The Real World of White Privilege

 

Most things most people pretend to believe are the opposite of the truth; for most people are in denial, and the Devil rules this world.

One example is “white privilege”: the idea that white people, and Asian people, have it easier from birth because they are given special advantages due to the colour of their skin.

I teach Chinese and Korean students. I have lived in China and Korea. I can attest that the life of an East Asian child is hell. I have had to watch kids beaten in front of me; over the Internet. I have had to try to teach kids unable to keep their eyes open, taking extra tuition on weekends, first thing in the morning,  and late into the night.

Jewish parents are similarly demanding. I have just finished “Maus” and Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” with my students. Either suggests the hell of a Jewish childhood. As does Cohen’s “Favourite Game.” If it isn’t the hypercritical father, it is the Jewish mother smothering you, making constant demands.

To a lesser extent Anglo and other “white” parents are demanding of their children. They allow them relatively little time for idle childhood fun: for listening to their favourite music, for playing with friends, for hanging out. They may go out for sports; but then they must bring home trophies.

By contrast, very little pressure is put on black kids or aboriginal kids. In part because many do not have a father around; but either aboriginal or African childrearing was always culturally relaxed. They get to be kids and do as they like growing up. They get praised and coddled. They are brought up to think they are wonderful, and deserve anything.

There is a similar contrast in how we raise boys and girls. Little girls are always adored, given the benefit of any doubt, and treated like princesses. Little boys get suspected of the worst and criticized. One of my earliest memories is of being driven out of a public playground, that I had innocently entered, and before I could actually do anything, by adults, because there were girls playing there, and “boys play too rough.”

This harsher treatment in childhood, this lack of parental warmth, may or may not lead to success in later life. Some are destroyed by it.

But it is certain that these white, Jewish, Asian, and/or male kids are not brought up with “privilege.” It is the black and aboriginal kids, and the girls, who are accorded privileges they did not earn.

Being used to privilege, they continue to demand it in adulthood, and cry injustice if they do not get it. The white, Asian, and Jewish men just grit their teeth, accept the expected abuse, and get back to the grindstone.