Alan Joseph Bauer: The Falsehood Of White Privilege

One of the Left’s favorite ways of attacking Whites in general and men in particular is to accuse them of benefiting from white privilege. They only want to gain more power for themselves.

In the last few years, the idea of “white privilege” The Democratic Party and the Left have been dominated by it. This idea states that all White people enjoy and continue to enjoy privileges and benefits due to their whiteness. “people of color” at a structural disadvantage in almost all human endeavors—bringing up a family, getting into college, succeeding in work or business, buying a home and more. The concept of white privilege is used as a cudgel against the Left’s opponents, not to help Black people or others but rather to concentrate power in the hands of politicians, college administrators, woke corporate professionals, entertainers and the like. White privilege is false in many ways.

The United States is a country with a diverse and mixed population. This means that there are many poor Whites in the United States, both in Appalachia and in areas where fentanyl and jobs have moved in. Additionally, there are many “people of color” Those who are super-wealthy or wealthy. Who has privilege—a millionaire Black businessman who grew up in a middle class family or a poor White man whose family has been barely getting by in coal country for generations? Apart from the fact that there are many Americans not fitting into the false narrative of specifically White privilege, the idea itself is false. “American Way.”

One realized in the past that America was a more religious nation and that one’s task in life was to maximize what was given. Society expected more if one was born in wealth. This idea was called noblesse oblige. For generations, well-to-do Americans viewed it as their duty to serve their country in the armed forces and charities. You may have noticed that hospitals older than 50 years old often bear religious names such as St. Mary, Mount Sinai or Lutheran General, where you were born. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie used part of his wealth to build over two thousand libraries worldwide and Vannevar Bush left MIT to run the Army’s scientific war effort when his country needed his expertise. Harvard president was also there. It was normal for those with advantages to give back to others and their country. Privilege comes with responsibility. Although not all wealthy people will help the poor, there are still many examples of people who use their time and money to benefit others. I saw the new Bloomberg wing in Jerusalem for mother/child the last time I was at Hadassah Hospital. One may not like the man’s politics or his media empire, but clearly Michael Bloomberg feels that part of his wealth should be used to help others. As mayor of New York, Bloomberg spent $12 million on his own funds for city projects. Michael Bloomberg was the son of a father who was a bookkeeper and a mother who worked from home. Bloomberg believed financial companies would need business-related information immediately and would pay for it. He was willing to take a big risk with his news company and could have lost it if the market changed or someone did it better. There was no guarantee he would succeed. And if he had failed, no one would have offered to pick up the pieces. He took a chance and succeeded. There are many entrepreneurs and inventors who failed to succeed. Every one of us should use every resource available, taking risks and putting in as much effort as we can to make our lives as successful. Bloomberg and others like him would not be able to guarantee their success.

There are two ways to get more even outcomes—help those in need to get ahead or to punish those who are successful by pulling them down. The Left’s goal of leveling the playing field by pulling down those who took that which they were given and made something out of it will not help the poor. Non-Whites will be less successful if they deny Whites admission to college or advancement. Harvard admitted that the Black student body on campus would have been smaller if it had not been for the denial of acceptance by many Asian students to the undergraduate college. Harvard’s goal should have been to help Black students become more competitive prior to applying. Harming Asian applicants to get into their studies and other activities in order to gain admission is an indication of a failing admission system. Harvard was recently subject to a lawsuit by Asian student organizations.

White privilege will not be granted to people who are not Caucasian, or have a different background. This will only make it harder for Blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities to succeed. It is simply to make everyone mediocre by pulling down those who work so hard. Rather than demanding that rigorous standards be met for college acceptance, joining the SEALs or being accepted for pilot training, standards are lowered—even the SAT is being abandoned. People who succeed aren’t praised for their hard work and determination are instead accused of being the recipients of unfair background conditions and gifts, as though their personal efforts to maximize the utility of their starting circumstances were in vain. White privilege claims are based upon the false idea that all people should be equal in terms of their outcomes.“equity”Instead of encouraging every American to be successful according to their abilities and individual efforts, they are demanding equality of outcomes. By demanding equality of outcomes and accusing Whites of having some privilege that gives them an unfair leg up in all of life’s activities, those on the Left are demanding mediocrity; they are effectively telling students not to push themselves, not to try their best, because whatever they do, the results are not theirs and that their successes have been at the expense of others.

It is not helpful to accuse Whites of unfair advantage “people of color” succeed. It is important to place emphasis on Black families. Black children born to wedlock are higher than 50% in the US. Family is more important than money. Children learn to be independent, take risks and work hard because they know their families will support them. Black families with a strong foundation will help Black people and women achieve success more than the attempts to make whites feel guilty. Tiger Woods’ son is already playing golf with his dad. He has a huge advantage over other golfers his age, it is clear. Should he get punished? He should be charged with privilege and denied a professional career in golf. No. If he views golf as his future, he should be encouraged and motivated to strive to become an elite athlete and golfer just like his father.

There are many instances when one reads about Whites being penalized for only their skin color. Whites are told they don’t deserve to be employed or to receive the benefits of their talents and abilities because of some inherited privilege. United Airlines has made a lot of noise about its desire to have more diverse flight crews. As a passenger in back, my main concern is to have the best pilots on the plane. I do not care much if the pilot is a woman or a man of any race. United is not one of them. They will sacrifice pilot quality in order to meet their minority pilot quota. Who will take responsibility for anything that goes wrong in the air. It is not possible. Failure is not something that can be taken on by government or business.

This world is a place where people are expected to use their talents, gifts, and abilities with a personal drive for success. It is obvious that success can be more difficult for some than it is for others. However, pulling down one group will not make it easier for others. One interview I heard was with the daughter of a well-known musician. She said that her last name automatically got her auditions, but if she could not perform on the piano at the highest professional level, her father’s name and reputation would not help her land a job. America must encourage and support all people, no matter their skin color or where they start from. You must see success as something you have done with yourself, and not how you started.