Privilege. People hear that word and they cringe. Why they are cringing basically depends on which side of the term they fall on. For those of us who are melon and blessed, we see privilege as something that we want but can’t attain. For those who are more melanin-challenged, privilege is something that most feel they don’t have and highly resent being told that they have it.
Both sides have the right to feel the way they do. However, both sides are also wrong with how they perceive their privilege or lack thereof. I think it’s time we sit down and really examine what privilege is, is not, and what it actually means for all of us going forward.
Facts About Privilege
I guess it’s time to explain what privilege actually is. Privilege is the ability to come and go through life without the worry of certain factors that others have to contend with. There are many types of privilege, but right now we are going to concern ourselves with race. Because, why not?
First off, we need to accept that racial privilege is not something that you can attain on your own. You’re either born with it or without it. Those that have privilege namely are those who are white and were born with it. Don’t get mad and start talking about being born poor; stay with me for a second. Those of us who do not have privilege, i.e., those who are black or another minority, have never had it, and if we’re being honest, will never have it. My friends of color stay with me, too.
Side A
In the example of racial privilege, white privilege is the ability to go through life without having the color of your skin be a negative factor in any decision-making process. If you’re white, you don’t have to worry about being welcome and accepted in certain parts of town. If you’re white, no one will question you driving a nice car, living in a nice house, or shopping in an upscale department store, regardless of how you’re dressed. If you’re white, privilege might let you live in one district and send your kid to another district that may have better schools. People typically won’t question you too much.
Side B
However, for black folks and other minorities, this form of privilege does not exist. As a matter of fact, the amount of melanin in our skin can cause a plethora of questions. Questions such as why are we in the neighborhood we’re in, how can we afford the car we’re driving, why are we shopping in the upscale department store, and why do we think we can send our kids to the better schools.
What it comes down to is, for some, the more melanin a person has in their skin, the less worthy they are as a person. The less worthy a person, the less right that person has to live a nice comfortable life. In other words, you don’t deserve to have what others take for granted because of the color of that person’s skin.
The Side of the Truth
Now that we’ve defined both sides of the privilege issue, it’s time to face the stark reality. None of us chose the side of privilege we’re on. Those with privilege did not choose to have it; those without privilege did not choose not to have it. It’s a simple as that. So being angry at someone for having it is just as annoying as someone with it being angry that it’s being pointed out. What needs to happen is that both sides need to accept that one side has it, one side does not, and the side with it should be willing to use their privilege to help the other side. When the side with the privilege opts not to help the side without it, that’s where the problems start. And that is called racism. Now am I saying that anyone with privilege that opts not to use it to help others is a racist? No. But I do have to wonder how they walk through life claiming everyone is equal when they are not willing to equal out situations when they have the opportunity to do so.
But I’m not finished. Those of us without the privilege need to be kinder and more grateful to those who are willing to use their privilege to balance the playing field. The reality is, they don’t have to do it. They could go through their life perfectly content and let the rest of us suffer. So, if someone with privilege wants to be an ally, welcome them. Thank them. Show them what we need and let them do it. If they stumble by saying the wrong thing or taking the lead where they shouldn’t, explain where they went wrong. We need them just like any other group has needed a portion of the opposing side to join them in fighting for their rights.
Our forefathers did us no favors passing this issue from one generation to the next. This should have been addressed a least 100 years ago. But it wasn’t; so here we are. We have the chance to actually put an end to the craziness that racism and privilege cause. If we don’t, then we are no better than the ones who came before us, and we’ll deserve every mean and nasty thing said about us by those who follow us. So, let’s end it.
