I’m pretty sure by white he means white, non-jewish europeans which also includes white americans since they’re from europe aswell but wether jews are considered white depends on who you ask. I believe that most jews don’t think of themselves as that either, though some do. I’m guessing it has something to do with being an oppressed minority. Then again white supermacists for example don’t consider them white either because they’re not “pure” or something.
I don’t think there’s any conclusive answer to this. In my opinion focusing on skin color is a stupid question to begin with. Asians aren’t generally considered white either though they seem pretty white to me. Friend’s wife is black but her skin is barely darker than mine. Go figure.
I’m Jewish and I put ‘white’ in the race checkbox when I’m asked and I certainly have all of the advantages that go with white privilege, but I’m also aware that there’s a significant segment of other white people who don’t consider me white, and plenty of others who only consider me white when it’s convenient to them. Even when Jews aren’t oppressed in the West, they are an “other.” There are other groups like that too- Basques and Roma come to mind. But they’re far less visible in the U.S.
They mean normal. Non-ethnic. You know how there are aisles in the grocery store for foods from various cultures? Think of the potato chip aisle. Default human, with basic features and simple ideologies. Christian, western, self-determining, literate but not erudite, proud and apathetic, powerful and resigned, and thoroughly egocentric.
That’s how they see the world. It’s a special level of narcissism borne from generational privilege. When they talk about “whites,” that’s what they mean, because they don’t have any sort of self awareness or concern for how they are perceived by others.
Draws a lot of attention to the fact that “white” is a construct that is tied up intimately in supremacy narratives. Irish and Italian people were at times not considered “white” because they were discriminated against as immigrant populations. To the supremacist, whiteness defines an “us” so whether Jewish people are considered “white” is really depends on the level of anti semitic sentiments present.
It’s part of why “White Pride” is a really bad idea. Part of the experience of being white is tied up in the legacy of exclusion based on class or othering and how genocides, murders and exploitation based on the ideas of white supremacy shaped the world through empire and those systems haven’t exactly been dismantled. Until whiteness is basically “fixed” so that this is a factor of the distant past the correct way to interact with one’s own whiteness is more to reflect on the complexities of the history and modern application of it and realize that while being light skinned isn’t something to be ashamed of throwing a party about it is still in poor taste.
Jewish people have never been “white” to antisemites. (Real antisemites, I mean, as opposed to people who have the gall to say Palestinians are human.)
Jewish people generally receive the same treatment as Anglo-Saxon/Caucasian people from society, as they have similar skin tones, but they are minorities in the sense that Judaism has been famously historically discriminated against.
I’m curious. In this context, what are “whites”? Are Jewish people not white now or something? Or does “white” mean something else to him?
I’m pretty sure by white he means white, non-jewish europeans which also includes white americans since they’re from europe aswell but wether jews are considered white depends on who you ask. I believe that most jews don’t think of themselves as that either, though some do. I’m guessing it has something to do with being an oppressed minority. Then again white supermacists for example don’t consider them white either because they’re not “pure” or something.
I don’t think there’s any conclusive answer to this. In my opinion focusing on skin color is a stupid question to begin with. Asians aren’t generally considered white either though they seem pretty white to me. Friend’s wife is black but her skin is barely darker than mine. Go figure.
I’m Jewish and I put ‘white’ in the race checkbox when I’m asked and I certainly have all of the advantages that go with white privilege, but I’m also aware that there’s a significant segment of other white people who don’t consider me white, and plenty of others who only consider me white when it’s convenient to them. Even when Jews aren’t oppressed in the West, they are an “other.” There are other groups like that too- Basques and Roma come to mind. But they’re far less visible in the U.S.
You would have to measure your head to convince Elon that you’re white enough.
They mean normal. Non-ethnic. You know how there are aisles in the grocery store for foods from various cultures? Think of the potato chip aisle. Default human, with basic features and simple ideologies. Christian, western, self-determining, literate but not erudite, proud and apathetic, powerful and resigned, and thoroughly egocentric.
That’s how they see the world. It’s a special level of narcissism borne from generational privilege. When they talk about “whites,” that’s what they mean, because they don’t have any sort of self awareness or concern for how they are perceived by others.
Draws a lot of attention to the fact that “white” is a construct that is tied up intimately in supremacy narratives. Irish and Italian people were at times not considered “white” because they were discriminated against as immigrant populations. To the supremacist, whiteness defines an “us” so whether Jewish people are considered “white” is really depends on the level of anti semitic sentiments present.
It’s part of why “White Pride” is a really bad idea. Part of the experience of being white is tied up in the legacy of exclusion based on class or othering and how genocides, murders and exploitation based on the ideas of white supremacy shaped the world through empire and those systems haven’t exactly been dismantled. Until whiteness is basically “fixed” so that this is a factor of the distant past the correct way to interact with one’s own whiteness is more to reflect on the complexities of the history and modern application of it and realize that while being light skinned isn’t something to be ashamed of throwing a party about it is still in poor taste.
Jewish people have never been “white” to antisemites. (Real antisemites, I mean, as opposed to people who have the gall to say Palestinians are human.)
“are Jewish people white” is one of those questions where the answer seems to ebb and flow with the tides.
Jewish people generally receive the same treatment as Anglo-Saxon/Caucasian people from society, as they have similar skin tones, but they are minorities in the sense that Judaism has been famously historically discriminated against.