Can White Converts Still Have "white Privilege"?

[Tears in Prostration]

(salam)

I was just wondering whether white converts/reverts would still be eligible for "white privileges", even after submitting themselves to Islam?

what I am seeking to know, is the following type of benefit (counted as white privilege): being the one offered lotion samples at the mall?

I have seen this a lot: once a white female converts to Islam, people no longer see her as a white woman but rather as a Muslim hence her hijab.

Thanks ahead of time,

Edited March 28, 2013 by Naz_

[Simplymuslim21]

Ok i am a revert to islam a "white one"

And i honestly have no idea what you are saying

[Ikiryo]

A 'white woman' is no different from a Muslim woman because Islam has no colour. Leave your prejudices at the door.

[kadhim]

^No, you're misunderstanding. The poster is not exhibiting prejudice. The poster is talking about the phenomenon where white folks can tend to get treated better, intentionally or not, in certain situations. The poster, I believe (the post was poorly written) is asking whether white converts experience this "benefit" disappearing after conversion.

From personal experience, I can definitely say you lose your white man card if you try to cross the US border in a rented car with a bunch of Arab dudes on the way to a camp or conference, lol. Not recommended.

[sayedamir2000]

(salam)

I was just wondering whether white converts/reverts would still be eligible for "white privileges", even after submitting themselves to Islam?

what I am seeking to know, is the following type of benefit (counted as white privilege): being the one offered lotion samples at the mall?

I have seen this a lot: once a white female converts to Islam, people no longer see her as a white woman but rather as a Muslim hence her hijab.

Thanks ahead of time,

(bismillah)(salam) In Isalm we don't have ethinicity. Every 'race' is equal, there's no distinction between 'whites' and 'colors'.

[Ikiryo]

Kadhim, you are falling into the same trap! A lot of Muslims - born into Muslim families - are 'white'. Arabs as Semites are regarded as white from an anthropological viewpoint for example. And many Arabs eg those of the Levant have far paler skin than many Europeans. Iranians are also regarded as white for the same reason. And also because they are Indo-Europeans. So leave behind this notion of whites and Muslims and try and choose your words more carefully - same to the poster too.

[Gypsy]

The white converts to Islam are perhaps the most desirable group. They get special treatment more than oh say converts with not so white skin..black/African, Asian etc.

I'm not surprised. Almost all the communities (Arab, Persian, Indian/Pakistani etc) subscribe to glorifying the fairer skin and looking down on people with darker/brown skin.

[Waiting for HIM]

The white converts to Islam are perhaps the most desirable group. They get special treatment more than oh say converts with not so white skin..black/African, Asian etc.

I'm not surprised. Almost all the communities (Arab, Persian, Indian/Pakistani etc) subscribe to glorifying the fairer skin and looking down on people with darker/brown skin.

....... And in doing so, make all of us think that our Aimah (as) were also white, who in fact were more darker skinned people. In fact Aimah (as) were more non-Arabs than many Arabs because Ahlulbayt seldom had Aimah born out of Arab women. Most of mothers of imams were outside of ME.

OP... Apparently except for a few, everybody else misunderstood what you were asking. Yes you do loose your 'white woman' privileges once you convert specifically if it shows a la Hijab. I've seen some American convert hijabis even treated unfairly because now you are part of 'them' and not 'us' by non-Muslim Americans. Most of your family and friends would look down on you and would think you of a retarded or crazy of some sort for your conversion to the religion of fanatics - Lolzzzz...

If you are a white man, you don't loose much unless you start wearing a kufi all the time but white men converting have much easy go than women.

Now that all was how your old comrades treat you, the treatment from your new community, that is born Muslims depend on many factors, such as do you behave like a white trash or a sophisticated white man, were you converted in prison or learned Islam in a masjid, do you have good manners or are you a hillbilly who happened to be a Muslim and so on. I've my brown lady friends who married white already converted men and I've my white friends who are the most aloof miserable creatures in mosques because of their other bad traits and so on...

[kadhim]

Kadhim, you are falling into the same trap! A lot of Muslims - born into Muslim families - are 'white'. Arabs as Semites are regarded as white from an anthropological viewpoint for example. And many Arabs eg those of the Levant have far paler skin than many Europeans. Iranians are also regarded as white for the same reason. And also because they are Indo-Europeans. So leave behind this notion of whites and Muslims and try and choose your words more carefully - same to the poster too.

Ugh...just take it back to your postmodern ethnic hyper-sensitivity studies class. I'm just trying to answer the fellow's question.

[Ahmed Ismael]

(salam)

I was just wondering whether white converts/reverts would still be eligible for "white privileges", even after submitting themselves to Islam?

what I am seeking to know, is the following type of benefit (counted as white privilege): being the one offered lotion samples at the mall?

I have seen this a lot: once a white female converts to Islam, people no longer see her as a white woman but rather as a Muslim hence her hijab.

Thanks ahead of time,

I am heartly sorry that you experience this social demographic ethnic issue. My mother is Christian who had married a Muslim husband and kept her church attendance.

I say yes in answer to your question.

We badly need any manner of an outreach dawa to White race America. You can walk it and talk it. God needs America just as it is to come to God in Islam.

You know that America has these issues, these social realities, be they outrightly and boldly spoken or unspoken.

Most of us in America with family going back through the ages know to simply leave the racism of White as is. You may be in circumstances where you are brought more to the fore in direct observation by your neighbors on the issue. Of coures at base of it you simply should treat each as they treat you and not at all make mention of White unless the person with whom you find yourself confronted first inserts the issue. This is easy enough for most people in the U.S.

Be White as America would assume you to be and leave it at that. It should be ordinary that a person is a Muslim. It should be ordinary a person chooses to have a deep Faith in the God Who has created and in whose Wisdom has all as all is.

Be the best face to your own that Islam has opportunity to be in their life and through their encounter and their interaction with you.

[Anonymous456]

I think that white privilege disappears once people know you're Muslim. Especially in this day and age where soo many people are anti Muslim due to the acts of a minority of (fake) muslims and the media's portrayal of Islam.

[Abdul Qaim]

I think that white privilege disappears once people know you're Muslim. Especially in this day and age where soo many people are anti Muslim due to the acts of a minority of (fake) muslims and the media's portrayal of Islam.

I'm a lily-white revert, and I believe I am treated differently by non-Muslims who automatically think I'm "one of them". I had to visit an auto electrician a few months ago and listen to him regurgitate a 5 minute long Islamophobic rant (apparently brought on when I mentioned a local mechanic I'd visited who happened to be a Muslim). The only reason he felt comfortable relating his xenophobic story was because I am a light skinned, fair haired Anglo type. To him I was one of the "team". I also see the way people treat my wife who is an Asian hijabi, and it is definitely different to the way the same people would deal with me.

[Anonymous456]

Lol he must have got quite the shock! So you think a distinction is made between white Muslims and non-white Muslims? Or are they all seen as the same, and viewed negatively?

Hmm I'm hoping that by initially relating to you, that the auto mechanic finds that Islam cannot be as bad as he thought. I've had experiences like that before, where people have slated Islam to me, not knowing I'm a Muslim (because I'm light skinned) but I guess if they feel they can relate then we can somewhat educate them.

Edited May 24, 2013 by Anonymous456

[Abdul Qaim]

Lol he must have got quite the shock! So you think a distinction is made between white Muslims and non-white Muslims? Or are they all seen as the same, and viewed negatively?

Hmm I'm hoping that by initially relating to you, that the auto mechanic finds that Islam cannot be as bad as he thought. I've had experiences like that before, where people have slated Islam to me, not knowing I'm a Muslim (because I'm light skinned) but I guess if they feel they can relate then we can somewhat educate them.

I never told him I am a Muslim; I thought he would be too embarrassed. Rather, I began to talk positively to him of my personal interactions with Muslims. ;)

[Baaqir]

Yes, it exists. I feel especially privileged in the Muslim community.

[Tears in Prostration]

(salam)

Thank you all for your input; reading all your different viewpoints concerning this topic is of great value to me, especially considering the fact that we each come from different backgrounds and thus bring our different experiences to the table- it really is interesting to read.

I am not a white convert; I was just curious to know in general considering living in a North American society that tends to lean more on "lighter" features in people (unfortunately).

Jazakallah

[sidnaq]

On 5/22/2013 at 2:44 PM, kadhim said:

^No, you're misunderstanding. The poster is not exhibiting prejudice. The poster is talking about the phenomenon where white folks can tend to get treated better, intentionally or not, in certain situations. The poster, I believe (the post was poorly written) is asking whether white converts experience this "benefit" disappearing after conversion.

From personal experience, I can definitely say you lose your white man card if you try to cross the US border in a rented car with a bunch of Arab dudes on the way to a camp or conference, lol. Not recommended.

 

 

 

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes, i was just going to make a post regarding something similar to this, in toronto where i live i do believe white people get treated better  for e.g. if a white person makes a joke in class even if in a funny awkward people laugh with him, maybe he looks better doing it, but if i made the same joke the same way, people may not laugh or look at me weird and this toronto is a multicultural city so even a south asian westernized person could who knows treat a white person better than me

[Nataly]

I think that it will keep existing, but it might differ or vary (higher or less) from the location, (country where you live), but it'll keep existing.

[DeafShia]

I can only speak for myself, as a white muslim.  I never lost my privilege when I became muslim.  When I grew my beard out people assumed I was a "hipster" and there for did not have the stigmatism that my POC brothers felt.  A white revert will always been seen as white first muslim second, in my personal experience.  Insha'Allah one day we are all seen as equal.

[Haji 2003]

I got this PM about 15 months ago:

 

Quote

 

Why is it that every revert is now subjected to become a mod on SC? Is there any particular reason behind it or the born shias aren't that much capable to become one?

 

 

 

[Haydar Husayn]

3 hours ago, Haji 2003 said:

I got this PM about 15 months ago:

I find it a bit concerning that some people are keeping track of who is a revert or not, and are bothered by there being a (supposedly) high number of reverts on the mod team. What difference does it make anyway?

[roya1b100d]

The top 25 people that push the "White privilege" agenda are all Jewish should give you an idea that its a massive lie. I'm not wanting to make this political but focus on God. Nothing else.