I agree that outright bigotry is not the main factor Trump won. ‘White privilege’ does not entail that no ‘white’ people are poor and disadvantaged (many are, and many voted for Trump) but rather that most persons of color in the same material circumstances would be at an even greater disadvantage. All other variables being equal, would you rather be poor and ‘white’ in America or poor and ‘black’?
Hopefully someday we can honestly say it wouldn’t make a difference. To that end, let’s be attentive to people’s notions of race but also point out how arbitrary they are. Who, exactly, is ‘white’ or ‘black’? Let’s admit that people perceived as ‘white’ tend to have advantages right now and challenge the legitimacy of the underlying perception of the racial category ‘white’ and others like it. Let’s celebrate skin color and our real attributes but abolish “race,” pointing out the real harm this sloppy, backward concept continues to cause. Both Ta-Nehisi Coates and people who don’t want any extra advantages just for being perceived as ‘white’ would agree on this. Keep it up.
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