The Villages and BLm
 

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?

I got a really strange feeling when I read this post. Not only is it very heartwarming, but reminded me of a past TOTV poster (Buggy or Buggy1) who has passed, but you mention some of his favorite activities. He served in the Food pantry for years, and while he and I did not share the same complete philosophy on government, we became "friends" based on this thought process.

God Bless...I am sure Richard read this post

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.

We Villagers have always been generous to the local charities and schools, etc. Not only individually but many of the clubs give regular donations and regularly volunteer their time. We didn't wait for current events to motivate us, this is a very giving community.

I agree...so many here are generous but we need to do more. Everyone here on TV should be woke by now

We need to engage our black and brown neighbors. Can you imagine those african-americans in Wildwoood watxhinh the Villages expand with beautiful homes owned by those driving expensive cars? How would feel?

Time for those progressives amongst us, and there are many, to go over the tracks of 301 and Engage our fellow Americans

Since we all worked to get what we have perhaps it would give some an incentive to get an education and emulate us.

I made a contribution to a Wildwood Elementary school last week and will continue to support it but no idea why some people should feel guilty for living in the American dream..

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.

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.

My family does what it can all of the time, volunteer during the holidays to make and deliver meals to all races that need a hand. I was a volunteer firefighter and EMT in our community and helped all regardless of race or creed. Worked my ass off farming to make money to have car while attending high school and played in all of the sports all year. Paid my way through college, have 2 boys in the Navy because they didn't have what it took coming out of high school to go to college. After 10 years in the Navy one is getting out to get his degree in electrical engineering, the other is in OCS. White privilege is a myth started by those who lack the intelligence and convection to get ahead. Not everybody is college material and not all are rocket scientists. We will all never be equal no matter how the government will try to invoke laws "leveling" the playing field. I met hundreds of successful blacks who came out on top, I also know a large number of whites that failed at achieving anything. Life ain't fair, the soon a person understands that the smarter they will be!

I agree. This thread struck a nerve with me also. I do feel that I had an advantage being white. But, that advantage does not fully account for the discrepancies between my success and those that do not take advantage of the opportunities every citizen has in this country. Far from it.

I can relate to posts#7 and #8. My parents both worked. My father sold furniture at the downtown Montgomery Ward in Albuquerque and for weeks prior to Christmas worked from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m six days a week. We had no car until I was maybe ten when we started having one used car so we took the bus. Every dime, no, every penny counted. We had one bathroom and two bedrooms for the four of us in a 650 square foot house. I started working part time at a grocery store when I was 14 and always had a job thereafter. I paid my own college tuition at the local state university and walked to classes since we lived near enough. Actually, as I look back I feel privileged to have had solid family values and a moral compass instilled in me along with a work ethic. I accepted deferred gratification to obtain a decent education and work, save and invest my way to where I am today. Only in America could that have happened!

No Project Headstart, Affirmative Action or other minority privilege was ever available to me as I am white, not black.

Strikes a nerve with me too, I can relate. Back in the day I remember asking my folks if I could borrow some money. They told me they would think about it, which they did for a weekend. When the requested loan came up, they said what you can do to get the money is get a second job.......and I did (they didn't loan me the money) for years. They also said don't quit a job until you get another job and make sure you have health insurance. I am still working and don't make a lot but I give back to my community what I can and I am happy to say we are debt free. We worked hard for what we have and I thank my folks now, whoever they are, for instilling a good work ethic, kindness and to be responsible for myself and don't expect anything from anyone. Life is good!

Great idea, OP! As a teacher though, I learned that education goes a long way towards achieving equality. I like to look at factors that help disadvantaged people to become competitive in the first place.
Having food, and good shelter so a child can study, are starters. A job for mom or dad to bring home income to be able to provide that food and shelter. Then models, teach our children about our models including African Americans, so they can visualize themselves as truly successful in our society.

We are only here a few months and one thing I love about this place is how hard we have all worked to have what we can now enjoy.

I do not understand people saying we have this because we are white.

the black folks who live
here and else where in the world that have what we have and many have more because they are....?....

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.

You are not going to find many people in the villages who will support an organization out to destroy our way of life.

AMEN to post #22, we all got here with our own doing, not free bbs & hand outs

Gpsma - I'm sure your heart is in the right place. But I look at the demographics living just outside of The Villages. There are so many people and families below the poverty level. So I donate and contribute to the local Food Pantry. I donate to provide both food and uniforms for Wildwood students. I also give to numerous local "drives." The people who are recepients... some are white, some are black, etc. Why would I assist only black neighbors, when the local need is broader than that?

Then you shouldn’t of mentioned it. Daa.

I want to address the claim of "white privilege," I feel the same as many people on this post.
My daughter was denied entry to our state University even though she had a 3.6 GPA (and I PAID state taxes to support this University)... the school was looking for a more diverse student body (so I'm paying for a state University system that I can't even get my child into).
Throughout my work career I busted my as# in my job. Not only did I work hard every day at least 5 nights a week, I also brought my computer home and worked another 3 - 4 hours to get everything done. There were times I worked 14 days straight because something had to get done. I easily worked 50 - 60 hours a week... every week (I was salaried so no additional pay). Almost every year I didn't take all my vacation pay because I was working on "hot" projects. I didn't get compensated for that.
So don't tell me about white privilege.
I worked VERY hard and long hours for everything I have today.

Agree with you totally. Do not understand people who just dont get it.

Because they did have privileges, some people never actually had to work day in there life, let lone when to bed hungry not cause the just missed supper.

The fact that white privilege does indeed exist and gives us a head start in life, is as I've said before, proved by most of us knowing deep down that our lives would have generally been harder had we been born with black skin. That doesn't mean that all whites have taken advantage of this head start, or that a lot of those born black haven't gotten past the inherit disadvantage, but to deny it isn't there-is to ultimately prove its existence.

IMHO, there are a lot of white people who are scared of movements like BLM (and not the rioting, looting, violence from the small percentage of those using BLM for cover, which everyone should condemn, but is not at the core of or the goal of of BLM) because they are afraid of having a level playing field.

That made me laugh. Because I think there are many people in the workforce today that would welcome a level playing field.
Why? Because as a manger, I had to have a "diverse" person on any slate for any job posting. Part of my performance evaluation was based on how many "diverse" people I had on my staff. Leadership was also rated on their diverse staff. So minorities were promoted because leadership had to have a diverse staff. (it didn't matter if they were ready... or qualified... leadership found positions to promote minorities to make their numbers.)
So I'm sure all those people who were passed over because they didn't have the "bonus points" of being a minority would say.... "bring it on." Because they would LOVE a level playing field. (I am 100% sure of this).

My suggestion is you study up on BLM and recognize it is a Marxist organization at heart that exploits the uneducated and naïve. The fundamental objective is to destroy America as founded and replace it with a “socialist” alternative. Think of it as 1776 vs 1619.

With respect to “white privilege” it’s more accurately defined as having two stable parents and some degree of religious training. What’s a privilege is being born in America as opposed to the Middle East, Africa, South America or various other places where people like to leave.

Helping our less fortunate neighbors in Wildwood is certainly a good idea. My church operates a Food Pantry to help with that.


...

Exactly what the hell does that mean?

Steve

Sure, there's no doubt that the pendulum swung too far in one direction in trying to level the playing field at times, but all too many people want to pretend that prejudice and segregation magically stopped with the Emancipation Proclamation, never even understanding that it took the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution to try and make it stick. Even then, most whites today conveniently forget about Jim Crow laws and the bylaws of everything from professional sports, to civic and social groups (where the real power and influence exists) banning blacks. For every instance you mentioned, there were probably thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of instances where blacks weren't promoted or allowed to be included, simply because of the color of their skin. In fact, it wasn't until 1961 (when a lot of us were alive), that the PGA removed their Caucasian-only membership rule.

Just think about that, Arnold Palmer won 4 of his 7 majors prior to the PGA Caucasian-only membership rule was finally removed.

Perfectly said OP. Because of fear and misunderstanding, you will see disagreement with a variety of excuses. I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ so I get it, Support it and try my best to Live it.

White privilege??? Go to road intersections, street allies and parks, and homeless shelters. You will see "whites". Not so privileged. Yes, isolated police brutally is bad but so is laziness and black on black crime. How about serving ALL the ones in need.

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?

Tired
 

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.

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.

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....

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.

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

FED up
 

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.

To get a better understanding of 'white privilege'...a recommendation:
 

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.

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.

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.