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Race, Class, and White Privilege: A response
Malik, Kenan
http://kenanmalik.com/2020/08/30/race-class-and-white-privilege-a-response/Year Published: 2020 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX24326 Underlying the "white privilege" thesis are two basic claims. First, that being "white" is a useful category in which to put everyone from the CEOs of multinational corporations to the cleaners in an Amazon warehouse. And, second, that being in such a category imbues people with privileges denied to those not in that category. Are either of these claims true? Abstract: - Excerpt: “Racism” refers to the practice of discrimination against, and bigotry towards, certain social groups; there may be many reasons for such discrimination and bigotry, but one is clearly that those who are non-white are often treated unequally. Viewing the issue in terms of “white privilege” is, however, deeply flawed for a number of reasons. First, it is not a “privilege” not to have to face discrimination or bigotry; it should be the norm. I doubt if Chris, or, indeed, most proponents of the white privilege thesis, would disagree. Framing the absence of oppression or discrimination or bigotry as a “privilege” is to turn the struggle for justice on its head. Second, the concept of white privilege fails to distinguish between “not being discriminated against or facing bigotry because of one’s skin colour” and “having immunity from discrimination or bigotry because one is white”. The distinction is important. Many whites, because of privileges afforded by wealth and class, do have immunity against discrimination. But many others, who are poor or working class, do not. Their experiences of state authority or of policing is often similar to that of non-whites. Consider, for instance, police killings in America. African Americans are disproportionately killed by police. But more than half of those killed by US police are white. Some analyses suggest that the best predictor of police killings is not race but income level – the poorer you are, the more likely you are to be killed. Subject Headings |