Ebola vs. COVID. Ferguson vs. George Floyd. Government Bailout vs. Stimulus Checks. If there is even a question about impeaching Trump, we need to look at the difference in responses between how Trump has handled each crisis during his term vs. how President Obama handled his. Understanding these monumental events and their solutions (or lack of) will help give context for why the recent storming of the Capitol was handled so differently than the BLM protests. Dr. Venus breaks down how the police response at the Capitol is a direct example of White Privilege. She backs up the evidence that if Obama handled ANY national crisis on his watch remotely like Trump, he would have been impeached well before his first term was over. Yet, the word on the street is White Privilege doesn't exist. Let’s talk about it.
Key Takeaways:
[3:15] Definition of White Privilege: the set of social and economic advantages that white people have by virtue of their race in a culture characterized by racial inequality.
[3:50] “By discussing the reality of White privilege, we're not negating or invalidating other hardships that may come with each individual's circumstances. Rather, we intend to shed light on the reality that white people are granted rights (whether they're subtle or obvious), immunities, and opportunities by their skin color, regardless of whether they asked for that privilege or not.” — Mehak Anwar
[5:01] When you hear the rhetoric of Trump supporters and the insurrectionists of the DC riots, it’s about them defending their land, patriotism, and the Constitution. The way they speak, however, as though this is a natural law and not part of a democracy. It’s not up for debate or listening to any other side.
[6:09] To be White is to be awarded many things including individuality, assumption of intelligence, innocence, empathy, the power to make policies, and opportunities.
“White privileges are the relative advantages racism affords to people identified as white, whether white people recognize them or deny them. To be white is to be afforded one's individuality. Afforded the presumption of innocence. Afforded the assumption of intelligence. Afforded empathy when crying or raging. Afforded disproportionate amounts of policy-making power. Afforded opportunity from a white network. Afforded wealth-building homes and resource-rich schools. Afforded the ability to vote quickly and easily.” — Ibram X. Kendi
[7:03] The White Trump supporters storming the Capitol weren’t afraid because they didn’t need to be. The police engaged with them as if they were familiar old friends and family members. They tended to them like human beings and even took selfies with them — a stark contrast to the mostly peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter.
[9:20] Dr. Venus is not implying that there weren’t trouble makers at BLM as well. It’s not about that, it’s about the stark contrast of the police response. For BLM, they brought in the police, National Guard, Federal Agencies, and almost every other team to militarize the response as much as possible.
[10:48] It’s due to White Privilege that the insurrectionists can get into the White House. BLM couldn’t even get close.
[11:40] The challenge with Trump’s response is that he deliberately provoked action. Even after senators, judges, and politicians declared that they trusted the system and the election results, he still provoked action.
[13:12] Only White Men would do this. Black People wouldn’t even think to breach that level of power. We’ve been trained not to. We’ve been trained to protest and march. We know that if we have gotten too close they would have shot us. White Privilege is boldness.
[14:45] The point of impeachment is not for punishment, but protection. We don’t want someone angry in power to hold the code for nuclear weapons or to start an all-out war with another country and threaten our safety.
[17:19] Dr. Venus references an article that gives data rather than opinions on the MAGA vs. BLM responses. Even though the Capitol mob was far more violent, the police responded far less aggressively towards them.
[20:30] White people “racism” when we are really just talking about race.
[21:12] Obama showed great regret for a slow response to Ferguson, whereas Trump took no responsibility for what happened on his watch to George Floyd.
[22:26] While Obama listened to scientists and health experts on a response to Ebola, Trump made his response to COVID about politics and took away the power of scientists.
[24:01] Trump’s lack of leadership is the rugged individualism that comes with White Privilege at its finest.
[27:05] Dr. Venus has hope for the new administration, but it’s also up to us to hold them accountable for what they promised. Where they stopped after the Reconstruction is where we are starting with Biden.
[29:50] Don’t be afraid, and don’t give away your power. Inside of a crisis is opportunity.
Quotes:
- “Whiteness doesn’t have any other conversation other than the one it tells itself.”
- “White Privilege is when you can talk back to the police and not die.”
- “Our jobs as citizens and woke folk is to hold our elected officials to the fire.”
- “Whiteness is a social position, it’s not skin.”
- “We know that if we have gotten too close they would have shot us. White Privilege is boldness.”
Mentioned:
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RESOURCES
- WHITE PRIVILEGE Definition of white privilege: the set of social and economic advantages that white people have by virtue of their race in a culture characterized by racial inequality…
by discussing the reality of white privilege, we're not negating or invalidating other hardships that may come with each individual's circumstances. Rather, we intend to shed light on the reality that white people are granted rights (whether they're subtle or obvious), immunities, and opportunities by their skin color, regardless of whether they asked for that privilege or not. — Mehak Anwar
And here, in white racism, was a shame of truly epic proportions—the shame of white supremacy that for centuries so squeezed the world with violence and oppression that white privilege was made a natural law.— Shelby Steele
also: a single such advantage
White privileges are the relative advantages racism affords to people identified as white, whether white people recognize them or deny them. To be white is to be afforded one's individuality. Afforded the presumption of innocence. Afforded the assumption of intelligence. Afforded empathy when crying or raging. Afforded disproportionate amounts of policy-making power. Afforded opportunity from a white network. Afforded wealth-building homes and resource-rich schools. Afforded the ability to vote quickly and easily. — Ibram X. Kendi
RESOURCES:
IMPEACHMENT
- House Democrats introduce article of impeachment against Donald Trump
- Democrats officially introduce impeachment article, Republican forces vote on 25th Amendment resolution
MAGA VS BLM RESPONSES
- Maga v BLM: how police handled the Capitol mob and George Floyd activists – in pictures
- The Police’s Tepid Response To The Capitol Breach Wasn’t An Aberration
- Obama, Former Presidents Contrast Trump in Response to Protests
FERGUSON VS GEORGE FLOYD RESPONSE
- Obama Has Some Regrets About Ferguson Response
- "Stark contrast" in police response to BLM protesters and "domestic terrorists" who stormed Capitol, NAACP president says
EBOLA VS COVID-19 RESPONSE
- How Obama's Handling Of Ebola Compares With Trump's Handling Of Coronavirus
How Trump Gutted Obama’s Pandemic-Preparedness Systems Former officials
BONUS: ECONOMY
- How Does the Trump Economy Compare to Obama’s? A Look Back at 4 Key Data Points
- What to Remember About Barack Obama's 2009 Stimulus Package
- Trump vs. Obama: Who Created More Jobs In Their First Terms?
