Activists on the left claim that WPT or “White Privilege Theory” is a social movement for justice, equal rights and opportunities for people of color who were historically deprived of their rights through systematic discrimination and structural poverty. The left promotes WPT in order to dismantle the so-called “system of oppression – capitalism,” and to accelerate the establishment of socialism.
Conservatives describe this rhetoric as a neo-Marxist ideology, cancel culture, utopian socialism, race warfare and reverse racism. They argue that in today’s America opportunities abound for nearly everyone, and they deny accusations of “white guilt.” Conservatives argue that progressive activists, in an attempt to remove economic and racial barriers, actually built a trap and are now responsible for the breakdown of our traditional moral values. Conservatives maintain that we should “give a hand, not a handout!”
Categorizing and prejudging people by their race is racial prejudice in its purest form – just redirected.
The doctrine of “white privilege” is sometimes credited to the African American writer W.E.B. Du Bois, but the phrase entered the modern lexicon in a 1989 paper by feminist Peggy McIntosh. “White privilege” hinges on the idea that injustices have been systematically perpetrated by white people against those who are not white. Because of this, white people are now “privileged.”
What’s the real point here? That life is unfair? That injustices have occurred, and that by extension, white people must now admit their privilege, be ashamed of themselves and pay for the past sins of white people? The whole premise is that skin color alone is of paramount importance in categorizing and understanding people, and that by recognizing somebody as “white,” tells us about the relative advantages they have in life. That a simplistic and purely racial view of human society.
The truth is that the relative advantages and disadvantages experienced by individual white people vary across an enormous spectrum. Assuming that the color of one’s skin alone is enough to indicate anything about where any one person might fall on such a spectrum is pure nonsense. Categorizing and prejudging people by their race is racial prejudice in its purest form – just redirected.
Accusing people of “white privilege” is really a form of hypocritical and blatant racial prejudice.
Discrimination takes many different forms. For example, many Jews, (another invisible minority) would be considered “privileged” according to white privilege doctrine, simply by the fact that they have white skin. Additionally, there is frequent discrimination against immigrants, disabled people, people who identify as LGBT. This discrimination, which has little to do with skin color, is based on sexual preferences, physical limitations or social status. Would we say that all white members of these groups are “privileged” because of their skin color?
My dilemma is this: How long should we keep referencing our past injustices? For example, my grandfather, Roman Umansky, was captured and brutally killed by German Nazis in 1941 in Kiev, Ukraine. I don’t expect modern-day Germans to apologize to me for the death of my grandfather or the atrocities committed by German Nazis against my former country, the Soviet Union.
In my previous column, “42 years after immigrating to the U.S., they consider me ‘white privileged,” which was published in Alaska Watchman on March 7, 2021, I shared my experience as an immigrant in this country. I refuse to be lumped under the umbrella of “white privilege.” I am simply an American.
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Any attempt to categorize and prejudge someone based on skin color is by definition racial prejudice. Racial prejudice and discrimination are wrong in any form, including claiming that all “whites” are “privileged” purely because of their race.
Accusing people of “white privilege” is really a form of hypocritical and blatant racial prejudice.
My immigrant story, like many others in the United States, is important because it illustrates the ideals expressed in the U.S. Constitution, especially in relation to equality for all without regard to race, ethnicity or origin. While I fully accept those ideals, I find a significant segment of American society overtly opposing them by espousing “systemic racism” and “white privilege.” Even politicians feel free to do this in public forums.
There is no room for any kind of racism. We must celebrate our American ideals of hard work and reject racist accusations masquerading as kindness and understanding of supposed injustices. In reality “white privilege” doctrine is a tool to advance a political agenda. Period.
15 Comments
Liberals hate themselves and they want us all to hate ourselves to. Ain’t gonna happen.
This guy is full of crap. Just because the left say it does not make it true. 10-1 if they say it it is crap. They can’t say anything of facts and truth, or they would all be in jail. Stop this crap now. Whites have to work hard for what they have. Many work hard and still have very little. Quit spreading these lies.
Good Stuff Alexander
I’d like to say it’s all good in AK in the racial department but it is worse than the deep south ever was. I’m grumpy about it. It will never be fixed for two thousand years after Armegeddon in Alaska.
Care to expand what “Armegeddon in Alaska” means, G? Did I miss it?
That’s because all the tribal natives hate the white man but they sure will sit out in their village and collect that ASRC check that the white man works to support
Not tribal. Native though and we have paid a high price for it in Alasja.. I’m not gonna white wash it for you.
Haha? So it’s ok to collect a check that our taxes pay for and you think you are owed that money? just remember,, white man buy 4 wheeler and white man taketh 4 wheeler away! keep on thinking we owe you anything!
White men are not the only folks who pay taxes! I’m Alaska native and have paid a lot of taxes. Not all natives in the village hate whites or collect checks. If you don’t like Alaska original people than you should just leave this state (go to Minnesota and become a cop)! The government will always honor Alaska’s original people who have paid a big price for modern civilization to develop Alaska. Your catty comment about four wheelers show just how shallow you are. I just hope you are not teaching your kids to think like you.
Liberals who are leftists are marxists and their purpose is to create turmoil. In this case derail the American family and poison future generations that have no chance to access Truth. Thank you, sir, for you outspoken ness and putting people on track.
Excellent explanation. Remember, the Marxists are using this Critical Race Theory to set one group against another. Marxism uses hate-hatred to achieve its end.
Thank you for writing so eloquently on this topic.
My husband is also an immigrant and I appreciated your previous article very much as well.
“The truth is that the relative advantages and disadvantages experienced by individual white people vary across an enormous spectrum. Assuming that the color of one’s skin alone is enough to indicate anything about where any one person might fall on such a spectrum is pure nonsense. Categorizing and prejudging people by their race is racial prejudice in its purest form – just redirected.”
This paragraph especially was very well said and cuts to the heart of the matter.
This is very simple to explain
If you died tomorrow and could come back as any race living in America –
What race do you choose ?
Yeah.
That’s what I thought.
This curriculum is for the purpose of dividing us and create a war between us. True history confirms America is a melting pot of races from all over the world. Check out your DNA. These are lies in the “white privilege” curriculum or “woke” curriculum or whatever most recent name is used for singling us out and embarrassing us those of us who hold traditional family values and Christian values. It is pushed by the NEA, academics, and unions who are evolutionists/marxists/utopianists, et. al.
By the way, isn’t it against the Constitution, Rule of Law to classify into groups rather than giving us credit for individual rights? What is happening is the opposite of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr’s wisdom as reflected in his speeches. He was a brilliant man. In Christianity we know that we are all of one blood and that is the Truth. Happy Easter!