[mrf6969]

Originally Posted by davem4616

There's lots of ways that we can reach out and help those in the area around us that may be in need...every community is in need it's not limited to Wildwood

The Salvation Army in Bushnell and Leesburg are our favorite charities. A good portion of our stimulus check went to those in need. We donate to both SA locations monthly....the SA takes the least amount off the top of donations....they live their motto "doing the most good". Money is best for them as they buy the food in bulk...we use a credit card and cover the cost of the 'merchant fee' on the card

When hurricane season approaches we stock up on non-perishable foods that we personally like...when the season is over we drop off all the provisions that we had stockpiled at a local food pantry. Not only does that help others, it frees up the space where we had stored these items.

clothing that we buy online that just isn't the color or size that we expected or wanted no longer gets exchanged...it goes to a local thrift shop

We know that we're blessed.

But I also take exception to the OP's reference to 'white privilege'

The only 'white privilege' I had was a couple of parents that taught me the difference between right and wrong, punished me when I did wrong...that worked their butts off to provide for their kids...the only vacations we went on were with borrowed camping equipment until they had enough S&H Green Stamps to buy their own camping gear. Regardless of which campground we were staying at on the weekend or for the week on Sunday mornings we'd all come out of the tent in 'our Sunday Best' and off to church we'd go as a family.

When there was 'snow day' growing up, we didn't go sledding, we shoveled as many neighbors out that we could to make some spending money. When the kid that had the paper route went on vacation we took over for him. In high school I worked as a part time janitor in the schools...school vacations I stripped the floors and waxed them while my buddies played. I worked 40 hours a week while going to college and double that when on semester break to help earn my keep and help pay my way through school...no trips to Cancun or Ft Lauderdale. I went to grad school at night and we paid off my wife's student loans.

If having parents that cared about me, instilled sound values in me to live life by and worked hard to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table represents 'white privilege', then yeah, I guess I did grow up having 'white privilege'.

It's funny, at the time I just didn't recognize it as being privileged.

So is the bottom line that hard work in life can lead to white privilege? So let me get this straight, can hard work in life lead to black privilege?

[DrBrutyle109]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

We all see on the media the awful situation Afro-Americans are dealing with. Systematic racism, abuse by the police, and decades long poverty.

We here in the Villages have been blessed with a wonderful lifestyle. Due in part by our White Privelage. Whether we admit it or not, white privelage is real and so is our unconscious racism.

Perhaps its time, we here inTV, do something for our African American neighbors...especially in the so poor parts of Wildwood.

Just some suggestions...

Donate you next stimulus check to the Wildwood Food Pantry.
Volunteer at the food pantry.
Take some of your income and go to the black churches and donate it.
Drive into Wildwood and engage our neighbors in constructive, healing conversation.

We have all been blessed here...we need to do more for our brothers.

Does anyone else have some suggestions?

Tired of hearing about this stuff. Racism will always exist. But let’s be fair, it’s a small percentage of what it used to be. The people in wildwood can always try to get a JOB ! Which unfortunately now is probably very difficult. I e donated and been polite to EVERYONE I’ve ever met. I’m tired of be blamed for things that happened years ago. The police do a great job, but of course you say they are all bad because of the actions of a few.

[George Page]

Since when is having supporting, loving parents and family members a ‘privilege’? That was the norm for BOTH whites and blacks years ago. Just because family values have eroded in the ‘inner city’, doesn't mean whites are privileged. Bad decisions and self destructive behavior like fatherless homes, teenage pregnancy, drugs and crime are the cause. This is not a race or class issue, it is cultural. People who avoid irresponsible behavior are not privileged. It should be no surprise that those who don’t - pay a penalty.

[nhtexasrn]

You know, there are poor white people too. I didn't get to experience this 'white privilege' everyone is talking about and I'm not even sure what that is. I grew up in a modest income family and worked all my life, raised a daughter and put myself through school. My husband did the same. We both worked very hard for decades to be able to enjoy our retirement. Someone asked how would you feel if you lived in Wildwood and there were nice homes next to you in The Villages? I would think to myself, like I did back when I was young, "I want that....I will work for it and some day I will have it." I don't have a racist bone in my body and I'm sick of people accusing me of being racist just because I'm white. It's also time blacks stopped being victims and take control of their lives and their neighborhoods, as they have the same opportunities everyone else has. All it takes is work and ambition. If this country is so racist, why did we have a black President for 8 years????? Why are some of our most popular celebrities and sports figures black??? I just don't get it....

[Byte1]

There is NO "systemic racism" in most of America. Although, sometimes I feel that there is a lot of undue black hate for whites. But, even that is not "systemic."
I did not agree with Affirmative Action, but it did take away one more excuse for failure to succeed by minorities and one more guilt point for the majority.
I am color blind UNTIL someone insists on using race or gender as a crutch. I treat everyone the same, none special except the medically impaired/limited. In my opinion, to feel sorry for poor black persons is to be a racist. One person on TV recently said something like "blah, blah poor people are just as good as white people" and wants folks to endorse him for a leadership position. There are poor black and poor whites. Both have "poor" in common. How you get out of or rise beyond being poor makes a difference and today there is no excuse for anyone not having the same tools to better themselves.
Time to quit making excuses. Making excuses for someone else is saying they are not as good as you.

[banjobob]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

The Wildwood Food Pantry is always in need for volunteers or donations.

May I suggest that if you buy BOGOs at Publix...if you cant use both items...save your unused bogos and bring them to the pantry.

Every bit helps the poor people of Wildwood.

A nice idea was buy GOYA products and donate ,helps two ways.

[Susan1951]

I am fed up with having to apologize because I am white. Check the history books at some time way back when every race were slaves. We cannot change or erase history it happened.

[ParSeeker]

Read the book "The New Jim Crow" by Michele Alexander...
or otherwise come up to speed on
- the long-term social effects of the War on Drugs
- price differences for inner-city crack cocaine vs suburban cocaine
- the 'bail' industry and its impact on the poor
- plea bargaining and the power of the prosecuting attorney
- stop and frisk
- social effects of imprisonment of teens and twenty-somethings on families

I too was a snow-shoveler, leaf raker, paperboy and caddie as a kid, starting at age 12.
But I can now see much more clearly my white privilege. It is not fake news.

[graciegirl]

I have asked two people who posted on this thread to be my "friend" on this forum because they kindly and clearly stated exactly how I see things on this subject. I have deliberately ignored some posts that I thought were only posting to get people to say things to get in hot water with the moderators.

I really hate trolling posts. At this time in our lives and in this world we have enough tension and stress. Many of us doing the right things are suffering criticism and being shamed.

One is better served to lead people toward virtue by not preaching. There is a book that talks about a group of folks called Pharisees. I don't read that book like some, but I remember that there was a lot said about pretending to be virtuous.

On another note I like the suggestion about posting a happy picture in our posts. We are all just a little frazzled.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

I didnt want this to get into a debate about whether there is white privelage, systematic racism, or if people worked hard to become affluent.
I just wanted to know if anyone had suggestions on how to support BLM and assist our African American neighbors . We need to become engaged and woke to the new reality. The reality of the oppressed people among us.

Sure, I have a suggestion. If they (BLM) break the law, lock them up. They learn right from wrong that way. Assist our "African American" neighbors? Sounds like someone is being racist if they think that being black means they need our help. Get tired of hearing politicians say that too. Help them? Get rid of the "African" label for one thing. If you consider them an equal "American" neighbor, that would go a long way in normalizing a community. Help them? Quit coddling them and allow them to stand up on their own without being held up.
Racism is suggesting that they are not as good as you and NEED your help when they have the same abilities as you.

[WesMan]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

You sound like we had same childhood. Liked your post but you struck a nerve

Shoveled snow when I could duringthe winter and in the summer went to a free day camp as a little kid and remember one or two vacations in my younger years that were pretty inexpensive..

My dad was a taxi driver working over 70 hours a week to support us.

Parents could not afford to send us to college so we all went to the City University of NY which was free back than.

We had almost nothing in the bank when we got married and we worked for what we had now.

Went to grad school at night while working full time during the day.

I do not understand why people keep telling us we were privileged growing up.

You are totally correct!!!!!! Thank You for your comments, my family was somewhat like yours, we alwys worked hard for what we had!!

[gemini5001]

Love your response. I too grew up with parents that taught me right from wrong.
I grew up on a small farm in Portugal and my sister and I had chores to do before and after school. We did our homework after sunset.

My family were blessed to be able to emigrate to this wonderful country when I was 10 yrs old. I worked during my summer vacations and after school ever since till I graduated and got a full time job. At one point I worked not only one but 2 full time and a part time job.
I worked for everything I got...nothing was handed to me.

Yeah, I'm privileged, sure....hmmmm !

[LG999]

Are these things you are doing already yourself?
Personally I always give/donate as much as I can. Always.
I resent others telling me I should do more especially when often the people telling me this have done little themselves.

[woderfulwendy1]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

We all see on the media the awful situation Afro-Americans are


Does anyone else have some suggestions?

Suggestion; Don't think about what color the person is when you donate, volunteer or contribute. Just do it!

[Ndomines]

Any person who makes a point of describing differences in race and skin color is in fact a racist.
I bet you are one of those people that claims to have a black friend. When you and all people regardless of skin color can just say “I have a friend” then you will be doing more than just talking about racial differences. When you get to a point in your life that you can just extend a helping hand without first qualifying race then you will be doing what you claim everyone else should do. It’s pretty obvious you are well intentioned but be advised you are part of the problem.

Originally Posted by Gpsma

We all see on the media the awful situation Afro-Americans are dealing with. Systematic racism, abuse by the police, and decades long poverty.

We here in the Villages have been blessed with a wonderful lifestyle. Due in part by our White Privelage. Whether we admit it or not, white privelage is real and so is our unconscious racism.

Perhaps its time, we here inTV, do something for our African American neighbors...especially in the so poor parts of Wildwood.

Just some suggestions...

Donate you next stimulus check to the Wildwood Food Pantry.
Volunteer at the food pantry.
Take some of your income and go to the black churches and donate it.
Drive into Wildwood and engage our neighbors in constructive, healing conversation.

We have all been blessed here...we need to do more for our brothers.

Does anyone else have some suggestions?