Privilege explained

When the subject of being part of a privileged group comes up many people become defensive. Their response is, “I’ve worked hard for what I have, I am not privileged.” Yes, many privileged people do work hard. I think I have worked hard and am also privileged. The point is that other people may work as hard or even harder and never realize the same “success.” As we know many women make less than men for the same job. Many people of color make less for the same job. People of color receive much harsher sentences for the same crime. Most of the wealth and positions of power in this country are held by white men. If you have been held back by generations of slavery, genocide, Jim Crow laws, poor education, or not having the right to vote, it becomes very difficult to “catch up.”

Let us be very clear, from the very beginning this country was designed to have a group of wealthy (property owners) white men maintain control of power. As you know they were the only ones allowed to vote for most of our history. The Constitution specifically assigns a value of 3/5 of a person to slaves. Until 1913, Senators were appointed by political and economic elites from each state. Even today, the electoral college is designed to assure elites pick our President rather than the popular vote. George W. Bush and Donald Trump were both “elected” without getting the most votes. The founding “fathers” were indeed very intelligent; they knew how to rig the system in their favor.

The self-made person is a myth. Many people are where they are at least in part by inheritance. Even without any inheritance most people are provided for the first 18-20 years of life. They receive a publically funded education, use public infrastructure, benefit from publically funded medical research, retire using Social Security and Medicare, eat safe food because of government regulations, can take risks because of a public safety net, take for granted public safety institutions from hospitals to the military, etc. No one makes it on their own. After all society has contributed toward your success, do you feel any obligation back to society?

If you feel you are not getting a fair shake in our society, why would you blame those below you on the socioeconomic ladder? They are only trying to get to where you are. They are not the ones making the decisions that result in nearly all new income going to the top 1%. Blame the economic and political elites who make the decisions. We all know it is easier to make money once you already have money. In fact you don’t even have to work anymore. You invest in the stock market or real estate and the money is made automatically and it is even taxed at a lower rate as capital gains than it would be from labor.

Privilege is knowing you will not be shot when pulled over for a broken tail light. Privilege is making more money for the same job and being more likely to get a better job. Privilege is living in a neighborhood with less pollution, less crime, better transportation and housing, and having access to credit. It is having a shorter line to vote, not being denied or intimidated at the poles. It is access to better healthcare and education. It is not having to be afraid just because of who you are. Chance plays a large role in life; we do not pick our parents, place of birth, race, sex, or what religion we will be raised in, but it all impacts our lives. Can we empathize with those who chance has treated differently?

Most racists are not the kind of people who want to lynch people of color or imprison non-Christians. Most racists are people who think white male Christians should maintain control of economic and political power. They are the kind of people who fear losing that privilege. This is systemic racism and what keeps America from becoming a level playing field.

To whom much is given, much is expected.