What is white privilege? By Jack Hellner April 13,

New Post Public Reply Private Reply Replies (0) Message Board

Apr 13, 2017 at 5:43 PM 85

What is white privilege?
By Jack Hellner
April 13, 2017

The term "white privilege" is thrown around a lot these days. I never thought much about it until a man wrote to our local paper. He was a black man from a family of ten who was the first to graduate from college in his family. He said white privilege exists because the white kids he went to college with had three or four generations of professionals before them who had graduated from college.

I believe that my 66-year-old brother and I at age 64 have the more common white experience. We are the first generation of our direct families who graduated from college, and we paid for it ourselves, because our parents couldn't afford to. He is a lawyer, and I am a CPA.

My great grandfather on my dad's side came over in the late 1800s from Germany and was a barrel-maker. My grandfather was a baker who never owned his own home. My dad worked for Western Union for 41 years and died at age 58 in 1981. He started out as a messenger on a bike and died when he was an office manager. His last salary, including overtime, was $19,000.

My great grandparents on my mom's side came over from Germany in the late 1800s and worked farms in Illinois. (They never owned one.) They had twelve children, two of whom died during infancy. My grandfather was a door-to-door salesman for Prudential, and my mom went to work when I was 16 for the State of Illinois for $325 per month.

My parents taught us to work at a very young age. I was a paperboy from age 9 to 14. I worked 365 days a year for over 10 hours per week, and I made around $7 per week. At 14, I detassled corn for $1.10 per hour, and I did dishes at the fair and ended up making under $1 per hour. At 15, I worked at a restaurant doing dishes, making salads, and being a busboy. When I was a junior and senior, I worked at a drugstore, going from $1 to $1.25 per hour. Basically, I worked a lot of menial jobs throughout high school and college. I was happy with whatever job I could get, because I would not have had any money otherwise and would not have been able to attend college. Those jobs also motivated me to do better.

"White privilege" is a purely racist term, meant to divide us, not unite us. (Are we going to someday say "Asian privilege"?). It is meant to convey that white people got where they are because of the color of their skin, not because they worked hard. It also conveys the message that people of other races are punished because of their race and that they have an excuse not to succeed. It is not their fault. The people who use the term like to pretend they care. They are also most likely to push for a $15 minimum wage. They don't seem to care that over 30% of minorities in many cities are unemployed, and the higher you raise the wage, the fewer opportunities those people will have. Giving people stuff for free and making them dependent on government does not replace the beginning job opportunities that allow young people to move up the economic ladder. The federal government has spent over $20 trillion on the War on Poverty and Great Society programs, and the only thing it has succeeded at is breaking up families, making more people dependent, and making future generations broke. Nothing is free, and when you get stuff for free, it is not as rewarding as earning it.

Bono said it best: "Capitalism Takes More People Out of Poverty Than Aid."

We should celebrate successful people instead of denigrating them, as long as they make their money honestly.

If we want to look at a privileged class, we should look at D.C. politicians. While many worked hard to get there, once in, they treat themselves like royalty. Taxpayers pay their high salaries (that put them in the top 5%), and they get Cadillac pensions and Cadillac health insurance benefits for life. Frequently they travel on our money. They work very few days per year and exempt themselves from laws they require others to follow. They pass campaign finance laws in violation of the First Amendment to protect their power.

It doesn't matter if D.C. politicians are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, a fake Indian like Elizabeth Warren, or a socialist with three homes like Bernie Sanders. They are all treated like royalty.

It is time to relegate the term "white privilege" to the trash with other racist terms.

Featured stocks: Coffee Shoppe
For conservative debate: "Keeping it Real"
Game Changing stock $SHMP

Newer

Older

Scroll down for more posts ▼

Top 10 Most Recent News Articles

Wave Kids™ Unveils New Flavors for Kids' Drinks

Sparking a Fresh Wave in the Kids' Beverage Market Alright, let me tell you about a new player plowing into the kids' drink scene. Wave Kids™, a brand that's making waves—pun intended—has a fresh lineup that screams 'fun' and 'healthy' in equal measure. Just coinciding with back-to-school season, this Scottsdale, Arizona outfit has rolled out not one or two, but...

LeoLabs and SciTec Partner for $93.7M Space Force Deal

LeoLabs and SciTec Join Forces for Space Dominance The space race ain't just about rockets blasting off anymore. It's about making sure we've got eyes everywhere, even on the back of our heads, so to speak. Enter LeoLabs teaming up with SciTec to help the U.S. Space Force upgrade their radar systems to something out of a sci-fi flick, armed with a $93.7 million contract...

Fresh Thyme Empowers Local Brands in Michigan Debut

A Community-Driven Retail Innovation The grocery game just got a little more personal in Michigan, and we're not talking about run-of-the-mill retail pitches. Fresh Thyme Market, known for its commitment to local and natural products, is shaking things up with their Pitch Thyme Competition. This ain’t your usual product presentation. It’s a whole new ball game where...

Muscle Car Fever Revs Up in New Global TV Series

Chasing the Dream on Wheels Amid the buzz of New York, there's a roar building up that's hard to ignore. It's a sound that echoes through time, capturing the imagination of petrol heads everywhere—those legendary American muscle cars are back in the limelight. I mean, who hasn't dreamt of launching down a highway in a '69 Ford Mustang? 'The Hunt for Rolling Treasure' is...

Agroz's Big Leap: New Supply Deal in Malaysia

Agroz Inc. Executes a Game-Changing Deal If anyone thought the ag tech players were sitting idle, think again. Agroz Inc., noted for their innovative controlled-environment agriculture, just inked a pivotal deal with Harvest Hive in Malaysia. It's not just a nod to expansion—it's a strategic leap into the big leagues. Picture this: Harvest Hive's sprawling 500-acre farm...

MCatalysis Secures $5M to Disrupt Fuel Cost Dynamics

Funding Fuels Innovation MCatalysis has just secured a hefty $5 million in seed funding to throw down with the big dogs in energy production. This isn't your regular backyard science project; this company is serious about changing the game with a tech-driven approach that could undercut current fuel prices. HL Energy Ventures and Oxford Science Enterprises are backing...

IDX Expands, Enhances Team Amid 56% H1 Growth

IDX's Aggressive Global Expansion Here's a tip from a trader who’s seen cycles rise and fall: watch the movers who're playing the long game, putting down roots worldwide while making headway in the data game. IDX has clearly mapped out this trajectory as evidenced by its recent grab in the global strategic communications ring. IDX's bustling around like a squirrel...

Spot the Signs: Early Gum Disease Insights from Experts

Why Early Detection of Gum Disease Matters Let's dive right into the crux of things. Gum disease, that sneaky antagonist of oral health, starts unassumingly. You brush, you floss, but those gums might still bleed—ever noticed? Dr. Marian Burgard of Fairport Family Dental has a thing or two to say about this, enlightening us through an insightful piece by HelloNation....

ZEEKR's Shooting Brakes Dominate: Over 400K Sold

ZEEKR's Stellar Performance in a Crowded Market Another month, another bumper crop for ZEEKR's shooting brakes. These beauties aren't just hanging in there; they're leading the pack. In August alone, global deliveries marched past the 10,000 mark for the third month running—a feat not easily achieved in today's saturated automotive landscape. It's no wonder the...

Everpure Surges into the S&P 500: A Milestone Move

Big Leagues Beckon: Everpure Enters the S&P 500 Another day, another dollar, but today ain't just any day for Everpure. They’re stepping up from the minor leagues and grabbing their spot in the illustrious S&P 500 lineup. We're talking about a milestone that every company dreams of, but few achieve—this ain't your regular Tuesday headline. Stock Market's Stamp of...