[ianai]

Then there's my dad. I had to fight him to apply for benefits when he became disabled. While waiting at the benefits office I overheard one person behind the glass say to the person working with us "you going to get those crackers [a slur for white people] some cheddar [slang for money]?" He was ultimately denied and, of course, didn't appeal - he just identified deeply with the rejection.

[FormerBandmate]

That’s literally systemic racism.

It’s also profoundly inefficient and stupid. Credit card companies can approve you in 15 seconds, there is no reason the government couldn’t

[jjeaff]

It's a particular incidence of racism by someone working in a system, but I wouldn't call it "systemic racism" because there is not a recurring, broad, historical problem of white people not being able to get welfare. In fact, the majority of welfare recipients are white.

Additionally, most of the poverty programs I am familiar with are not a subjective decision process. You either meet the requirements or you don't. If you don't, they tell you why and you either agree or you have to appeal and get whatever incorrect information they have on file corrected.

[steele]

Beyond the bureaucratic nightmare, stigmatization of government assistance is terrible. When one considers the shape of wealth inequality in the US, the cruelty expressed by the prejudiced employee is likely due to their perception of the novelty and some entitlement to abuse the power dynamic. Not excusing or downplaying the event, marginalized people (including but not limited to those with disabilities) regularly experience indignities built into many institutions. Despite being visibly White, the concept US whiteness since it's inception has always been amorphous, exclusive by design, and generally adjusts definition based on the complicity to harm the 'other'.

[dpbriggs]

Why do you feel the need to apologize for racism? It isn't necessary in this conversation.

[jjeaff]

I see no apology, but why do you seem to take offense at pointing out the existence of racism?

[steele]

Did I apologize for your reading comprehension too? Is my apology in the room with you right now?