When you read the title of this article, you probably cringed a little. Discussing privilege is hard. Privilege has become a term employed to acclaim guilt and blame when privilege recognition should be used as a positive. So what is privilege? The National Conference for Community and Justice defines privilege as:
"Unearned access to resources (social power) that are only readily available to some people because of their social group membership; an advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by one societal group above and beyond the common advantage of all other groups. Privilege is often invisible to those who have it."
Let me put that into perspective. Recently at a public speaking competition, a fellow student at North Carolina State University, Leah Block, brought forth an image of privilege that beautifully summarizes privilege. She lined up her discussion by asking questions about each individuals life and worries. Recognizing that when you don't have to think about something, you have privilege.
Leah asked, "do you have to worry about access to food, clothing, housing, and healthcare? If not, you have class privilege.
Do you worry about whether you will be a victim of police brutality or worse police murder? If not, you have white privilege."
If there are things that you don't have to worry about, you have privilege.
Now, I know at this point you are probably very uncomfortable. That you would rather just click out of this article and never return. Whether you think so or not, recognizing your privilege is a good thing.
Yes, it is an injustice for privilege to exist in our current society but it is now our choice to decide how that privilege is used. Do we use our privilege to further oppress those that have been born of different circumstance or do we use our privilege to start deconstructing the detrimental structures in our society that cause privilege?
Some may say that they don't want to lose their privilege. Think about why you have that privilege. That privilege occurs because of the circumstances that you were born into, whether that means social standing or race. The environment that you have been surrounded by has allowed you to have opportunities and privileges that others have not. Why should we punish those born into different circumstances than ourselves?
DaShanne Stokes, a sociologist and activist stated, "privilege is not knowing that you are hurting others and not listening when they tell you." Once you recognize your privilege you cannot go back. You need to move forward and begin to deconstruct the injustices around you.
Today is a time of reckoning in our country. Racial hatred and prejudice that has been hiding under the surface have now started flowing to the surface. Stand up and say that it is not okay to be racist. It is not okay to be sexist.
Lift up those that have been oppressed for so many years. America is built off of slavery. America is built on discrimination against those who are not white. It is not okay to continue that path.
Take your privilege and use it to help others. You can no longer be complicit in the injustices that are happening around you. Ignorance can no longer be an option. Educate yourself. Learn why privilege exists. When you dispel the ignorance of privilege, you can begin to dismantle privilege. And I'm not saying it is easy. It is a long battle with no easy solution, but it begins with us. Now.
