Does White Privilege exist? If so, do you think White Supremacy exists also?

Yes and yes. No question.

Please everyone I asked this question because I want to hear opinions from the military community. I always hear civilians respond to the question and I sometimes wonder what military personnel have to say about this topic. This doesn't just affect our fellow civilians, but it affects us as a military community as well. By no means am I trying to start a vocal war I just believe I can call on my fellow brothers and sisters who served before me and are now serving with me to help me discuss this topic. If you feel uncomfortable please don't respond just keep scrolling. Thank you all for paving the way for me to follow and thank you for conversing with me on this topic. Once again if I upset you (the community) with this question then I deeply apologize and only want to engage in an intellectual conversation with those who come from different backgrounds. Thank you

White privilege... What is it really? The suggestion that since our ancestors at some point may have participated in slavery long before we were born and gave us an advantage in life today? Something we are all taught (or should be) is to learn from our mistakes of the past and move forward by not repeating those mistakes. Rehashing them over and over again accomplishes nothing. There are no calls for a return to slavery, segregation, or an acceptance of bigotry and racism. No significant calls that is. While there are still people who hold those attitudes, they do not speak for me or the people of their same color. Being white or black is not a club or some kind of organization. so not to sound harsh or uncaring, but people need to get over it. We are all fortunate to be born American too, where even the lowest class of people economically can far surpass the quality of life of the from most other countries. Should we give up our status in the world to prop up the more unfortunate countries to be equal to our own?

So this leads me to ask what are white people expected to do to bring closure to our past as a nation? Am I supposed to give something up? Trade my life with a family less fortunate than mine? Throughout my life and with education I have already recognized the fact that this country made poor choices by instituting slavery and treating people of other races as inferior. I was never raised to look down at people regardless of their race. As a country we speak out against people who discriminate by race. We do not stand for racism when it is clearly demonstrated. Why can't this be enough and then what more can we do to move on. I don't want to move on because the argument scares or embarrasses me. I want to move on because only then is when we make real progress. What matters most is, do I treat everyone equally? Do I look past color/ethnicity? I say yes and when someone blames me for problems I had no part in, I become less concerned about what they have to say.

Both are alive and well! There is no question.

You're playing with fire, but it does come into play as a leader in the military. People grew up in different areas of the country, and this will taint their view of life. As an NCO, you're going to have to understand this and deal with it/squash it when it rears its ugly head. Does the privilege of being white come with benefits? In some parts of the country, sure as hell does. That said, I'm white and have been pulled over multiple times for things like a noisy muffler.. then had my car searched for drugs. I've been followed around stores like I was a shoplifter. I've been jumped and told to go back home, I don't belong there (ironically, about 3 blocks from home). I don't believe its universally out there. Understand that misperception is a source for a lot of friction.. as you get stripes and have a squad under you... understand neither soldier may be wrong, and at the same time neither may be right... Beware of falling for a false dichotomy. Just because one side is wrong, it doesn't automagically mean the opposing side is right, and vice versa.

As to white supremecy.. sure, there are folks that believe having one skin color means you're superior to all others. That applies to Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Americans of all races and creeds. Doesn't make them right, just makes them ignorant.

If you're talking military-wise? There's certainly racism still in the military, though we've reached the point where there's out-and-out racists of every color. I'd say whites in the military are a little less overt about it in the current EO environment, but given that I drink with just about everyone given the occasion I've heard every racist viewpoint from every race represented in the military.
White privilege? Not so much, at least from my experience in the military. I've been up for the same promotions and schools as anyone from a minority race, so long as we both qualify for them it's usually a "whose command fights harder" or a "who isn't desperately needed for X amount of days".

When you see this, do you see white privilege? Would any other race be given the same sentence?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecTN4UlBTj0

Yes and yes d*mn it! I do not allow such goings in my people both in and out of the USN.
Enough said...

i served for 10 1/2 years in the united states navy, deployed into combat during desert shield/desert storm and after desert storm, 3 consecutive deployments for nearly a year and 9 months straight, multiple other peacetime deployments to the Indian ocean, i am a White American, and have served with thousands of African Americans, Mexican Americans, Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, now i can say the only colors that anyone that i ever served with was Red White and Blue, we were ALL Americans, despite the colors of our skin, now i began my enlistment on August 26 1987 and was released because of the Clinton draw down on July 11 1998, and i personally NEVER seen any hints of racial inequality or different treatment of any kind, in all of the commands that i was assigned to which were 9 to include 4 duty stations and 5 schooling commands, such activity would not be tolerated, we were all on the same team, trying to accomplish the same goals!

What is white privilege? I was raised in a poor family on a farm. most families in my area were basically truck farmers. My parents had minimal education but wanted better for me. They couldn't help me with school but they instilled that success was dependent upon me and my efforts. I studied after my chores and work and did odd jobs for neighbors to earn money. The only privilege I had was the same others had: Get out and hustle, do the best you can on your education and beat the bushes to find work. If others chose not to do that, then it has nothing to do with whiteness or blackness or yellowness or browness...it has to do with effort. The military gave me every privilege I needed...