Although there is much controversy about how real, clearly defined or scientific the concept of race is, there is much more consensus on the idea that Europeans and their colonial progeny, have often and in an organised fashion enslaved, stolen from and discriminated against people of or from other continents. While this historical characteristic, whose cause is a matter of great debate, is not exclusive to Europeans, many believe that Europeans have been the most consistent and effective perpetrators.

This historical (and some would argue, current) violence and discrimination, does not necessarily cause people who identify themselves as White, to feel personally guilty, but guilt may arise from one or more of the following related beliefs:

- White people are genetically more likely to form colonial, oppressive organisations.

- The discrimination still exists in a systemic form and a lot of white people are active or complicit in the oppression.

- Although legal or organised oppression of other races is no longer approved of in most westernised countries, a lot of white people are (collectively) living off inherited wealth that was originally created from the stolen labour and stolen land aquired by their ancestors, and as a result they have an unjust economic advantage over the descendants of natives and slaves.