White Privilege, The Myth | Documentary Idea

by Juli Hayden
(Newport Beach, CA USA)

As a 5th generation American of Spanish, French, Mexican and many other nationalities, I find the entire subject of white privilege fascinating.

Growing up in a multi-cultural environment it would be interesting to travel the country interviewing those 'Caucasian' Americans who would not be considered 'privileged' simply because of the color of their skin.

We have smart, successful individuals of every race, creed and color and 'white privilege' is not, in my opinion, the reasons for the problems facing our society. It is Hollywood, professors and others who are perpetrating this narrative and I would like to try and bring our nation back together, not by interviewing politicians or actors, but regular people to get an idea of what is really going on and how this term came to be.

Comments for White Privilege, The Myth | Documentary Idea

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Mar 07, 2021
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I am white
by: Linda

I am so damn sick of folks using the race card! I blame Obama for the division in America! I do not have priviledge but the Obamas of the workd do! So all those who want me to bend to them can Kiss My Ass!

Jan 28, 2021
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great idea
by: Site Visitor

you can see the divide in the comments making it a great topic. there needs to be dialogue not just people screaming "white privilege" while burning down cities. even seeing comments saying you must be "white privileged" because of mixed heritage can't know struggle is laughable. go for it

Jan 28, 2021
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great idea
by: Site Visitor

I agree the "white privilege" is being used to divide rather than bring people together.

Dec 21, 2020
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Make your own path.
by: Site Visitor

I grew up in a poor white military family. Education, fauth, self determination, and hard work was the focus of our family. I worked and pain my way through college. Competed against preferential hire(minorities and women) for every job I got. When I get pulled over for driving infractions I say sir, and give respect to the officers. Even if they are wrong. My so called white privilege didn't qualify me for grants for school, nor did it get me jobs. Stop blaming others, and get on a path to self determination. People may not like you because of attitude or skin color (including f white skin color). Get over it stop blaming others. Make your path forward towards success, and remember that you are the only one holding you back. I didn't get special privileges, nor should someone for race, gender, or skin color. We are are equal.

Jun 02, 2020
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Excellent
by: Aaron

You can see, by the responses you're receiving, that this is a subject which "fascinates" many people on both sides of the aisle. Proof that it is an excellent topic to open dialogue on. People will debate and discuss your findings or interpretations for years to come.

I would also interview people of other races who are privileged. The contrast is stark, and privileged minorities often disregard the concept of "white privilege" entirely. Many people tell me they see financial and familial factors as the most identifiable indicators of privilege in all races.

Best wishes,

Aaron

Aug 22, 2017
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Just no
by: Anonymous

NO

May 10, 2017
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Ridiculous Documentary Idea
by: Anonymous

"Spanish, French and Mexican" does not necessarily mean non-white. You don’t seem to know the difference between ethnicity and nationality either. A person can be so-called "white" and still be Spanish, French or Mexican. Most present-day Mexicans, which describes people from Mexico, are mestizo—mixed; usually European, African and Indigenous. Why tackle a subject you seem to have such limited knowledge about? Do you understand the history of colonization by colorization? The immense inequities that have been lobbied against people of color in the U.S.? Laws like the Immigration Act of 1924 that excluded non-whites from America? Executive Order 9066 that incarcerated U.S. citizens of Japanese descent? The enslavement of Africans to work building a nation that they were never paid for, for hundreds of years? Please take some history classes before you embark on this ridiculous documentary idea.

Oct 13, 2015
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That's not a documentary
by: Anonymous

What you are suggesting is polemics from a the frame of a hard right pull yourself up by your own bootstraps bullshit. From what I gathered from your overly brief background statement, your life has been all about trying to assimilate, to feel accepted, to be validated. If you don't have the ability to empathize or look at opposing points of view, you shouldn't consider making a doc.

Calling your film White Privilege the myth is not a question or an exploration. It's a definitive answer which you intend to prove by interviewing people who agree with your limited belief. Maybe you should go work for Faux News?

Oct 06, 2015
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Please do this documentary
by: Dave

As a white male who learned over the years of the number of opportunities I lost to affirmative action, I can tell you, White privilege is a myth. To your list of those guilty of perpetuating this lie you can add white males who con everyone with the lie that they benefitted from white privilege.

These are the hucksters like Tim Wise and Luke Visconti. Luke Visconti publishes the magazine, Diversity, Inc. Tim Wise is called the leading white male in the field of diversity. They both are making a fortune with this con.

I've told both of them at some point over the past 17 or more years that they are like window salesman who go around breaking windows and then come around the next day with their, "Window Salesman" business card.

Jim Crow was a law as stupid as the Dred Scott decision. The idea of "leveling the playing field" with affirmative action, diversity, and other nonsense is the opposite side of the same coin. People in favor of Diversity (Affirmative Action) seem to think that white males are born with a career all mapped out for them. It was never easy.

I wish you luck in doing this.

Best regards,

Dave

Sep 06, 2015
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check out this film first
by: Anonymous

If you find the subject fascinating, you might want to do some research.

White People documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zjj1PmJcRM

Jun 17, 2015
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ironic
by: Anonymous

White Privilege is white people thinking white privilege isn't a problem. Do a documentary on yourself.

Jun 05, 2015
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great start
by: Desktop Documentaries

Hi Juli,

Thanks for sharing your idea. Every great documentary idea always starts with a curiosity or fascination!

Now that you've got the spark of an idea, time to develop it just a bit further. Can you think of additional elements that can be explored to bring depth to your story? What would be the "chapters" or "sections" of your documentary? Who are some specific people you would like to interview? If you were a journalist trying to find the "truth" of this issue, who would you need to talk to? Are you interested in the police/racial profiling issue? Privilege in the work place? Something else?

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