(However, having declared themselves to be victims, they also have little patience for what they perceive as competing claims of victimhood from those groups who have actually been historically oppressed.)

[emulatorloo]

9. Well said. Additionally ego, self-aggrandizement, attention seeking, and lack of emphathy

[Number23]

12. Nailed it. As USUAL

However, having declared themselves to be victims, they also have little patience for what they perceive as competing claims of victimhood from those groups who have actually been historically oppressed.

You are such a treasure here. You and Starry have nailed it.

This is why so many white people love to bring up the Irish when people start trying to discuss slavery. There is no question that the Irish went through hell for quite a long period of time in American history. But to act as though what they endured is in any way comparable to the kidnapping, murder and displacement of tens of millions of African slaves is just a sad attempt to turn the conversation away from this country's painful history on race and to something they are a bit more comfortable with or feel that they can rationalize.

On DU, it's an entirely different animal. We are dealing with an unfortunately large group of people who are not only uncomfortable talking about race but are woefully ignorant of how much of this country's cultural and economic history have been impacted by race. This is why talking to so many of the people here is damn near impossible.

[betsuni]

16. I remember that post: "sweet, sweet victimhood"

They declared themselves victims of misandry, now racism, I guess next it'll be heterophobia. Done. No more straight white male privilege.

[Kind of Blue]

17. oh yes! #9 of Dr. DiAngelo's Rules of Engagement

9. Giving me feedback on my racial privilege invalidates the form of oppression that I experience. We will then need to focus on how you oppressed me.

[luvspeas]

7. I think that after marching with MLK...

some of them fell and hit their heads!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251744613

[Coolest Ranger]

10. It's not you

I have been noticing it and its personally making me angry that they think they have the right to lecture me on the subject of racism. Racism hurts, I know I have been the victim of it all my life and I'm getting angry at seeing this pity party I keep seeing from certain people.

[randys1]

11. White Americans, myself included, have no clue what it is to be on the receiving end of racism

The very fact they would even slightly imply they do, is the epitome of why they have no clue.

[Kind of Blue]

13. I think supremacy is a disease

an illness and like many diseases, like alcoholism, a lot of people can be in denial. What rights was he/she deprived of because of being white, I wonder.

Interesting article: "Study Finds White Americans Believe They Experience More Racism Than African Americans." What fascinated me most was the last line, "Caucasians, the study found, often believe that racial equality is a zero sum game, where one group gains at the expense of others.

I don't know but it sure sounds as if the participants who believe this understand inequality but want it in their favor.


http://politicalblindspot.com/study-finds-white-americans-believe-they-experience-more-racism-than-african-americans/