The power + predjudice = racism isn't my own invention- it is a, if not the standard academic definition. It is useful because the prejudice of one person backed up by power is much more damaging than the prejudice of someone who has little.
by any definition, power and privilege isn't exclusive to white people, nor are all white people
I guess you meant to add privileged or something similar on the end of that? And absolutely, power and privilege are not exclusive to white people. Being white in Australian society is only one form of privilege, and there are many others (class, gender, ablism etc.), but even if you are a poor white Australian you still have advantages over a poor aboriginal Australian. Some white ethnic groups in Australia do suffer more prejudice than others- but I can't think of any white ethnic groups that are the target of as much prejudice as aboriginal people, or black Africans (I'm aware that's a continent, not a country).
And yes, non-white people cam enjoy a lot of privilege, but in the words of one of my coworkers, "That doctor is one of those Asians, you know. Lots of book-smarts but she has no common sense."
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-23 01:29 pm (UTC)by any definition, power and privilege isn't exclusive to white people, nor are all white people
I guess you meant to add privileged or something similar on the end of that? And absolutely, power and privilege are not exclusive to white people. Being white in Australian society is only one form of privilege, and there are many others (class, gender, ablism etc.), but even if you are a poor white Australian you still have advantages over a poor aboriginal Australian. Some white ethnic groups in Australia do suffer more prejudice than others- but I can't think of any white ethnic groups that are the target of as much prejudice as aboriginal people, or black Africans (I'm aware that's a continent, not a country).
And yes, non-white people cam enjoy a lot of privilege, but in the words of one of my coworkers, "That doctor is one of those Asians, you know. Lots of book-smarts but she has no common sense."