Cameron Miranda
White people may claim that other groups are 'breaking the law' when they are simply breaking cultural or moral rules. This is because they feel that their dominant position in society is being threatened, and they are losing their privileges. This can lead to a sense of injustice and a desire to find a 'champion' who will restore their sense of security. This can manifest as racist conspiracy theories and threats of violence against democracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Feeling of injustice | When white people feel that the rules they have come to master no longer matter, they feel there's an injustice |
| Loss of privilege | When a dominant group begins to lose its privileges, some members perceive that the advancing groups are "cutting the line" and breaking the rules |
| Racial discrimination | Black offenders are more likely to be arrested and punished for criminal behaviour than white offenders |
| Law enforcement bias | Law enforcement officers racially discriminate against Black offenders and are more likely to exercise formal social control against the Black population than the White population |
| Political and cultural change | After decades of economic, political and cultural change, many white men feel left behind |
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What You'll Learn
- White people may feel that advancing groups are 'breaking the rules' by 'cutting the line'
- White people may feel that their norms, beliefs and values are being challenged
- White people may feel that the rules no longer matter and that there is an injustice
- White people may feel left behind by economic, political and cultural change
- White people may feel that criminal law is an instrument used to protect the interests of the powerful
White people may feel that advancing groups are 'breaking the rules' by 'cutting the line'
When a dominant group begins to lose its privileges, some members perceive that the advancing groups are “cutting the line”. They feel that the advancing groups are breaking the rules, not legal rules, but cultural and moral rules. This perception of injustice can lead to a search for a champion of their perspective to make them feel secure again.
Berkeley scholars have noted that after decades of economic, political and cultural change, many white men feel left behind. Some of these men are taking justice into their own hands, such as through thinly veiled threats against democracy. This can be seen in the aftermath of David DePape’s attempt to kidnap U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and his hammer assault on her husband, Paul.
People are creatures of habit, and when their norms, beliefs, and values are challenged, they may not respond well. Working-class men have had little power to protect themselves and their families from the changes of the past half-century, or from significant events such as the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic.
The slogan “Make America Great Again” is a classic play to white racial resentment, as it implies a desire to return to a time when white people held more power and influence.
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White people may feel that their norms, beliefs and values are being challenged
Berkeley News reports that, after decades of economic, political and cultural change, many white men feel left behind. Some of these men are taking justice into their own hands, and are turning to conspiracy theories and weapons as a thinly veiled threat against democracy. This was seen in the aftermath of David DePape's attempt to kidnap U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and his hammer assault on her husband, Paul. Analysts pored over the suspect's online postings, looking for motivation among a toxic stew of grievance.
People are creatures of habit, and we like things to stay the same. When someone comes along and says that the things we value highly are no longer going to be valued, or that we are doing something that should not be valued, we do not take this well. This is a direct challenge to our norms, beliefs and values. Working-class men have had little power to protect themselves and their families from the changes of the past half-century, or from the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic.
When white people feel that their norms, beliefs and values are being challenged, they may react in a number of ways. They may feel a sense of loss, fear and rage, as the Berkeley News article suggests. They may look for a champion who will make them feel secure again, or they may take justice into their own hands. They may also feel a sense of injustice, and believe that this injustice needs to be repaired.
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White people may feel that the rules no longer matter and that there is an injustice
When a dominant group, such as white people, begins to lose its privileges, some members may feel a sense of loss and fear. They may perceive that the rules they have come to master are no longer relevant, which can lead to a sense of injustice. This psychological climate can make them more susceptible to seeking a "champion" who represents their perspective and makes them feel secure again.
In recent years, many white men have felt left behind due to economic, political, and cultural changes. They may feel that their norms, beliefs, and values are being directly challenged and that they have little power to protect themselves and their families from these changes. This sense of powerlessness can contribute to feelings of resentment and injustice.
Additionally, the slogan "Make America Great Again" has been interpreted as a play to white racial resentment, suggesting a desire to return to a time when white people held more power and privilege. This further reinforces the idea that some white people feel that the rules have changed and that there is an injustice that needs to be rectified.
Overall, the perception that cultural and moral rules are being broken by advancing groups can lead to a sense of resentment and injustice among white people, who may feel that their dominance and privilege are being threatened.
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White people may feel left behind by economic, political and cultural change
White people may feel that their norms, beliefs and values are being challenged and that their authority is being undermined. They may feel that they have had little power to protect themselves and their families from these changes, including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This sense of being left behind can also be seen in the context of demographic shifts, with some white people fearing that their culture and standing are under threat. This can lead to rising racial anxiety and more uncomfortable race relations.
The feeling of being left behind may also contribute to support for right-wing political extremism and anti-democratic sentiments. Despite the fact that white Americans are, on average, doing better economically than racially minoritized individuals, they tend to underestimate the racial wealth gap and report feeling left behind. This may have played a role in the election of Donald Trump, who seemed to prioritise connecting with anti-elite white Americans who felt ignored.
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White people may feel that criminal law is an instrument used to protect the interests of the powerful
White people may also feel that they are losing their privileges as advancing groups are seen as "cutting the line" and breaking cultural and moral rules. This can lead to a sense of injustice and a desire to find a "champion of their perspective" to make them feel secure again. This can be seen in the slogan "Make America Great Again", which plays to white racial resentment.
Additionally, white men in particular may feel left behind by economic, political and cultural changes, leading to grievances and a belief in racist conspiracy theories. They may take justice into their own hands, as seen in the case of David DePape's attempt to kidnap US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Overall, it can be said that white people may feel that criminal law is an instrument used to protect the interests of the powerful, as they perceive themselves as losing power and influence in society.
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Frequently asked questions
When a dominant group begins to lose its privileges, some members perceive that the advancing groups are breaking the rules. However, these are not legal rules, but cultural and moral rules.
This perception can lead to a sense of injustice and a desire to repair it. Displaced white men may be more inclined to look for a champion of their perspective to make them feel secure again.
This can be seen in the political archetype of a white man with deep grievances and a belief in racist conspiracy theories, such as U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters of Arizona.
Law enforcement officers may racially discriminate against Black offenders and be more likely to exercise formal social control against the Black population than the White population.
These perceptions may be due to economic, political and cultural changes that have left some white men feeling left behind.
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