Why is it any less necessary than most other scholarships? It’s not as if all white males looking forward to college are rich and that money isn’t a factor for them. One can’t determine the ‘need’ (in whatever context that individual chooses to determine this) for the scholarship based simply on one’s race, religion, height, etc. One can’t assume all whites are wealthy and have no financial difficulties any more that they can assume all hispanics, blacks, native Americans, and certain other minorities are all poor. It’s just not the case. </p>
<p>But again, this boils down to free money for someone for a good purpose so it’s not a bad thing. Again though, when I decide to give away money the person’s race won’t enter into the equation.</p>
<p>Typical “I’m a victim” mindset. Didn’t get what you wanted? Gosh, it must be discrimination! Unless you’re loaded or connected, being white is of no particular advantage – if only because there are too many of us. Just because the elite in this country are mainly white, doesn’t mean those of us on the lower rungs benefit from it.</p>
<p>I think you seem woefully undereducated about what white privilege is - it’s NOT minorities whining about not getting everything white people get. </p>
<p>It is one of the seminal essays in the field and drawn on often to point out that being white IS of a particular advantage in western culture. It’s certainly not a bunch of people crying and wailing about nothing. There is a great deal more work out there, both in research and essay form.</p>
<p>Edited to change the link which was a reprint of the original article and contained some typos.</p>
<p>My sentence was poorly worded, uscd<em>ucla</em>dad. I meant necessary as in “we need to correct some societal wrong because it’s not right that white men don’t have a scholarship for being white men!”</p>
<p>I’m in agreeance with those of you that have pointed out that it is their $ and they should use it how they see fit, ESPECIALLY IF IT WILL BE USED TO HELP OTHER SUCCEED! I am a white caucasian woman with only daughters and have seen how my sisters sons had a much harder time finding scholarships to appy for. </p>
<p>As far as race goes, everyone is entitled to their opinions (as long as they are not racist), but we all know that not everyone will ever agree. My best friend is african american and we have had the discussion over why it is OK to have the ESPY awards, the black Miss America pagent, african american publications and so forth. She has valid points that they are to celbrate their heritage and share information on their culture. I totally get that, but think there is nothing wrong with taking pride in every culture.</p>
<p>But what would Caucasians celebrate as “white culture?” We have no common bonds that bring us together as a group for better or worse, and we as Americans of European descent have a history of mistrust and discrimination against other European groups. Germans, Irish, Italians, Russians have all been vilified during times of immigration to America. It is only after time (and positive economic growth) that each resulting generation was seen as American over their past culture.
With that said, I have no problem with this scholarship, especially if it is based on need as well as merit. Any opportunity to send a kid to school is welcome by me.</p>
<p>If I was giving out scholarships with my money I would feel like my criterion for selection was completely my choice. It is my money and I will do what I want with it. People could also argue that you have to attend school in Texas. Is that unfair, no. It is this group’s money and they have the right to decide who gets it.</p>
<p>Hispanics have an incredibly diverse group of cultures and even races among them. They are united by one thing: the fact that they are descended from Spanish-speaking (and sometimes Portuguese-speaking) people. Just because there is no “white culture” (and I don’t think there is much of one–perhaps a middle-class culture but not one that is defined by being white, at least not nowadays) does not mean that they are not a group.</p>
<p>I do think white privilege exists. Crime and incarceration statistics speak for themselves. Take marijuana. If you’re white, you get a pass. Or two, or three. You’re just “experimenting”. If you’re black–you’re in jail. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not speak. Just sorry sir, yessir. You’re done. This is a generalization, however, it happens more often than not. People should be treated the same under the law but they are not. And that’s just <em>one</em> part of life.</p>
<p>That said, paying for college is an economic question and being white doesn’t get you MONEY. It might get you a second chance in the courtroom, it might get you a taxi, but it’s not going to get you money. Poor white guys need $$$ just like the rest of us, and if they have fewer opportunities to get it, it’s good that someone’s making up that gap.</p>
<p>My only hope is that the scholarship committee will consider economics in their decisions.</p>
<p>I would guess that there aren’t too many groups/magazines/beauty pageants/etc that celebrate white culture because, aside from the societal taboo of explicitly calling it something just for whites, the mainstream groups/magazines/beauty pageants that exist pretty much already serve this function - they celebrate mainstream American culture, and whites typically don’t self-identify as part of a “white” culture, they identify as part of mainstream American culture.</p>
<p>Are you saying that white American caucasions have nothing to be proud of? No, I am certainly not proud ofmany of the acts that my ancestors did partake in, but we do have common bonds, because many of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so forth fought for us to be able to celbrate our freedoms. They may not have been perfect in doing so, in fact, some were dispicable. In general, we have come along way. I agree with the older generations that say that the younger generations have no respect. Why don’t they have respect? I believe it’s for many reasons that are way off topic, but partly due to the fact that some people ingnore the good acts that many americans strived for.</p>
<p>The bottom line is, it will help someone, so that should be the most important factor. Will the right person get it? Maybe not, but does the right person get everthing they deserve? No, because unfortunately life isn’t fair.</p>
<p>Every culture and people group has ugly parts of their heritage and wonderful parts to be celebrated. There is plenty evidence of tribal fighting,clan fighting, village fighting etc…that we dont need to be arguing about proud heritages.</p>
<p>The question is can a private group establish a scholarship for a white male just like a private group can establish an scholarship for a black male, a girl studying math etc etc…
Yes they can.
And someone will be thankful for the help with their tuition.</p>
<p>Not sure if that is in response to me, but I wasn’t saying white Americans have nothing to be proud of. </p>
<p>I said that mainstream media, organizations, magazines, etc, already CELEBRATE the achievements of white Americans, so most people don’t see a need for additional groups to celebrate. Also, white American accomplishment is more typically attributed to the individual than their race (and the same goes for white American failure, with a few notable exceptions), as opposed to minority accomplishment, which is celebrated as a racial accomplishment, and minority failure, which is often pointed out as a racial failure.</p>
<p>if private money wants to fund a ku klux klan scholarship how much worse is one sponsored by jesse jackson? TOO BAD FOR YOU YOU LIBERAL WHITE APOLOGISTS.</p>
<p>Aha! A chance to tell one of my favorite cute-things-they-say stories:</p>
<p>One day, many years ago, my D15 came home from kindergarten and announced, “everyone in our class is white – except P!” </p>
<p>Now, you have to understand, we live in a town that is very racially mixed. That particular kindergarten class included a palette of skin tones ranging from one particularly dark east African child, through all shades of Latinos and Asians, to a couple of blue-eyed towheads. The girl named was a lovely, medium-brown skin’d, wavy brown hair’d, green-eyed child whose antecedents had immigrated from mountainous village in northern Iran. She was, in fact, the only true Caucasian in the class.</p>
<p>The US Congress is about 80% white male. About 95% of the Fortune 500 CEOs are white males. For a disadvantaged minority, they seem to be doing pretty well.</p>
<p>I guess as a Black female, I am supposed to be upset or appalled, but actually it does not bother me one bit. People should have the ability to create a scholarship and give away money to whoever they wish.</p>
<p>"The US Congress is about 80% white male. About 95% of the Fortune 500 CEOs are white males. For a disadvantaged minority, they seem to be doing pretty well. "</p>
<p>How many of those white men had fathers who were poor or absent? What percentage?</p>
<p>Poor white men aren’t a minority, but they are disadvantaged in that they don’t have the money required to go to college. Unlike affirmative action, scholarships are given to academically talented people that are like the person funding them. It’s completely normal to have scholarships based on groups that are not discriminated against. Scholarships for Lutherans, Catholics, Baptists, Swedes, Norwegians, German-Americans etc. come to mind. Though some are converts, many people were born into their mainstream religions.</p>
<p>Nobody objects to those, I presume?</p>
<p>In this respect, a poor white man who has no specific national affiliation is disadvantaged because he has no way to raise funds beyond working (and work alone will not pay for college at that age, you need loans at least, and you need scholarships if you get into private school). So yes, poor white men with no national or religious affiliation <em>are</em> disadvantaged in this particular field.</p>
<p>I didn’t apply for any ethnic or national or religious scholarships as a teen, though I got a grant from my college inadvertently because I checked a box on ethnicity. Believe me, that eliminated a <em>lot</em> of money. I was in the top 2% of my class, Merit Finalist, tons of ECs, and without the grant I didn’t apply for, I would have gotten all of $500 for college.</p>
<p>Yes, white men are disadvantaged in that realm.</p>
<p>@2plus2 I loved your last post, it was very well articulated. I think if we could all feel and be thought of as individuals the world would be a much better place.</p>
<p>I think it is sad that so many people are focusing on the right of people to spend their money as they see fit as opposed to the true motivation behind this scholarship. It is mean spirited when they say “white” male. You can argue all you want about why it shouldn’t be considered discriminatory (and I can agree with a lot of the points that have been made), but the bottom line is that it is. Why would adults want to argue about being “right” when they know that it may be hurtful to the young adults that come across it?</p>