D'Souza: Are you willing to
give up your illicit seat, that you don't deserve, here at Amherst to make room for a disadvantaged minority? Yes or no? Student: After World War II,
the white middle-class soared to prosperity as a result
of bills like the GI bill, and African Americans who were coming home from war didn't get those benefits, simply because they were African American. The U.S. Department of
Veteran Affairs denied African Americans access
to those benefits, simply because of their race. And you are correct in
saying that no one today dealt with that particular issue. With that being said, however,
there was wealth amassed as a result of those programs
that still exists today. And when I think of your
example about an individual who works as a janitor
and sees people dining in a beautiful cafe,
walking home from work, I want to ask you, do you
think any of that indignation, given certain circumstances,
might actually be justified? Simply because there have
been systematic blocks in people's way throughout
American history, not ending with slavery, not
ending with the Jim Crow laws, not ending, some would say, even today, where we still have
housing discrimination. All of which is to say, you
found that during the Cold War era there was a massive boom
in the white middle class' prosperity and you just
didn't have that among African Americans, not because
they weren't meritorious, but because they were
discriminated against. D'Souza: Are you actually saying
that you believe in a rule of social justice today
that says, globally, let's look at this as a
global rule of justice, I'm going to figure out whose
ancestors did what to whom? And I'm going to return goods
that were illicitly taken from the beginning to the
people who had it originally. Do you believe that that's a viable way to organize our society? Do you believe, if I can
ask you a direct question, that you are the beneficiary
of white privilege here at Amherst? Yes or no? Student: Well, yeah, and... D'Souza: Pause, okay. If you are... [audience laughter] If you are, can I ask
you a further question? Student: Okay, yeah,
but I don't just say it in a self-flagellating
and self-aggrandizing way. D'Souza: Okay, go on. Student: I really try not to. I'm simply saying that
because you asked me. Really, I view the
recognition of one's privilege as an impetus to change things. So I don't just say I
have white privilege. I try to help those who have not benefited from such privilege. D'Souza: Really, how?
Hold on, hold on. Let's pursue this for a moment. Student: Sure. D'Souza: You say, this is
actually very important, because there's a psychology here, right? Student: Sure. Well, I'm going to answer your question, but I'm really not trying to attack you. I'm not trying to be provocative. I just find that often,
I think the essence of much of this discourse
surrounds hypocrisy, and maybe you're trying to
demonstrate that I'm a hypocrite. I say I benefit from white privilege, yet I don't actually do anything, but I'm going to backpedal
and say that, ultimately, I think what the greatest
vice is, is cruelty. And I don't want to be hypocritical, so to answer your question,
I'll start in high school. And I mean, do people
want to hear this or... Audience member: Yes, educate him, go, go. D'Souza: Look, let me say
where I'm going with this, because I think you're... [audience chatter] Student: It's not like I
kicked anyone out to help based on the color of their skin, but I was a tutor for people
who tended to be low income when I was in high school. I suppose that would be one
direct answer to your question, because oftentimes disparate
educational opportunities are grounded in disparate economic systems or systems that produce
disparate economic outcomes. So that's one way that I would combat it on an individual level. D'Souza: All right, here's
where I'm getting with this. One of the benefits of a good education, of reading people like Nietzsche,
is you begin to understand how deep the human desire is for moral self-exculpation. Now, you say, and I didn't
say this, you said this, "I'm a beneficiary of
illicit white privilege." Student: Illicit? D'Souza: Isn't all
white privilege illicit? Is it deserved? Student: I mean, in this current
system, there is legality. I mean... D'Souza: Illicit means immoral. Student: Okay. D'Souza: Immoral white privilege. Okay, so then if I were to say to you, there are surely many deserving minorities who would like to come to Amherst, but have the inherited
disadvantage of American history. Therefore, since you are
an acknowledged beneficiary of illicit privilege, would you be willing to step aside voluntarily,
putting your own moral mouth where your self-proclaimed virtue is, and give your seat, your
seat, not my seat... I realize you may be super
generous with other people's advantages and favor affirmative
action so other white kids who apply to Amherst are
turned away to open spaces for minorities, but I'm not
talking about you acting out your virtue on them, I'm talking about you acting
out your virtue on you. Are you willing to give
up your illicit seat, that you don't deserve, here at Amherst to make room for a disadvantaged minority? Yes or no?
