Bernie Sanders is being called out for supposed “white privilege” because of his attire at the inauguration. How is mittens and a puff coat white privilege?

I heard about that and didn’t get it either. It might be grouchy old Vermont Socialist privilege but I really don’t get where she was coming from.

Perhaps she sees it as white privilege, because he showed up to the inauguration in casual clothing, instead of a suit and tie, while other people, she thinks, would have been raked over the coals for this. Like Obama was criticised by the right for wearing a tan suit.
To me, it is not white privilege, but “Bernie Sanders, favourite grandpa” privilege.

All I have to say is “Oh for fucks sake”.
“Jesus fucking Christ” would also work.

For once I agree with Breitbart.

I agree with whoever called this “performative wokeness”, because that’s exactly what it is.

If you read the original article, she doesn’t explain her position very well. She hints at the idea that Bernie may be disrespecting Kamala Harris’ “firsts” by attending this momentous occasion in such casual clothing but even this isn’t stated outright and I’m just inferring it. At the end of the article she says “when you see privilege, you know it”, but again, doesn’t explain why it’s privilege beyond this hypothetical that women and “working class” people wouldn’t wear casual clothes to an inauguration (but provides no evidence that this is the case).

So yeah, just another vacuous outrage-culture article creating its own outrage response. Not sure why the article was even published, but then again, it’s the Chronicle and “woke points” are their bread and butter.

Perhaps the fact that Bernie was so bundled up and comfortable looking while others were forced to wear dress clothes that didn’t offer such comfort.

But it’s not white privilege. Perhaps it’s more like Slacktivism. HA!

I would not say white privilege, but rather a non conformist, who stole the media coverage eventually.

Thus he took away the thunder of the celebration somewhat and continues to dominate the news lately.

Hopefully not on purpose?

@Inspired_2write He really didn’t take away the thunder or dominate the media coverage. He did become a very popular meme on social media for a few days which is not quite the same thing.

I think @ragingloli hit the nail on the head that perhaps the teacher felt that it was white privilege to think that you could go casual to an inauguration. But if that is so, it certainly shows a lack of understanding of who and what Bernie is and trivializes the concept IMHO.

But yet another tempest in a teapot when people are dying and starving.

So true @janbb

My gawd, what a completely stupid accusation.

Congratulations “progressive” pseudo-intellectuals, you’ve officially sucked any true meaning out this concept – And set useful dialog about race back by 10 years.

I assumed it meant if a Black person showed up dressed like that they would be torn apart for not dressing appropriately and criticized for being classless, and a showing of how Black are raised differently and not educated regarding how to dress and behave.

When I lived in the South there was this mantra by some Chirstian school alums and parents that the kids wearing a tie and sportscoat prepared them for adulthood and helped them learn how to behave well. Some black people even refer to a suit as white people clothing and they are not comfortable. Like white people are comfortable and born into those clothes. WTH?

One time my husband and I went up to St. Louis for a doctor’s appointment, and while there we had dinner with a former coworker of my husband’s and his wife. The wife was a high school teacher, and I asked her about her job in St. Louis. One comment she made was, “I realize now that when a child does not answer me with ma’am they are not being rude, and that just because they don’t have their shirt tucked in does not mean they were not raised well.” I tried to hide my shock. She said, “the children here are much more well informed and inquisitive, and it really has been an eye opener for me.” I give her credit to being open enough to change her perception, but it really shows what her former perception was.

I don’t agree with judging kids or adults in that way at all. I am still shocked people think that way. I am shocked by everything I told you above still to this day. I also think this is just in pockets of America.

I think if a 70 something year old Jim Clyburn was wearing a Vermont winter coat he would be seen by most of America as cute too. I love Jim Clyburn. My guess is Bernie has a dark overcoat he could have worn that probably would been more with expectations for the event, but really who cares. Immediately when I saw his mittens I assumed they likely had special meaning.

I am much more bothered by Jill Biden and Nancy Pelosi wearing spike high heals. Great if they can wear them without effort, but if it was difficult for them I think it is ridiculous, especially at their age in the cold. I’m not saying they have to wear flat shoes, I am only saying I hope they were comfortable, and it is a crazy standard, especially at their age.

It’s an opinion—a stupid opinion, and the more astute of her pupils will I am sure call her on it. Personally, as a parent I would be good and pissed at my kid’s teacher for instilling any notion in his or her head that “the clothes make the man”. But then again, what incentive is there in this society for smart people to be teachers?

And if you want a recent example of “white privilege”, behold:
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/02/02/capitol-rioter-wants-go-mexican-vacation-and-court-lets-her/4358889001/

Oh dear God. A work related bonding retreat during covid no less.

It’s in the eye of the beholder. Example – At a restricted store recently I was waiting in a socially distance line and a black woman was standing off to the other side of the entrance. When the monitor motioned to me, she yelled “Hey, Whitey, I was here first.”

“Performative wokeness” sounds about right to me. One could just as easily label her opinion as anti-Semitic. But insincerely throwing around terms like that (as @JLoon correctly points out), diminishes the importance of the term.