I got an email invitation from WhitePrivilegeConference.com. Here's some of the website:
SAVE THE DATE:
14th Annual White Privilege Conference
The Color of Money:
Reclaiming Our Humanity
April 10-13, 2013
Seattle, WA
Heidi Beirich
Director of Research, Southern Poverty Law Center
The Rising Tide of Hate in America
Professor Kimberle Williams Crenshaw/AAPF
Professor of Law at UCLA and Columbia Law School
Meeting the Challenge: Thinking Intersectionality in the Age of Post-Racialism
Jane K. Fernandes
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
White Privilege and Power in the Deaf Community
Mary Romero
Professor and Faculty Head of Justice Studies and Social Inquiry at Arizona State University
Revealing Intersectionality: Privilege and Power in the Immigration Discourses and Law Enforcement
Charlene Teters
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media
Chair, Studio Art Dept. Institute of American Indian Arts
Perceptions and Portrayals: The Education of Charlene Teters
3rd Annual Presidential Luminaria Awards and Diversity Celebration Dinner
featuring keynote
ANGELA DAVIS
Wednesday, March 28th
Dear White Privilege Conference:
Thanks so much for the invitation. I get in free, right? Because I'm, you know, white. Also, seeing as how I'm white, don't forget to send the Official White Privilege limo for me. The driver can scan my White Privilege Card, so that will take of the paperwork.
Best wishes,
Steve
So, it is an all chick event or what? Any guys gonna show up to reign over the harem of harpies?
ReplyDeleteLOL....too funny, Steve!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis can't be real.
ReplyDeleteAll six listed keynotes are women. I'm trying to apply my decoder ring to this mystery.
ReplyDelete"This can't be real."
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, it sounds like a parody, but if it's a hoax it's on the scale of Borges' Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius hoax, because it has a lengthy internet trail.
Hey, its in Seattle! That way the attendees can all watch how privileged whites have been getting blessed by the vibrant diversity recently.
ReplyDeleteNo Jewish Privilege Conference?
ReplyDeleteOr
Gay Privilege?
Angela Davis? That's rich...
ReplyDeleteRemonds me of how Bill Buckley used to say when he was invited on tv chat shows, he felt he was invited less as a participant and more as an example of the evil inder discussion...
ReplyDeleteIf you take the limo, ask the driver to let you off at the intersectionality of Privilege and Power. Privilege is one-way so that's your best bet.
ReplyDeleteIf you drive yourself, be sure to get your parking validated so you can reclaim your humanity.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed the title of your talk. I hope it's featured as one of the keynotes.
Heidi Beirich of $outhern Poverty Law Center brings to mind that $PLC has donated ( or made accessible at token cost ) thousands of kits to public schools that purport to be about
ReplyDelete"Teaching Tolerance" and more recently has donated kits about "anti-bullying". The interesting fact of life is that realists (that read the commentaries of Jared Taylor and Steve Sailer and others ) have not attempted to scrutinize this material and suggest ways in which schools could modify/replace/ otherwise update and correct it. The engineering of anti-friction in schools, like any effective engineering, works when it is reality based. Instead the $PLC agenda is desire-based and gimmicky. Most states have laws counterpart of the federal Freedom of Information Act that would permit access to these materials that were held under the roof any local or regional public school. It is high time some effective counterpunching was done in the interest of Mr. Fact and Mr. Reason.
Angela Davis spoke at my university when I was in my last year there. The black conservative director of the African American Studies program remarked to me "She isn't as fiery as she once was." Ten minutes into her speech, while everyone was standing up applauding something she said, we both got up and left. That part was fun.
ReplyDeleteCommenters ask: "Is this an all chick event or what?" "All six listed keynotes are women. I'm trying to apply my decoder ring to this mystery."
ReplyDeleteThe key: "intersectionality."
"I get in free, right? Because I'm, you know, white."
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of lame, both rhetorically and substantively. It's the kind of snappy comeback you see at National Review and other conservative sites. That white privilege exists seems undeniable. (As others have mentioned, there's also Jewish privilege and maybe gay privilege, plus other privileges as well.) Race realists and anti-racists should all be agreeing on the existence of white privilege.
The next step is to ask some questions, questions that anti-racists never ask. What are the effects of white privilege? How do you measure those effects? (A dangerous question!) Do Jewish privilege, East-Asian privilege, etc. explain whites' relatively low place on the socio-economic ladder? And so on. It would be interesting to see how intelligent anti-racists, such as Tim Wise, would respond. But white privilege exists, and gags about free limos aren't going to help in understanding or persuading.
It's not a hoax, I was invited to last years conference which was held in Albuquerque.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fgcquaker.org/cmr/white-privilege-conference-2012
"All six keynotes are women"
ReplyDeleteCombine Steve's musings on the gay mafia with Heidi Beirich in charge, and you get a predatory lesbian hunting party.
That white privilege exists seems undeniable.
ReplyDeleteI deny it. So make your case, if you can.
If Whites have a "privilege" it's just the result of genetics. Higher IQ and other stuff. But somehow I don't think the conference is going to be about that...
ReplyDeleteThere is black privilege in the NFL and the NBA where black mediocrities do not get cut from the roster.
ReplyDeleteIn any niche where a group excels there is going to 'privilege' where the no talents of the group get the job anyway.
"It's not a hoax, I was invited to last years conference which was held in Albuquerque."
ReplyDeleteand the mystery is solved.
"That white privilege exists seems undeniable"
the stupid term came from the 'male privilege' addled women's department.
"As others have mentioned, there's also scots-irish privilege and maybe gay privilege, plus other privileges as well."
We all are privileged!! Just in different ways. Like women with boobs are privileged compared to men with boobs.
Oh wait, that is objectification, right?
"How do you measure those effects?"
why, that's easy, man is an economical animal and if you are acquainted with the current political situation in US, is waging a war on women
or here is the seminal paper with a list of the daily effects(50 of them no less) of white privilege from 20 years ago
or an article from psychology today published this february where btw they also unpack Tim Wise's white privilege LOL, Mr. Kanazawa doesn't make mention though.
Thinking about privilege — the unearned benefits that we enjoy in society as a result of being White or male or Christian(really?)
and I am sure there must be truckloads of academic papers that tease out the effects of these privileges from the various intersectionalities of race,gender,class,sodomy,fat-content, etc. have on our lives.
If you could kindly summarize their collective knowledge in an istevey length article, I am sure the readers here would heartily appreciate the effort.
"It would be interesting to see how intelligent anti-racists, such as Tim Wise, would respond. "
how has he responded to the recent migrant crisis in Israel?
Thank God for George Orwell!
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, the whole thing reminds me of a Monty Pyhon sketch, but deadly earnest.
In what other time and in waht other society has so much money, pomposity and pseudo-intellectualism been wasted in such a useless, worthless pursuit?
The atheists amongst us, would instantly cry 'Religion!' ie a lot of highly paid, pompous, goons getting paid huge sums of money composing and arguing the most tortuous of learned tracts about something which has about as much truth in it as 'Hansel and Gretel'.
- I think Monty Python were a lot more serious (ie in exposing the absurdity of what we call 'normality') than they are given credit for.
"That white privilege exists seems undeniable."
ReplyDeleteThe phrase "white privilege" is meaningless.
I will agree with you that inasmuch as meaningless phrases, like your entire comment, seem to exist, then it too exists, if only as a meaningless piece of resentful babble.
I bet you're the type who thought it was clever to turn in a school paper about "Waiting for Godot" that consisted of ten blank pages.
We must privileged. They love talking about us.
ReplyDeleteGilbert P.
"That's kind of lame, both rhetorically and substantively"
ReplyDeleteAaron, they're feminists. They don't do rhetoric and they don't do substance.
If you want to see something lame, go to the link for the conference and look at the topics that the speakers are going to be talking about. Look at the fact that the sponsor is a college that is giving a certificate in diversity, social justice and inclusion. If that's not enough, look at the fact that this isn't the first conference of this type.
That's kind of lame, both rhetorically and substantively. "It's the kind of snappy comeback you see at National Review and other conservative sites. That white privilege exists seems undeniable. (As others have mentioned, there's also Jewish privilege and maybe gay privilege, plus other privileges as well.) Race realists and anti-racists should all be agreeing on the existence of white privilege."
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like what you're trying to say is that people can receive benefits for a variety of personal characteristics such as being white, gay or Jewish. That is true. However, the same goes for being black, straight or a gentile. In summary, no matter what you are, someone out there will love and rewards you for it, or, alternatively, someone out there hates you simply because you can be classified within a certain group. No matter what your gender/race/background/occupation/eye color, you will experience penalties and rewards for it, at some point in your life. Duh. C'est la vie. Why do we need to hold formal discussions on this topic?
I love the comment: "In what other time and in what other society has so much money, pomposity and pseudo-intellectualism been wasted in such a useless, worthless pursuit?
ReplyDeleteThe atheists amongst us, would instantly cry 'Religion!"
Amen - but please note: religion creates group cohesion, whereas white privilege does the opposite (& i'm against religion:)
Sorry, but something just seems really wrong about accusing white deaf people of privilege. That's like accusing the handicapped of getting the best parking spaces.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to try to "prove" anything in a blog comment. I'll just double down: If you say that white privilege doesn't exist at all - or, ridiculously, that the phrase is "meaningless" - then chances are that either you're talking in bad faith or you don't understand what's meant by the concept.
ReplyDelete"That white privilege exists seems undeniable. (As others have mentioned, there's also Jewish privilege and maybe gay privilege, plus other privileges as well.) Race realists and anti-racists should all be agreeing on the existence of white privilege."
ReplyDeleteOf course--if by "white privilege" you mean the advantages that the whites have in most Western countries by virtue of being the majorities in those countries. I think it's disingenous to refer to that as "white privilege", though, since the number and degree of those advantages whites enjoy have dwindled as the numbers of non-whites have increased in those countries.
In any case, Aaron in Israel, I'd rather read the opinions of some white Zimbabweans and white South Africans on the subject of what you are pleased to call "white privilege". I think they would add far more to the diversity of this discussion than you can with your rather predictable agenda.
"Where's my white privilege?"
ReplyDeleteANTIFA TERRORIST SHOCKED OVER LACK OF SUPPORT FROM SPLC, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
(...)
WW: With the Tinley Park Five, have you gotten a lot of support from the left?
The Southern Poverty Law Center … I was a little disappointed with their reaction to it. We stand in solidarity with the Southern Poverty Law Center. We think that they’re fighting people on a legal basis is great. Good for them. We don’t think that everyone should be involved in militant action or that’s their strong suit. We believe in education; we believe in legal remedies; we believe in all of that stuff; and we believe that it’s going to truly take diversity of tactics and solidarity amongst the people who practice those tactics in order to be successful in this battle.
I find it very interesting that the Southern Poverty Law Center claims that [militant actions—WW] are counterproductive to the efforts against fascism while their own website admits that the number of fascist groups in the United States has increased 20-, 25-fold over the last 10 to 15 years. So if their way is the only way, and that’s the correct way, why isn’t it working?
(...)
One of the members of our community gave an interview [to the Chicago Tribune — WW] and it was very explicit [with the Tribune — WW] about some of the security concerns that are going along with the death threats, and they went ahead and put pictures of the people that were able to make the first arraignment on the front page of the paper. These people have since received death threats, so that’s a little disappointing. The Chicago Tribune is supposed to be a liberal paper
(...)
Look at the guest speaker line up. Talk about the usual suspects. Who would pay to go and listen to that tripe? I can't see attendance topping 100 or so of the Birkenstock Brigade.
ReplyDeleteWhat privilege? I am still trying to find out how I am so privileged! I have gotten hassled by cops, screwed over by every employer I have ever had, and wasn't popular in school either! I am not rich and I really can't see the privileges I have! Being white hasn't gotten me much and being a man just means that women who make twice as much as me tell me how I am holding them under a glass cieling!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like what you're trying to say is that people can receive benefits for a variety of personal characteristics such as being white, gay or Jewish. That is true. However, the same goes for being black, straight or a gentile. In summary, no matter what you are, someone out there will love and rewards you for it....
ReplyDeleteVery good, Maya. "White privilege" is simply an unremarkable example of the real phenomenon: life privilege, i.e., the privilege of living things to assemble resources and use them or share them to achieve their own life goals.
The only way to stop "White privilege" is to stop White life, and that's exactly the purpose of attacking White privilege -- and only White privilege -- as illegitimate.
I'm not going to try to "prove" anything in a blog comment. I'll just double down: If you say that white privilege doesn't exist at all - or, ridiculously, that the phrase is "meaningless" - then chances are that either you're talking in bad faith or you don't understand what's meant by the concept.
ReplyDeleteNo, those who say it doesn't exist know exactly what is meant by it. They know that the term is supposed to connote an unfair privilege, an unearned privilege, an exceptional privilege, a privilege different and superior to privileges enjoyed by members of other races.
White privilege, as such, most assuredly does not exist.
I am privileged to know all the good people I know, and all of them are white.
ReplyDeleteIf I were not white, I would not know as many whites and presumably would not know as many good people who are white. I might know lots of good Northeast Asians, and I could conceivably know lots of good blacks.
Acknowledging that my being white gives me access to more good people is "white privilege" is just a hidden assertion that white people are better than others. This came from the horse's mouth (the SPLC's mouth), not mine.
I really want a "Got Privilege ?" tee shirt.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the article, White Privilege and Power in the Deaf Community´s title, made me laugh out loud, which is rare for me.
The denials of white privilege are surprising considering all the tomes I read here about innate in-group altruism, the evils of inter-ethnic wealth transfers and the virtues of perfect acculturation to white culture. White privilege is definitely a thing, but it is not unique to whites.
ReplyDeleteAaron, If you're not going to try to prove your point in a blog comment, then don't make the drive-by comment. You offered no evidence--just an assertion. That's trolling.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:36 What are you talking about? What does the discussion of innate in group altruism have to do with white privilege? The Europeans were always fighting wars with each other. Even now the Greeks don't get along with the Italians, the Serbs don't get along with the Croats, the Russians don't get along with Ukrainians, the Estonians don't get along with the Poles, etc. etc.
"That white privilege exists seems undeniable."
ReplyDeleteJewish privilege > White privilege
and yet no talk of it in academia, no conferences discussing it and no constant attacks on it from the media.
While that remains true "white privilige" is simply stealthed anti-white racism.
Obviously it's liberal hogwash that got sent to you via keyword search...but you should call Jared Taylor and Dennis Mangan and go crash it.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:36 What are you talking about? What does the discussion of innate in group altruism have to do with white privilege? The Europeans were always fighting wars with each other. Even now the Greeks don't get along with the Italians, the Serbs don't get along with the Croats, the Russians don't get along with Ukrainians, the Estonians don't get along with the Poles, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteYet they get along with each other better than non-Europeans. Are you saying whiteness is imaginary? If it does exist, then white privilege exists where whites are dominant.
Anon 10:54
ReplyDeleteI don't know that they get along better than non-Europeans. The Jews in the Nazi camps, the Soviets in the Gulags, the Boers in the British camps in South Africa, and the Russian POW's in Germany in WW2, just to mention the ones who come to mind, would probably disagree with you.
As for white privilege existing where whites are dominant, you're talking about something localized in time and space, like apartheid in South Africa or segregation in the pre civil rights era South. I'm not saying that a historian shouldn't ever study those situations, but they're very different from what the conference is about.
Those who use the term white privilege today, use it to argue that whites are privileged even though we're currently in a racially sensitive, affirmative action society.
Fair people are so unfair! Or something.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect conference title would be "14th Annual White (Not Including Jews) Privilege and Estrogen Conference".