Im guessing that implies that you grew up in an affluent household with college educated parents? I was also born white, and I had to make my own contacts in order to climb the ladder. All of my high power contacts are democratic liberals who sympathize with minorities, so im not sure if it would have made much of a difference if I were black. I was also the first person in even my extended family to go to college and actually graduate, so I had to figure it all out on my own. Forgive me if I am a bit bitter over the idea of 'white privilege'.
I did come from an affluent household, but not from college-educated parents. My parents grew up in rural upstate NY and my father started a company before I was born. By the time I came along, they were financially comfortable. But my dad dropped out of college after about one year, I think, and my mom never went.
That’s been my biggest challenge to overcome. All the academic connections and achievements I’ve made are my own. And every time I visit my hometown I’m resubmerged in “life beyond academia,” or whatever we want to call it.
My parents are smart, but not intellectuals. It makes for challenging conversations sometimes, but also productive ones. Can’t necessarily say the same thing for other members of my family. I see way too many “Islam is evil” and “liberals don’t know which bathroom to use” comments on Facebook to take seriously anyone who accuses me of living in a bubble.
But I am financially and culturally privileged (I think, anyway).
The #metoo movement is just exactly that though. Perhaps historically black men were more frequently called out, but with #metoo they don't only include white people, but people of power and influence. Every man is now fair game for a rape accusation, so if it wasn't in the back of your mind before, it should be now. But iirc you are married, and if your relationship is stable you shouldn't have to worry as much as us single guys. The first thing that women think about before a first date meetup is trying to avoid a rapey situation. I really don't see how being white somehow removes me from this idea of rape culture.
I am married, yes.
From what I can tell, those overwhelmingly accused of something tend to have checkered pasts, or have exhibited questionable behavior. That doesn’t make them automatically guilty of anything, of course. But I figure as long as I’m not an asshole irl, I don’t have much to worry about.
The narrative has shifted and has started to include white people for quite a while now. If this was the 90s id probably agree with you.
Perhaps, but I would say that doesn’t cancel the historical meaning and gravity that’s come to be attached to black masculinity. I definitely agree that our culture is nothing like what it used to be re. blacks accused of rape. But the threat of accusation is a very different experience for a black person than for a white one. Both are serious, but one taps into a different cultural narrative than the other.
