Read on Twitter
Our debates about privilege aren't good enough.
Example #50396 is the recent dispute between Charlotte Clymer (a white transwoman from trailer park Texas) and Briahna Joy Gray (a Black woman and former press sec for Bernie).
Example #50396 is the recent dispute between Charlotte Clymer (a white transwoman from trailer park Texas) and Briahna Joy Gray (a Black woman and former press sec for Bernie).
2) Clymer objects to someone saying a Biden loss is "for the best" because it would advance progressive goals.
Specifically, she says, "people will suffer and die if Trump is re-elected".
Gray objects: "people have been dying! You've just been at brunch."
Specifically, she says, "people will suffer and die if Trump is re-elected".
Gray objects: "people have been dying! You've just been at brunch."
3) Which then sparks a round of "your privilege is showing."
And the truth is: they both make good points.
And the truth is: they both make good points.
4) The privilege discussion doesn't lead anywhere-- Gray tries to re-focus on her main issue ("is Biden more electable if he addresses progressive concerns?") But it's not actually Clymer's original issue: "is it irresponsible to say we'd be better off with a Biden loss?"
5) We use the phrase "check your privilege" instead of saying "I don't think you understand this issue because of your first-hand experience."
That's a mistake. We need to be more specific about these complaints.
That's a mistake. We need to be more specific about these complaints.
6) If Joy could do it again, would she suggest a white transwoman doesn't understand the risk of death? When transpeople are perhaps most at-risk of random violence?
Of course Joy is right that a white women isn't going to understand many aspects of being Black.
Of course Joy is right that a white women isn't going to understand many aspects of being Black.
7) If Clymer's missing something here, point it out.
But we've decided that we can't lay that emotional burden on a victim. It's tiresome to have to repeat this stuff. That's fair.
But we've decided that we can't lay that emotional burden on a victim. It's tiresome to have to repeat this stuff. That's fair.
8) Emotional burden is real. If you're tired of explaining, don't explain. But we all benefit when we explain what we're facing. Our conversations progress-- they move into real issues.
9) Privilege is real, but instead of spending time establishing why we're not really all that privileged, maybe we ought to say "this is what I *do* understand". And then actually listen when the other person does the same.
10) We should do the same thing with racist or "problematic"-- we need to eliminate the habit of stating a conclusion ("that's problematic") without a reason. We're going to face an incredible amount of denial, but we make it easy for deniers when we're not specific.
11) Another aspect of privilege is that it's "situational": you may benefit from privilege in some environments/situations, but not others.
But this isn't proof that privilege doesn't exist: a system doesn't need to be absolute to have have serious repercussions.
But this isn't proof that privilege doesn't exist: a system doesn't need to be absolute to have have serious repercussions.
12) I wish we embraced this situational nuance-- it would make our arguments about privilege sturdier and less susceptible to the counter-example of white people who do face some structural challenges of their own. It's not necessary to deny those to show that privilege exists.
