This will get ugly: can a non white person be racist?!

[ram2008]

61. Just because it happens disproportionately to minorities, doesn't mean minorities can't be partof it

I agree there are many privileged whites, but there are also many whites who do struggle and it isn't fair to marginalize them all.

That being said, we do know that if you are born a white heterosexual life is certainly easier for you than if you were a lets say a lesbian, african american woman.

BUT, there is also an enormous class factor that goes into privilege.

I grew up as a middle class Hispanic and I have one side of my family who is affluent and one who is not, so I feel like I see it from all sides. And while I did endure some racism every now and then (mostly immature kids, or drunk assholes nowadays) as a whole I don't feel like I'm oppressed. I got into a great school, graduated with great grades, and found a fulfilling career. Not once did I feel society collectively oppressed me on the way. I've never been pulled over, and I've interacted with police once or twice, and both times were cordial. I've never been kicked out of a store, never been told I can't be somewhere for who I am... If I grew up in a poor neighborhood the outcome could be different?

Now what does that make me? Am I privileged? I don't know. I think I'm more privileged than lets say a white-rural dude who grew up in a trailer park and less privileged than a White dude from Boston whose parents graduated from Harvard. The point is there are different degrees. I don't think it's fair to say you're either privileged or oppressed solely based on skin color.