Two sides of the same coin

After reading and reflecting on the materials for this week’s module, I am sitting even more deeply into the uncomfortable truth that I have privilege. It is not something I asked for, and I of course did not earn all of it, but I definitely benefit from it. Johnson’s point about the “luxury of obliviousness” really hit me. For so long, I lived an oblivious life. The idea of privilege in the sense that we are discussing had never crossed my mind, especially because so many of my peers had so much “more” than I did (another paradox of privilege: I had it without feeling it because I compared myself to other white people). It’s so easy to miss when the system is designed to make it invisible to the people who have it. I’ve moved through life without having to think too deeply about my race, religion, education, or even safety, and that is privilege. 

What is even harder to sit with, though, is the idea that, like two sides of the same coin, my privilege exists because someone else doesn’t have it. Young’s essay really put things into perspective for me with her “five faces of oppression.” The five faces–exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence–really explained the idea that oppression isn’t always about cruelty or hate. It’s built into the very fabric of our society. Marginalized groups of people are excluded, undervalued, or silenced not just by individuals, but by the very institutions that we are taught to trust and believe in. The idea that for so many people, oppression is a constant condition that must be endured daily, is heavy. 

Something else that I can’t stop thinking about is how money and power are at the heart of privilege and lack thereof. There is a hierarchy of privilege and oppression, and wealth sits right at the top. The more money people have, the more power they have–and therefore better and easier access to safety, healthcare, education, and opportunity. Those without it are left to fight for whatever they can get in a system that is designed to keep them struggling. It’s terrifying to think that as far as we have come in this country, and how bad things have been, we are now moving backward. People in power are using their wealth, power, and privilege to reinforce inequality, not dismantle it. They’re encouraging division and sparking hatred. It feels like we’re watching history repeat itself. How do we stop the regression? 

Johnson explains that we can’t just “give up” privilege, because it’s built into the systems we rely on. The responsibility of those with privilege is not to feel guilty, but to act and spark positive and purposeful change. We can’t just look away and remain oblivious. We must continue talking about privilege and oppression, even when it makes people uncomfortable–we must call out systems that normalize inequality, and help amplify the voices of people who are too often ignored. 

I definitely don’t have the answers to this crisis we’re facing, but I know that silence is not it. Recognizing privilege isn’t the end of the conversation–it’s just the beginning. I can’t change the world by myself, but I can start by being more aware, by questioning the systems I’m part of, and by encouraging others to do the same. Change begins with collective awareness. When enough of us finally decide that enough is enough, perhaps then we can incite true change.

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