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unblock

(52,352 posts)
Sat Jun 20, 2020, 03:15 PM Jun 2020

"white cheating"

i'm thinking of using the term "white cheating" in lieu of "white supremacy".
or "white cheater" instead of "white supremacist".

my thinking is that while most people recoil from the term "white supremacy", a small minority of people embrace it, and it theoretically leaves open the possibility that there may be an open question as to whether or not there's any merit to the notion that one race is superior or supreme relative to others.

it's descriptive, but non-judgmental in and of itself. people react negatively to it only because, and only if, they buy into the notion that such views are evil and destructive.

but "white cheating" is inherently judgmental. cheating is universally viewed as a bad thing (even cheaters acknowledge it's a bad thing, they just enjoy getting away with it when they can; plus, they have their own rules, and they don't like getting cheated against.)


plus, it's not an idle point. the whole point of the social hierarchy donnie and the republicans push is precisely to cheat, to not play fair, to force non-whites into a position where they can be taken advantage of one way or another.

"white supremacy" gives them an out, they can think that whites deserve their top position in the social heirarchy.

"white cheating" takes that away. it pushes the notion that the *rule* is to be fair and treat people equally, and if you take unfair advantage, you're cheating.

slavery; redlining; voter suppression; racially-motivated legislation, law enforcement, judicial and "corrective" actions; etc., all these (and a lot more) are white cheating.

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ProfessorGAC

(65,227 posts)
2. Doesn't White Privilege Already Do That?
Sat Jun 20, 2020, 03:37 PM
Jun 2020

I admit to the personal benefit of white privilege. There was never a doubt in my mind I'd get to do what I wanted for a living, nor that I would be good at it.
White boys got to think that way. Maybe still do.
But, it's not personally judgmental. I benefitted from white privilege, but I didn't cheat.
One I'll admit to, and try to empathise with those who didn't get that privilege.
The other I won't.
If I'm anything like another x million guys, the white cheating thing is too pejorative. It will turn off changeable minds.

unblock

(52,352 posts)
3. I think "white privilege" does exactly opposite, it's meant to be non-judgmental
Sat Jun 20, 2020, 05:13 PM
Jun 2020

And I agree with your point, I think "white privilege" is a good term that works well in getting white people who would otherwise be defensive about the whole topic to recognize that they have an advantage under the current system, whether they asked for it or not.

So I'm not suggesting we get rid of that term.

But sometimes, like when talking about the more overt forms of racism and violent enforcement of white advantages, that's when "white cheating" is, I think, a better term than "white supremacy". And I don't think "white privilege" is powerful enough to describe tear gassing peacefully sitting protesters....

ProfessorGAC

(65,227 posts)
5. Bought In!
Sat Jun 20, 2020, 05:17 PM
Jun 2020

I'm good with a term for people who refuse to acknowledge reality, otherwise.
And, I'm not sure there is any reason for failing to see white privilege as a real thin; other than racism. Latent or overt, it's still racism.

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