Why do some white men believe they are victims of discrimination, despite having the most social, political, and economic power in the country? It seems absurd to hold the best cards in the deck, those associated with the best outcomes, while claiming the game is stacked against you. Yet, this rhetoric has become commonplace, even from the country’s political leaders. For instance, at a Turning Point rally, Vice President J.D. Vance said, “In the United States of America, you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore.”
If taken at face value, someone would wrongfully assume that white people were an oppressed group, somehow liberated under the Trump administration. However, those familiar with the nation’s history or even current events would see that this claim lacks merit. For one, there is no history of white people enduring systemic discrimination in this country, of being subjugated based on their race. Secondly, no one asked white people to apologize for being white. This is not the goal of anti-racism efforts. While those who make racist statements or discriminate against others are often encouraged to make amends, that’s not the same as expecting white people to apologize for being white. It’s misleading to suggest white men are routinely victims of discrimination.
You’ve likely heard the expression, “When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.” This explains why some white men, having grown accustomed to their position as primary decision makers and leaders within the country, feel they are losing something when others are included. They overlook prejudicial practices that contribute to mostly white men filling these positions, and with a sense of entitlement, openly question whether Black people or other marginalized groups could walk a mile in their shoes. Charlie Kirk, a white nationalist, once said, “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.” Black pilots face barriers to entering the profession, including the high costs of obtaining commercial, private, and transport pilot licenses. When considered alongside other factors, such as unequal access to education and limited mentorship opportunities, Black people don’t have equal opportunities to become pilots. While their underrepresentation is the direct consequence of systemic racism, some doubt that if given a chance, they’d do a good job.
Beyond blatant prejudice, some White men resist efforts to extend opportunities to Black people, women, and other marginalized groups for fear that doing so would place them at a disadvantage. For example, one study suggested “advantaged group members misperceive that equality necessarily comes at a cost to their group (Brown et al., 2022).” Their findings help to explain why some White men react defensively to discussions about racial and gender inequality. They see hierarchy-attenuating programs, which are designed to promote equity, as “discriminatory or threatening.” A few years ago, the Supreme Court banned the use of race-based affirmative action policies under the premise that they discriminated against some students. Yet, an AP analysis found that the rate of Black student enrollment dropped at most selective colleges and universities following the national ban. While conservatives claimed AA policies contributed to white and, in this case, Asian students facing discrimination, the outcome of banning these programs was that even fewer Black students were admitted. This case shows why Americans shouldn’t take every claim of discrimination at face value — it should be investigated. In this case, the evidence indicates that these policies helped to mitigate some of the racism Black students experience, increasing their access to opportunities, while in their absence, they are denied at a higher rate.
Some white men have expressed resistance to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, under the same premise that these programs are unfair. Whenever they’re used, they suggest they are being discriminated against. Andrew Lucas, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair, recently posted online: “Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex? You may have a claim to recover money under federal civil rights laws,” encouraging white men to identify as victims. This is eerily similar to when President Trump welcomed white South African refugees under the false premise that they were violently oppressed. White people own over 73% of the private farmland in South Africa, a racial disparity that is reflective of the apartheid regime that deprived Black people of equal access to wealth and land acquisition. Back in America, where white people own 98% of the land, the Trump administration has suggested white men are the ones most subject to racial discrimination. This is ironic since Black people have endured additional hardships following anti-DEI measures.
Calls to dismantle DEI programs are based on a disingenuous argument that enough has been done for Black people. This argument is rooted in bigotry and the idea that white people have more wealth than others because they deserve it. — Cheryl L. Wade, a law professor
William Michael Cunningham, an economist, revealed that while the unemployment rate for white people in the United States was relatively stable in the first quarter of last year, it rose significantly for Black people. This shift, they argued, was the result of “systemic biases” and “growing anti-Black hiring practices.” As of December of this year, the Black unemployment rate is nearly double the rate for white people. When white men position themselves as victims and overlook the discrimination others endure, the racial hierarchy is maintained, and at times, strengthened. For instance, a ProPublica report suggested the Education Department’s civil rights division has failed to resolve a single investigation about Black students enduring discrimination since Trump returned to office. In a Colorado case, for instance, reports suggest white students taunted Black classmates at school, using their cell phones to make the sound of a whip cracking, calling them the n-word, “porch monkey,” and telling them they should “go pick cotton.” Yet, efforts to report this case to authorities have been met with radio silence from the federal government. Their failure or refusal to enforce civil rights legislation when Black people are victims of discrimination deprives them of equal protection.
According to an article published in Sociological Focus, the white supremacist victim ideology is associated with at least five interrelated themes, that “(1) Whites are victims of discrimination, (2) that their rights are being abrogated, (3) that they are stigmatized if they express ‘pride,’ (4) that they are being psychologically affected through loss of self-esteem, and (5) that the end product of all of this is the elimination of ‘the white race (Berbrier, 2020).” This framework promotes a series of falsehoods, which is dangerous because of “its utility as a recruiting tool, and its seductiveness to conservative whites.” The claim that white people are punished for showing excessive pride overlooks the history of white supremacy in this country that has promoted racial pride as a way of promoting violence against Black people and people of color. When leaders within the Republican party describe white men as victims, they’re not going off script. This is a common tactic, and in poor Southern states, such as Alabama and Mississippi, white people are more “easily persuaded” to identify as victims, despite their “racial power and privilege.” They often overlook the specific impacts of racism and instead focus on their personal experiences with poverty. And it’s in this omission that poor white people are exploited, told that they are victims, with their frustration directed at Black people, other racial minorities, immigrants of color, while overlooking the actual beneficiaries of this unjust arrangement, wealthy white people.
Steele argued white guilt originated from awareness of undeserved advantage, or white privilege, combined with a feeling of gratitude for being white, rather than Black. However, when researchers at Pennsylvania State University investigated the phenomenon, they found that “white guilt tended to be low” when measured. It is not reasonable to suggest that most white people are overcome with guilt or shame for being white, or that discussions about racism promote negative self-regard. When someone, for instance, learns about racism targeting Black people, they are not encouraged to think negatively about themselves, but rather to reflect upon the harm others have engaged in. Also, they may be introduced to lessons that highlight the impact of systemic racism, which goes beyond individual attitudes and beliefs and produces inequality. Yet, “since whiteness operates to promote white cultural values as ideal, positive, and the basis of all social systems,” some are hesitant to acknowledge any wrongdoing from members of their group, because doing so would mean also admitting they benefited from social inequities. However, addressing attitudes, beliefs, laws, policies, and systems that perpetuate racism against Black people does not require white people to feel guilty or ashamed for being white.
Some may initially hear the sound bite from the Vice President suggesting white men are victims of discrimination and consider this insignificant. Yet, his statement is reflective of a broader movement among white men, who believe that any effort to level the playing field will harm them. It’s a deflection that causes significant damage, because almost every indicator of measuring well-being and success suggests Black people are disadvantaged due to their race. Black people typically earn less money than white people, even when they have the same qualifications and work the same positions. Applicants with black-sounding names are twice as likely to be denied a callback for an interview. In the housing market, Black people are less likely to be approved for rental and mortgage applications. One study indicated homes owned by Black people are nearly twice as likely to receive low appraisals when compared to those of white homeowners. Of course, there are similar examples of racial disparities in our healthcare and criminal justice systems, even in accessing clean air, water, and other essential resources. Anti-black racism is so prevalent in this country that all you need to do is lift a stone, and you’ll find it. But, despite the overwhelming amount of evidence that points to a society that discriminates against Black people, some white men claim they are the real victims of discrimination. And in doing so, they overlook the racism Black people and other marginalized groups endure.