Tonight, I made a status on Facebook, which is now deleted because it seriously was that irritating to me. I made a status about Hopkins girls basketball going to the state championship, which they may (or may not) play against Edina. I made a playful bash on Edina by saying "Hopkins doesn't eat cake" since just about ANYONE who goes to school in the Lake Conference knows them as the Cake-eaters. However, this was taken personally by a few people. Chelsea, if you're reading this you know I love you. Now, in saying that comment, I was not saying that I think Edina is all bad, or that the students are bad or that I disliked them in any way. However, my best friend, Chelsea, brought up a good point, Edina is a great school, with great kids, and is outstanding academically.
But it is exactly those statements that prove my point. Edina is a predominantly white, wealthy community. Does that make them bad people? No. Does that make them all snobby? No. But the fact is, it IS a wealthy, white community. And it is because of those demographics, that they do have such a great school. Do I dislike them for being white, wealthy, and having a great school? No. But is it common that we see a predominately white, wealthy, suburban school not do well? Typically not. Race and money mean EVERYTHING in this society. White privilege exists, whether we like it or not. Money means power, whether we like it or not.
So this brings up something that has gone through my mind, especially throughout college, a lot. Why do we get offended when people call something for what it is? This Facebook situation isn't the first time I've seen this. I see it happen politically all of the time. When as liberals we call for the rich to pay their fair share of taxes, they say we're starting class warfare. They accuse us of punishing them for being rich or for their success. No, absolutely not. We're telling it like it is. You make a lot of money, we do not dislike you for that, we just want you to pay your fair share. It's easier to play the victim than to accept what's right.
Do people get mad when they hear someone say an inner city school is "rough" or is not performing well academically or that they wouldn't want to send their kid there? No. Do people get all shook up when we say a homeless person looked dirty? We don't automatically assume that statements like those are taking jabs at the kids that go to those schools or jabs at those communities. Because reality is, we see those communities and those kids and those people as "less than". So who cares, right?
Perhaps being called the "cake eaters" gets old over and over. And I whole-heartedly agree that even though it is a joke, that it does not apply to every single individual in Edina. And yes, it could get old hearing it over and over. But don't you think it gets old for people on the other end of spectrum, too? Schools like I went to, Hopkins, get a bad wrap for their open enrollment, specifically, black students coming from Minneapolis. Since I've graduated all I've heard is how rough the school is getting and how it's not up to par academically. And everyone just nods their head in agreement, like it's such a shame, what a horrible place. Eden Prairie chants "FOOD STAMPS" at Hopkins during a basketball game and you hear one story about it. But you make a comment about Edina's privilege and NOPE you can't do that because telling the truth might offend someone.
Privilege will always be protected. You can be in denial about it, but it will remain a fact. The truth hurts.
