Why "white working class"?

[pecksniff]

Why do we speak of a "white" working class as a distinct sector of American society, when there are also many people of other races who live by manual labor?

Well, the answer is obvious -- and something Marx appears to have overlooked, in his concept of an international proletariat: A social class is a social entity, a cultural entity. It is not defined strictly by its economic function. Working-class whites, blacks, Latinos and Asians do the same kinds of work -- but they live in different neighborhoods, go to different churches, drink in different bars, belong to different clubs and social circles, and each group mostly marries among itself -- and they view the world rather differently. They're all in the same layer of the cake -- but different and distinct wedges of it.

It is only in the middle and upper classes that those barriers can break down -- which is how we can have a black SCOTUS justice with a white wife, and an ex-POTUS born of a similar union.

These facts are important to political calculations. A message that appeals to one sector of the working class might alienate others.

 

[Misshotndeep]

Why do we speak of a "white" working class as a distinct sector of American society, when there are also many people of other races who live by manual labor?

Well, the answer is obvious -- and something Marx appears to have overlooked, in his concept of an international proletariat: A social class is a social entity, a cultural entity. It is not defined strictly by its economic function. Working-class whites, blacks, Latinos and Asians do the same kinds of work -- but they live in different neighborhoods, go to different churches, drink in different bars, belong to different clubs and social circles, and each group mostly marries among itself -- and they view the world rather differently. They're all in the same layer of the cake -- but different and distinct wedges of it.

It is only in the middle and upper classes that those barriers can break down -- which is how we can have a black SCOTUS justice with a white wife, and an ex-POTUS born of a similar union.

These facts are important to political calculations. A message that appeals to one sector of the working class might alienate others.

Please, it’s just a made up segregation tactic to keep the masses separated. Keep the powerful in power by not letting the majority of folks form anything coherent and rebel against them. It’s the same reason why the census numbers have been miss reported since slavery ended. And before you ask the number don’t add up and to many census reports have “mysteriously” been burned.

 

[pointless]

google bacon's rebellion. pretty much started there and hasn't stopped.

 

[The_Trouvere]

For most people most of the time loyalties of race, nation, and ethnicity are stronger than loyalties of class. Karl Marx was a good economist, but a bad sociologist. His writings can be used to explain the Great Depression, but not the First World War, the rise of Italian Fascism and German Nazism, and the fact that America's white working class is a Republican constituency.

 

[pecksniff]

Please, it’s just a made up segregation tactic to keep the masses separated.

No. Those groups are self-segregated. Their separation is a result of artificial segregation, but it is now self-sustaining. E.g., churches -- blacks formed their own, at first because they were not allowed in the white ones -- it has been said that 11am on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America -- but how many people of any race have an actual problem with that, now? How many blacks want to switch to the white churches?

 

[Misshotndeep]

When discussing the class system further breaking it down just seems like a political ploy. I seriously had never heard that term till this post. I have also never heard anyone that fits this self explained term call themselves that. White collar caucasians don’t have a separate distinction. In America there are working class, white collar and 1%. Who is making these silly terms up? Lol

 

[GothTalk]

Why do we speak of a "white" working class as a distinct sector of American society, when there are also many people of other races who live by manual labor?

IDK, it's mostly progressive leftist who obsess over separating people by race.

You tell us.

 

[Misshotndeep]

No. Those groups are self-segregated. Their separation is a result of artificial segregation, but it is now self-sustaining. E.g., churches -- blacks formed their own, at first because they were not allowed in the white ones -- it has been said that 11am on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America -- but how many people of any race have an actual problem with that, now? How many blacks want to switch to the white churches?

Yeah… about that… racism is alive and well. Other ethnicities still are not welcome in white churches. Black churches don’t care as long as you tithe! Rofl
My family actually had to leave a church because of it in the 90s. I hear horror stories about it even now.
The Who forced segregation this is more for safety then anything these days. Between cooked copes and other law officials over the centuries, other cultures don’t trust anyone that is not one of them. White folks brought the issue of lack of trust on themselves as a whole. Now I’m not saying any one race is all anything. But in African American culture history is passed on orally still. Those Grim fair tales have faces and those faces are white. It’s why I think Critical Race theory(poorly names) is so important. Let it all see the light of day. Good, bad, apathy, justice. Physiology speaking, no one can heal any mental or emotional wound if it is ignored. Let it out, let it go, heal and move on.

 

[pecksniff]

When discussing the class system further breaking it down just seems like a political ploy. I seriously had never heard that term till this post. I have also never heard anyone that fits this self explained term call themselves that. White collar caucasians don’t have a separate distinction. In America there are working class, white collar and 1%. Who is making these silly terms up? Lol

The term "white working class" has been an important part of American political discourse for at least five years now. It was the group to which, all commentators agreed, Trump was aiming his message. (Actually, his voting base is mostly middle- and upper-class whites -- but every MAGA rally has a distinctly WWC feel.)

 

[Sean Renaud]

When discussing the class system further breaking it down just seems like a political ploy. I seriously had never heard that term till this post. I have also never heard anyone that fits this self explained term call themselves that. White collar caucasians don’t have a separate distinction. In America there are working class, white collar and 1%. Who is making these silly terms up? Lol

Nobody seems to use those terms for obvious reasons but that doesn't make the rest of the facts stated here any less true.

 

[Misshotndeep]

The term "white working class" has been an important part of American political discourse for at least five years now. It was the group to which, all commentators agreed, Trump was aiming his message. (Actually, his voting base is mostly middle- and upper-class whites -- but every MAGA rally has a distinctly WWC feel.)

Oh him.
That explains it all! See a dog taking a poop don’t be surprised at the pile of shit laying there.

 

[pecksniff]

It’s why I think Critical Race theory(poorly names) is so important.

Is there a better name for the concept?

 

[Misshotndeep]

Is there a better name for the concept?

Oh I believe some idiots sat around and made it up. My point is that it is dumb. Let separate people even more. It’s only lead to more deaths, Karen’s and the ilk.
Entitlement is the life blood of that term.

 

[GothTalk]

The term "white working class" has been an important part of American political discourse for at least five years now. It was the group to which, all commentators agreed, Trump was aiming his message. (Actually, his voting base is mostly middle- and upper-class whites -- but every MAGA rally has a distinctly WWC feel.)

Again, it's a leftist term, just look who uses it the most around here and at large.

You and yours.

 

[GothTalk]

Is there a better name for the concept?

Basic racism and bigotry.

 

[pecksniff]

Again, it's a leftist term, just look who uses it the most around here and at large.

You and yours.

Leftists would prefer a transracial working-class consciousness.

If that ever really develops in this country, the GOP is finished.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Basic racism and bigotry.

Honest American History

 

[Sean Renaud]

Is there a better name for the concept?

I don't know but there certainly needs to be one. The Jews were not picked out of a hat or reject Adolf's admission into art school. If we're being honest if the news says "Breaking terrorist attack" You know its France just as surely as when you hear "Man's belt turns out to be live snake" Its Florida.

 

[GothTalk]

Honest American History

Doesn't need theories about race applied to it.

You just want to shame/punish whitey because that's PROGRESS!!

 

[pecksniff]

Doesn't need theories about race applied to it.

Of course American history needs theories about race applied to it. What single factor has been more historically important?

 

[GothTalk]

Leftists would prefer a transracial working-class consciousness.

Then why don't they promote such things??

Everything from their CRT to the language you use is aimed at deepening racial divides.

If that ever really develops in this country, the GOP is finished.

LOL if that develops in this country that means the GOP has won.

 

[GothTalk]

Of course American history needs theories about race applied to it.

No it doesn't.

You're just cheering on your proffered brand of racism.

What single factor has been more historically important?

Money.

 

[pecksniff]

Money.

If money were more important than race, the American labor movement, back in the days when it really mattered, would have included blacks on equal terms. But it never did. It's a problem even now.

 

[GothTalk]

If money were more important than race, the American labor movement, back in the days when it really mattered, would have included blacks on equal terms.

No. If 2022 then 1922 doesn't apply.

And it was more important than race, that's why the rich/privileged of color have always been able to chum it up with the whites, even under segregation.

Green > all other colors.

I
It's a problem even now.

It's not a problem at all.

You woke nutters are just insane with racism and hate.

 

[pecksniff]

It's not a problem at all.

I believe there are still some all-white or nearly-all-white unions.

Historically, the exclusion of blacks from the unions meant they were available, and often used, as scab labor. That is an important fact of American history, that needs to be studied and taught.