General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Lets work together to end racism" is more constructive than "whites need to check their privilege". [View all]Behind the Aegis
(54,156 posts)However, we aren't dealing with an "ideal" situation. I agree some people are nasty and accusatory, which doesn't help, but there are also those who fail to realize they have privilege and don't fully understand it. Class has been brought up as a way to negate white privilege, but it does no such thing. It is true the issue of classism also needs to be addressed and it, too, has it's share of privilege. One thing I have personally noticed is how people are willing to overlook little things because "they aren't a big deal." While those little things aren't the be all to end all, they do add up and they do contribute to the cultures of '-isms', and therefore, they too need to be addressed.
Racism ((hetero)sexism/gender bias/homophobia/classism/anti-Semitism/Islamophobia/regionalism/et.c) is much more than calling black people ((or other ethnicities)(women/transgender/GLB/poor(wealthy)/Jews/Muslims/various people based on their place of origin/etc.)) bad names or attributing to them stereotypes, be they positive or negative. The big issues need to addressed, and often are, it is the smaller issues which seem to get a "pass" or are treated as if they aren't one of the "-isms."