Motives, part 6: Peggy’s knapsack
Mar 24th, 2012 by Unamused
Besides the shallowest, most biased possible look at racial disparities, the Un-Fair Campaign cites Peggy McIntosh’s venomous propaganda piece “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” (1990), which in some versions lists as many as fifty ways Peggy claims she has “benefited from white privilege.”
Looking over Peggy’s experiences with “white privilege,” I find myself — well, increasingly bored, for one thing, but also wondering what strange parallel universe this woman hails from (probably one with a lot of zeppelins, where everyone has a goatee) and how she will ever manage to find her way back. Because we definitely don’t want her here.
Let’s look at a few examples. No, they don’t get any less stupid than these. Yes, they really aren’t worth my attention. But if any readers want to add to the list, feel free to leave a comment.
- “I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed” and “If a traffic cop pulls me over, or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.”
Remember, stereotyping is rational. So here, “white privilege” means black and Hispanic crime rates — and yes, that includes white collar crime rates and Peggy’s tax returns. Maybe instead of blaming white people, she should blame black and Hispanic criminals.
- “When I am told about our national heritage or about civilization, I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.”
“What it is”? You mean awful and racist? Full of “white privilege” and impoverished minorities? Of course, there are a few good things about America, but obviously those are due to wonderful, magical People of Color, not those awful, racist white people who ruin everything.
At least, that’s what I hear when I’m told about “our” (whose, exactly?) national heritage and civilization.
- “I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.”
But you are blamed for the failings of every other racial group. See: this very series.
- “I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.”
Right, because that would be crazy. It’s not like the purpose and principal effect of affirmative action have always been to take jobs, promotions, college educations, and other opportunities away from white applicants who deserve them and hand them over to undeserving non-Asian minorities who couldn’t qualify on their own merits.
Craziness!
- “I can choose public accommodations without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.”
Wait, what country and century is this, again?
- “I can be sure that if I ask to talk to ‘the person in charge’ I will be facing a person of my race.”
Not if you’re talking to an employee of the federal government.
- “I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.”
In this case, “white privilege” again means too many white people.
Put it back in the invisible knapsack, Peggy.
On the subject of white privilege, Asian uber-privilege, and racist flyers, Unamusement, just wanted to let you know that in addition to its reign of terror in Duluth, White Privilege(TM) has also recently been spotted wreaking havoc in the tech industry. So this is a public service announcement for any of your fine readers who may have received this in their inbox–‘Is tech racist?’: If, in your annoyance, you’d like to send back a snappy counter-flier, one can be found over at Those Who Can See. Free for all to re-post, print, etc. (This message is no way intended to detract from the fact that Unamusement Park is the king of racist flyers. And gun-toting kitties.)
So… if I’m Chinese, and I live in China, which is the Chinese country that my ever-so-Chinese ancestors built, and I ask to see the manager of the Chinese department store that I’m Chinesely shopping in, here in China, which you’ll recall is a country built by the Chinese for Chinese purposes, and it turns out the store manager is most probably… Chinese!
Egad! Chinese Privilege! The horror, I tells ya, the horror! — except that I say it in Chinese of course. Still more Chinese privilege! Aaagh, get it off me! Wipe it off with a burning log or something! Gaaaahhh!!!
All logical fallacies. I encourage you guys to study up on fallacies to be able to identify them easily where and when they occur. If you’re able to see a “strawman” for example you should be able to say “Ah ha, that’s a strawman argument and here’s why…”
In debate if you can identify your opponent using a fallacy then they essentially lose everything they’ve said prior and for a good portion into the future. After than they become defensive, often making the mistake of resorting to more fallacious argument. After than their Bullshit crumbles.
Almost all liberal arguments predicate…nay, rely….upon logical fallacy.
The “Is Tech Racist” flyer is so bad it looks like a hoax. But with anti-racism flyers it’s hard to tell parody from reality.
BTW, have a look at the pie charts. They have 3 colors of ink to work with: black, white, and orange. They are trying to show three races: black, white, and hispanic. Now, what would be a logical color scheme for a chart? I know: white is black, black is hispanic, and orange is white. They did it right for the person graph though.
When are you going to do something on the Zimmerman/Martin circus? I’ll even write the headline for you:
Tyrone Woodfork: President Obama’s Other Son.
Peggy complains:“I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.”
That’s the most absurd of all. It’s completely illegal for white people to do that, yet for every other race it’s considered normal and admirable.
“I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.”
That’s because your race is never given a voice. You are however blamed for all the wrongs anyone of your race has committed.
“I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.”
Actually you got it because of your gender and your political orientation. It’s certainly not through talent, if that’s what you’re implying.
“If a traffic cop pulls me over, or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.”
Can traffic cops even tell what race is driving? I thought they just saw cars speeding past.
But when a cop pulls you aside or a guard harasses you, you are being singled out because of your race. They deliberately target white people they think are innocent because otherwise they will get charged with disproportionately harassing black people and hispanics. They have no choice.
I think maybe the reason we’re now hearing all about “white privilege” is that the magic voodoo word “racist!” is losing its power, and they need a new stick to beat us with.
It’s quite clever, really, because “racist” is gonna stop working for two reasons — one, white people aren’t racist in any meaningdul way any more, and two, America is objectively racist… but against white people. It’s hard to use “racist” as the Demon Word when your own goal is quite literally racism.
So “white privilege” is perfect because it’s not a universal premise that can be pinned to anyone, it only attaches one way. It’s a high-toned way of saying “it’s OK to hate white people!”
I hope some clever little phrasemaker got a nice phat bonus check from George Soros.
“I can be sure that if I ask to talk to ‘the person in charge’ I will be facing a person of my race.”
Good luck. HR is overwhelmingly black (and female – gotta get those quota points!) where I’m at.
because “racist” is gonna stop working for two reasons
There is a 3rd: all us evil whiteys have seen the flagrant abuse of the the term as applied to the Tea Party, Republicans, and anybody else who dares to disagree with Obama.
It’s inescapable now that the term has been so abused. Somebody calls me a racist – I yawn and link him or her to one of the many images of the race card.
2)“When I am told about our national heritage or about civilization, I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.”
because there aren’t dozens of black and hispanic countries on planet earth. Indeed there are two separate homelands for African Americans set aside exclusively where it is illegal for whites to even be citizens.
7)“I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.”
If one wishes(and is able) to spend horrendous amounts of money to stay ahead of the undertow sure, one can insulate ones self from diversity.
As to “IsTechRacist?”, they label white/asian/indian as other, rather than show that whites are in all likelyhood losing to foreign nationals as well. How disingenuous of them.
“8. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privilege.”
– Because I’m Good Enough, I’m White Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!
“9. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods that fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser’s shop and find someone who can deal with my hair.”
– Yeah, but is it “history you can dance to?”
– Blacks can roll into the Kwik-E-Mart and find the staple foods that fit their cultural traditions as well. Menthol cigarettes, purple drank (and many other flavors of drank), candy-flavored crack pipes, and 40s.
–One of the most popular jobs for blacks is barber. How is finding a hair-care establishment a problem? It’s such a specialty, that blacks can easily make money providing it. Well, the ones that are inclined to work for a living anyways.
“10. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.”
– As well as your solvent bank account.
“11. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.”
– So can blacks; move out of the hood since it’s the most dangerous place for kids of any color.
“12. I can swear, or dress in second-hand clothes or not answer letters without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.”
– Certainly. They’ll just attribute them to your ill-mannered upbringing and loutish attitude. Winning?
Goodness… we could go on and on.
Ok… a couple more.
“13. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.”
– Seems you’ve already tried and convicted your race. Evil white privilege-enjoying YTs.
“14. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.”
– I don’t think this will be a problem for you.
“15. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.”
– Thank God for small favors. Hey, wait. Isn’t this “invisible knapsack of stupidity” piece “speaking for all the people of your racial group?
“16. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color, who constitute the worlds’ majority, without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.”
– So you think an acceptable alternative is to remain oblivious of the language and customs of the white cultures of the world? The ones that have practically given the world wealth unheard of in places where the non-whites of the world rule? The same white cultures that have gifted Western Civilization with humanity’s greatness?
You really are a daft white dummy.
——————
I am certain other posters here can do much better.
Hello All!
The real [and shocking] pix of Treyvon are at Sarah Maid Of Albion / what a difference a year makes. No wonder the lamestream wont release them.
none:
Or Shawn Tyson of Fla…suspect in killing of 2 Brits.
The blacks are less blameable because
1. The intelligence is so much lower in general
2. They are told from birth on TV and in school, in all media that Whites are at the root of why they consistently fail.
The people who are ultimately to blame here are those who form the network of apologia and the guilty (for things done hundreds of years ago by other people?) white liberals who are actually serving up their fellow whites to make themselves feel morally superior. The Jews are of course not entirely blameless here, but they would never be able to pull this off unless there were about 10,000 white assholes to every liberal Jew. But I will say that I feel something different in the air, different than the usual white capitulation and forgiveness-begging, and forking out more entitlement money. White people appear to have had ENOUGH, judging from all the comments in blogs and even mainstream news. So…. things will be looking interesting this summer when the riots happen and they start burning and looting their own houses and local shops, only to blame others.
90404
The pic with the gold teeth looks like Tray but I heard the pic with the middle fingers is someone else. You can’t see the face well enough to know.
“The real [and shocking] pix of Treyvon are at Sarah Maid Of Albion / what a difference a year makes. No wonder the lamestream wont release them.”
WRONG. Those are a different Trayvon Martin. The real Trayvon Martin who was beating the hispanic neighbourhood watch guy’s head in, is Trayvon Slimm Martin on facebook, here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Trayvon-Slimm-Martin/1353307542
Keep on shoveling away the bullshit…
Peggy McIntosh is condescending to Blacks. She paints them as weak and defenseless, which I’m sure Black men would appreciate.
So Blacks are too weak to watch their own kids or buy music?
This is racist garbage from another Elitist, condescending liberal.
You’re going to love this…
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/03/26/dear-trayvons-mom
I commented briefly, but she didn’t post it.
It’s quite clever, really, because “racist” is gonna stop working for two reasons — one, white people aren’t racist in any meaningful way any more, and two, America is objectively racist… but against white people. It’s hard to use “racist” as the Demon Word when your own goal is quite literally racism.
So “white privilege” is perfect because it’s not a universal premise that can be pinned to anyone, it only attaches one way. It’s a high-toned way of saying “it’s OK to hate white people!”
Agree 100% – this comment is worth re-reading.
The promotion of a theory of white privilege has distinct advantages over a theory of simple racism from a progressive perspective, and marks a shift in the battlefield as they seek to define it:
1. It’s specific to whites, not generic like racism. Blacks en masse are quite racist and bigoted — rather proudly so — and could never hold up their end of the unilateral racial disarmament envisaged by MLK then forced on whites by the Civil Rights revolution of the 1960s. This caused much discomfort for the post-modern set in the form of cognitive dissonance, and as a club for conservative revanchists to bloody them with. But of course blacks can’t have white privilege, it’s right there on the tin!
2. It’s universal among whites. It’s a stereotype, but unlike every other stereotype ever stereotyped on the stereotypical (don’t do it!), THIS ONE IS TRUE AND UNERRING! It also offers a gimmicky means for lesser lights of the self-loathing Status Left to prostrate themselves in absurd self-criticism, unpacking their privilege sacks and jerking off on the contents to facebook fanfare (888 Likes!). This can also be viewed in a religious light as penance for an unabsolvable original sin. But by barfing up their anecdotes all over the Internet, they create “data” that buttress the progressive elites’ arguments. Literate commoners become useful idiots for their betters, rather than liabilities.
3. It is a pat accounting, in the progressive mind, for all the horror that is black social statistics. They are all a direct result of white privilege except crime, which is excused as a rational reaction to its relentless caprice. Another right-wing club and buzzkill reversed! This requires one to believe that disparate outcomes are always evidence of disparate treatment, but as one may read here, the progressive clearly does believe this.
4. It’s an open-ended miasmic theory. Not that anyone in today’s social science academy has any interest in scrutinizing it, but as defined, white privilege is utterly and conveniently resistant to atomization as a social phenomenon or object of applied science. This seems to have been accomplished entirely by hand-waving: “it’s pervasive!”, “it’s unconscious!” and “it’s mysteriously conditioned!”, “it’s a meta-phenomenon!” All the literature on it just assumes it exists, based on the social data, and wanders off from there. There are no instances of white privilege in the hurly-burly of daily human intercourse to study, it just sits in the air and proves itself every time a black dies in a drive by or a white gets an engineering degree from Purdue. And since it can never be removed until blacks and whites are equal, it never will end — it arrives at the same reductive cul de sac as every other progressive plan: We’ll all be equal when there’s just one left.
LL
I just read her post. It made me want to vomit… on her. She said she’s married but I can’t believe a grown man with two testicles would put up with that crap.
Facebook status update: I inventoried my “white privilege” tonight, and what an eye opener! After careful consideration and much back-of-the-napkin ciphering, I arrived at a score of “zero.” Consulting the test-interpretation resources available on-line, I was pleased to find that this makes me black! I’m pretty excited about exploring my new identity! Hint: You might see SOME BIG CHANGES around the old f-book!
23 Chef Boyhowdy: That’s pretty good! What kind of “friend” population do you have? Liberal relatives, any darkies? I’d love to see that cat among a nice diverse flock of pigeons. Keep us posted.
ugh I couldn’t make it through two paragraphs of “Dear Trayvon’s Mom”
“I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.”. Ha. Haha. Hahaha. Because you forced affirmative action on us, this is what you get. You hire someone because of their race, then call ME a racist because I wonder if you hired them because of their race! Simple solution to this one….. Hire by qualifications only!
You and me, both Unamused. I just couldn’t go on after the point where she broke down in Target over the lack of black baby dolls. Nope, can’t make me cry about the Rawanda genocide, Liberia’s uncivil war, Total anarchy in the Congo and Somalia to name a few: The real evil is those BASTARDS who don’t stock black baby dolls in a Target store. Hell with ‘da bruthas killing off themselves and their children in their own, self created neighborhoods. I will save my DWL rage for where it can really do some good.
Pardon my French, but what a fucking idiot. Really. I haz a madz now. Oh, and If Elton John does a redux of “Levon” I will puke.
Chef Boyhowdy
“White Privilege” is not having to live around ghetto dwellers. Now THAT is a privilege. Most liberals don’t. So, yeah, they’re privileged.
“I just read her post. It made me want to vomit… on her. She said she’s married but I can’t believe a grown man with two testicles would put up with that crap.”
Now that feminism has “empowered” women, certain women feel that have the right to say whatever theory they have one their mind.
Before their constant, untouchable victim status, stupid ideas by stupid women were shouted down with more vigor.
With modern day divorce proceedings so biased towards the woman, it is no wonder many husbands just let their “empowered” wives go off on tracks like this.
So yeah, black people and women have a similar status in being just allowed to say clearly ridiculous things, supposedly to “empower” them.
Of course, this only “disempowers” these groups in the end.
DEAR TRAYVON’S MOM
THIS STORY’S BEEN A LOT OF FUN!
AND THIS MAY BE HARD TO HEAR,
BUT I’VE GOT SOME UNKIND WORDS FROM THE BLOGOSPHERE
YOUR SON WASN’T A MODEL STUDENT
HE WAS JUST ANOTHER BLACK TRUENT
SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL FOR STOLEN JEWELRY
AND OTHER TOM FOOLERY
THE NARRATIVE TURNED ON ITS HEAD
TURNING MANY A BLACK’S FACE RED
THIS ALL MAY SOUND CRUEL, EVEN SACRILEGE
BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT RACISM OR PRIVILEGE
IT IS SAD THOUGH, NO TEEN SHOULD HAVE TO MEET A GRAVE DIGGER
BUT THIS WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED HAD YOUR SON JUST NOT BEEN BORN A N*GGER
I’m as guilty as the next of basking in the schadenfreude of black-run cities (Trains Running on Time Quarterfinals: Hitler 3, Atlanta 0), and love to point and laugh at progressives in the rear with the gear, shouting platitudes at lower class whites in the vibrant trenches. But, man, it hurts to cede territory to the enemy, chucking entire cities into the rending maw of our decline.
Baltimore is now “selling off” its historic landmarks. What they’re actually doing is ransoming us back our heritage, seeking private-public partnerships where we take care of the place at a loss, plus create 25 AFSCME jobs for “middle class” blacks. Because whites actually care about this shit it is a win/win for the city. A petulant negress at the door of Mencken’s birthplace can only heighten the experience, but at what cost?
Take a look, if you dare, at the collections of the fine arts museums of Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland, Atlanta and Dallas we’re abandoning, and consider if “White Flight” is a clever manifestation of a standard deviation’s worth of IQ or just a sad retreat.
Peggy’s knapsack comes down to an admission that diversity just doesn’t work.
It’s a telling commentary that despite a half century of every DWL civil rights, social engineering and agitprop campaign, that we still have “inequality” in America. The logical assumption might be to reexamine liberalism and perhaps consider it to be a failure. But can’t have that, so let’s further blame whites and go into apoplexies of guilt.
Anyway, here’s the solution. Find the people who made up and agree with this knapsack list and send them to Zimbabwe to inform Bob Mugabe that his attacks on white farmers are a symptom of black privilege and that he should venerate whites for the vibrancy they brought to his country (not to mention things like a functional economy and an agricultural surplus). I am sure Bob’s response will be illuminating. (Do they have crocodiles in the Limpopo River? Last time I was there, I forget to check.)
I don’t know about the supposed brilliance of “White privilege.” It has its problems. Segues easily into “Jewish privilege,” for one thing.
“8. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privilege.”
– Because I’m Good Enough, I’m White Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!
Wow. I have White privilege because…I can make money bashing YT. Okay then.
oscar the grinch, yr post Nails It!!!
The lib narrative is ‘whites dont deserve anything, after inventing most everything’.
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