Sarah Smarsh

you can simultaneously have white privilege and economic disadvantage. My family would be an example. I grew up on a fifth generation wheat farm and we struggled to get by. And we were below the poverty line, as we say, I qualified for a Pell Grant. And it's also true that we owned a little bit of land. That land was stolen from indigenous peoples.

you can simultaneously have white privilege and economic disadvantage. My family would be an example. I grew up on a fifth generation wheat farm and we struggled to get by. And we were below the poverty line, as we say, I qualified for a Pell Grant. And it's also true that we owned a little bit of land. That land was stolen from indigenous peoples.

People of color probably never could have owned it without being menaced and times gone by. And so in most, even poor white families, you can find traces of white privilege. But if you're only acknowledging the privilege of whiteness and you're not meanwhile discussing the fact that within the 40 million people in this country living in poverty, the largest group of them are actually white.

People of color probably never could have owned it without being menaced and times gone by. And so in most, even poor white families, you can find traces of white privilege. But if you're only acknowledging the privilege of whiteness and you're not meanwhile discussing the fact that within the 40 million people in this country living in poverty, the largest group of them are actually white.

Just because we're still a majority white nation, you're more likely to be poor as a person of color due to structural racism. But if you're only talking about the privilege and you're not acknowledging the disadvantage within the white working class.

Just because we're still a majority white nation, you're more likely to be poor as a person of color due to structural racism. But if you're only talking about the privilege and you're not acknowledging the disadvantage within the white working class.

Yeah, you know, this might sound crazy, but affirmative action such that it still exists. You know, rewrite that law to also include, let's say, household wealth. See what happens.

Yeah, you know, this might sound crazy, but affirmative action such that it still exists. You know, rewrite that law to also include, let's say, household wealth. See what happens.

Yes. Yeah. This is one of the reasons the conversation falls apart often is that the notion is that these ideas are in opposition to one another. But if we actually believe in an intersectional mode and march toward justice, then we can't make class secondary. And as you were alluding to, class –

Yes. Yeah. This is one of the reasons the conversation falls apart often is that the notion is that these ideas are in opposition to one another. But if we actually believe in an intersectional mode and march toward justice, then we can't make class secondary. And as you were alluding to, class –

Right now, we're isolating it among discussing the white working class because that's the political moment and that demographic that has vexed so many. But class, as you were alluding to, it's an experience for people regardless of color, regardless of origin, regardless of ethnicity. And often, indeed, as you say, it's a tie that binds.

Right now, we're isolating it among discussing the white working class because that's the political moment and that demographic that has vexed so many. But class, as you were alluding to, it's an experience for people regardless of color, regardless of origin, regardless of ethnicity. And often, indeed, as you say, it's a tie that binds.

And it might have to do with place or day-to-day experiences or the job that you hold side by side. But any group that's really interested in change and justice is leaving a lot on the table if they're not acknowledging that. And not only does it not threaten our progress toward racial and gender justice, it is of a piece with both of these.

And it might have to do with place or day-to-day experiences or the job that you hold side by side. But any group that's really interested in change and justice is leaving a lot on the table if they're not acknowledging that. And not only does it not threaten our progress toward racial and gender justice, it is of a piece with both of these.

Play it on me.

Play it on me.

I'm so sorry. Rush Limbaugh.

I'm so sorry. Rush Limbaugh.

Can I add just one layer to what you just said, which is that while I'm with you about like, you know, let's welcome that identity and its, you know, rightful points about where they've been unfairly on the losing end. That's not the same thing as giving a pass to xenophobia or racism or sexism, misogyny and so on. No.

Can I add just one layer to what you just said, which is that while I'm with you about like, you know, let's welcome that identity and its, you know, rightful points about where they've been unfairly on the losing end. That's not the same thing as giving a pass to xenophobia or racism or sexism, misogyny and so on. No.