Oprah Winfrey Says White Privilege Is Real, Senator Ted Cruz Calls It "Racist BS"

BYErika Marie4.0K Views
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Oprah Winfrey, Ted Cruz
People don't believe Oprah Winfrey, a billionaire, has the right to condemn White privilege, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

White privilege is a topic that continues to divide as there are people who argue that it doesn't, while there are others who are adamant that it is a very real issue. Billionaire mogul Oprah Winfrey added her two cents to the conversation during a chat with NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho. According to The Hill, Oprah stated, “There are white people who are not as powerful as the system of white people — the caste system that’s been put in place — but they still, no matter where they are on the rung, or the ladder of success, they still have their whiteness."

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“You still have your whiteness," she continued. "That’s what the term ‘white privilege’ is. It means that whiteness still gives you an advantage, no matter.” Republican Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz retweeted a story about Oprah's remarks with the caption, "What utter, racist BS.”

Cruz wasn't the only person to criticize the mogul's comments. Thousands of people took to social media to say that Oprah is a perfect example of why White privilege doesn't exist. "Oprah is a billionaire, one of half a dozen African-American billionaires & 880,000-plus black millionaires in America," one user wrote. "There is no white privilege or black privilege, there is only American privilege thanks to America's color-blind free-enterprise system!" Check out a few responses below.

About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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