Blog Post #1
Privilege Power and Difference
By: Alan Johnson
Quotes:
Quote #1
"No, her misfortune is connected to my fortune; the reality of her having to deal with racism and sexism every day is connected to the reality that I don't." p.9
This quote stood out to me because the author of the text acknowledges that his reality is different from his friend's reality. Johnson's friend is an African American woman while he is a white heterosexual man. As a white male, society's reflection automatically categorizes him into a privileged hierarchy above his friend. This quote is relevant to the text because during this conversation, Johnson validated the reality that he is privileged in comparison to his friend. He feels speechless because he has never experienced what it is like to be anything other than a white male. Johnson acknowledges that he has no idea what it is like to walk in her shoes.
Quote #2
"If we feel afraid, it isn't what we don't know that frightens us, it's what we think we do know." p.16
This quote stood out to me because Johnson explains that we are taught to tiptoe around sensitive subjects. He emphasizes that this is not something that we are born with, but rather something we are taught. For example, when the topic of race or ethnicity comes up, we should not fear speaking about it. Johnson states that it should be like anything else we were taught to do growing up. Like riding a bike or learning how to tie your shoes. This quote is relevant to the text because it allows us to see that the truth is not always as bad as what we make it out to be. It is important to not let these feelings of uncertainty impact the discussion.
Quote #3
"We have to reclaim these lost and discredited words so that we can use them to name and make sense of the truth of what's going on." p.13
This quote stood out to me because Johnson states that words like sexism and privilege can be difficult to discuss. Although these words may be painful to use, they are still very important in our every day society. Just because these words may lead to sensitive discussions does not mean that we should not use them. This quote is relevant because it emphasizes that in order to create a better future, we need to use these words. If we take back these terms, we have a greater chance of demolishing prejudice, sexism, and religious discrimination. Overall, these words should not be associated with negativity but with opportunity to better educate ourselves.
Reflection to Share in Class:
Discrimination is a very prevalent issue in today’s society. Who in this room has ever felt discriminated against? Who in this room has felt uncomfortable when topics like this come up? I think that at one point in time everyone has probably experienced some kind of discrimination. However, it is important that instead of feeling uncomfortable, we should be open to discussing these very real life issues.
https://www.apa.org/topics/racism-bias-discrimination/keita
