[WAsummit] Using the language of privilege

[Frances Kendall]

Youall are all great! Thank you. I feel similar to Carrie; if you¹re
uncomfortable, let¹s deal with THAT, not change the language. And I¹m just
about to write Understanding White Privilege, 2nd edition, so I thought it
would be good to ask. Maybe I¹ll do a chapter on changing language as a way
of fleeing the conversation!   :)

Francie




On 9/21/09 2:41 PM, "Carrie Stewart" <cls2001 at swbell.net> wrote:

> Forgive me if my reply sounds curmudgeonly :>)  Precise language is important,
> and as our understanding evolves, certainly our language must.  I¹m not aware
> of the word Œprivilege¹ falling out of fashion ­ but it may be just that.
> There is no denying that whites (say it with me :>) enjoy unearned privileges
> in our society because we are white.  Any changes in terms will not change
> that fact.
>  
> I have experienced whites¹ discomfort with the term because, most whites don¹t
> feel particularly Œprivileged¹ in their lives. Mostly I think the feeling does
> come from a visceral reaction regarding class, or access to material power.  I
> think as leaders we have to stick with them through this and move the
> conversation to race.
>  
> Objections on class issues is, frankly to me, another obfuscation to not deal
> directly with race.  We as whites are *so* good at changing the conversation
> his way. :>)
>  
> I think the term Œsupremacy¹ takes a higher level of consciousness/analysis
> that is harder for white folks to get.
>  
> I do appreciate the activity and activists on this list!
>  
> Carrie
>  
> 
> Carrie Stewart
> carrie.stewart at swbell.net
> 817-685-2542 (H)
> 512-350-9030 (M)
> "Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure"  ~ Marianne
> Williamson
>  
> 
> From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org
> [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of Louisa Davis
> Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 4:00 PM
> To: White Anti-racist Summit
> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Using the language of privilege
>  
> I¹m increasingly cutting to the chase with language of white ³supremacy? ³ Has
> a fairly concrete observable-ness to it, if you ask me‹as in Congress, court
> system, education.
> 
> I too wonder what they¹d choose if given the choice?  I¹ve also heard from
> more than a few activists of color that they find the word privilege unhelpful
> also‹because it obfuscates the possibility of greater working class solidarity
> vs the color of wealth.
> 
> I also like the NVC distinction between internal and external resources‹as the
> power to meet needs.  We ALL have ialmost nfinite internal resources, but some
> of us have a lot more external resources, including access to services,
> credit, etc. Does ³greater access² work‹if linked with concrete numbers?

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