It has been obvious for a long time that the demographics of the U.S. are changing.
Some of the winners at the local level suggest that change is in the airlines
There were many more new faces than those mentioned here. For example, the politically powerful Nassau County in New York elected Laura Curran, a female Democrat as its County Executive, a first.
A fresh wind is blowing. A change is in the air.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“Hope and Change”
Hope and change
Are in the air
But rope and chains
Are everywhere
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Click to access BILLIONAIRE-BONANZA-2017-Embargoed.pdf
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Excellent link
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“White Male Rules”
The white male rules
For only wealthy
For poor white fools
The rule’s unhealthy
The white male rules
Enforced by Betsy’s
The female tools
Who act as Patsies
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Rope (Buffet), chains (Bezos) and whips (Gates)
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PERFECT analogies.
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As we should have learned from the reign of Barack Obama, simply putting people who are not white males in positions of power does not necessarily change white male power. In order to get into those positions, women and people of color have to adopt the same power structure as white males and, often, have to be more aggressive about it. For instance, the stereotype (often based in reality) that black police officers are more “racist” than white police officers – they can’t be seen as being “soft” on blacks just because they are black, even though white police officers are routinely more lenient with whites. People who challenge the power structure have a much harder time rising in the power structure, while those who support it rise quickly.
It remains to be seen whether diversifying the field of elected officials will do anything for social justice issues.
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This is great news, but I must confess, as soon as I see the phrase “white male privilege,” my solidarity starts to wane. I strongly suspect I’m not alone.
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You might be interested in reading what a very brilliant white male (and Stuy grad) says about that.
I’m always happy when young people are so woke (a term an old fogy like me learned not too long ago.)
View at Medium.com
(If this link doesn’t work when I post it, I’ll try again.)
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Really, Fleerp?
As for me, as long as our bosses, watchers and jailers represent an accurate cross section of LBGT women of color, then everything’s hunky dory!!!
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From my link above:
RESPONSES TO COMMON QUESTIONS:
“You know, there’s poor white people too” — yes, but the only difference between poor white people and poor non-white people is that they have whiteness. The gov’t and wealthy people tend to respond to white poverty by trying to help. Like how the opioid crisis for white people is being treated like a public health problem, while the black opioid crisis has been going on for decades and has been treated like a criminality problem.
“So, what, I should just feel guilty all the time?” — no, I don’t think guilt is a particularly useful response. I don’t feel white guilt so much as white debt. In the sense that I have a bunch of stuff that I never earned, and many non-white people earned a bunch of stuff that they don’t have. I probably can’t ever pay back the debt in full but I can at the very least acknowledge that the debt exists.
“Ok but what can I do personally? (But not too much, I’m pretty busy!)” — this is a longer answer which I’ll post something about on Thursday. But the short version is try more actively to listen to people of color just for the sake of listening and understanding the perspectives, and encourage your friends to do the same.
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Yes, I think that’s the correct perspective, Michael F.
I like to picture the Trump-voting 30-something white male, having heard the irrefutable case for how he and his family would benefit from a single-payer healthcare system and increased social-security benefits, is then given the caveat that, of course, he’s the beneficiary of white supremacy and is going to have to check his white male privilege.
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I agree w critics of “white male privilege” line. some of our strongest allies are good white males. but of course you know that. so glad you get some hope after your impassioned efforts, Diane.
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Unless white males recognize their privilege they really can’t be good allies. Stopping the abuses of white male supremacy is up to white males. Women can’t stop rape culture. Men have to do that. People of color can’t stop racism. Whites have to do that.
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https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/21/men-are-responsible-for-stopping-sexual-assault-not-women-men/
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https://radicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2017/10/26/men-power-must-change/
Incidentally, both Steven Singer and Paul Thomas should be regular stops on everyone’s educational (hell, humanitarian) reading lists. Teacher Tom is another necessary stop..
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I agree with this, although there’s a lot of room for debate about the scope of the privilege, exactly what it means to “recognize” the privilege, and what policy positions a good ally must hold. That debate is where the politics can get toxic. The merits of the debate aside, it’s a terrible recipe for broad coalition politics. In my view, at least.
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YES.
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I just hope Democrats can heal the rift within the party to capitalize on the momentum. They must work together, present a united front and build consensus. Failure to do this could spell disaster for them.
It is refreshing to see more working class representatives including immigrants, women and minorities. These people more fully represent working families, and they are our future. Multi-millionaires or billionaires may campaign about serving the middle class, but they generally do nothing to support their interests or needs when in office
I doubt this is the end of white male privilege, but it is the start of a more inclusive beginning. Trump is so unprofessional with his band of corporate vandals that it has caused a backlash. Democrats need to present dynamic, honest people to lead the party, and stop presenting the same neoliberals that try to dismantle public education. A progressive train is leaving the station, and I hope the Democratic party will be savvy enough to be the engineer instead of watching from the sidelines.
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AGREE with: “Democrats need to present dynamic, honest people to lead the party, and stop presenting the same neoliberals that try to dismantle public education. A progressive train is leaving the station, and I hope the Democratic party will be savvy enough to be the engineer instead of watching from the sidelines.”
Thank you, retired teachers. SO TRUE.
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OOPS, retired teacher …
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One can hope, I suppose….
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As my friends have commented above, I’m not ready to get too excited. Right now we’re experiencing a political sugar high. I remember having it when Barack Obama was elected only to have it come crashing down when he caved in a nanosecond of repealing the Bush tax cuts. I have a few fears: Will this activism be sustained or will Democrats do what they’ve always done, sit out elections when they’re not politically sexy? How will those elected yesterday fare in the future? If they disappoint, will there be a reactionary backlash (as there always seems to be)?
The core of Republican Party true-believers still have the power and money. They are ideological and not swayed by empirical arguments. Yesterday was a small—albeit important—step. It has to be truly taken in a sustained direction, it has to be followed up with effective governance, and it has to lead to changes that will become institutional. And that will take hard work and commitment; commitment that must be prepared to rebound when the inevitable disappointments and setbacks happen. Recent history has proven that to be elusive for progressives.
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The election showed that Democrats can accomplish a lot if they actually show up and vote. The Republicans are more devious and tribal. The Democrats should definitely present a united front with mass appeal to the middle class. Democrats need to support Main St over Wall St.
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“Street Dreams”
When Hell’s completely frozen
And Unicorn’s in zoo
The Main Street will be chosen
By Demo Party, too
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Thanks for this series of posts on Tuesday’s elections. I am heartened!
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How wide is this thing about Gulen’s name being unmentionable? He is almost always referred to as “the cleric”. How preposterous is it of me to suspect there is pressure from Charter people to make sure not much is ever said about Gulen and his charter business…..including huge amounts of tax money contributing to his fortune?
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