I’ve been thinking more about privileges since I got my first child, 4 years ago. It has been a real journey:
- THE GOOD: I want my kids to benefit from what I have worked so hard to build. This is giving him a head start.
- THE BAD: My kids having a head start means some others will be at a disadvantage compared to them.
- THE UGLY: I am quick to argue that some people with privileges should let them go, while I am working hard to create privileges for my family. It feels like I do not walk the talk. Not a nice feeling for something who strive to be authentic, 100%.
Let’s rewind this. First the definition of privilege. The best way is this video that went viral:
It is all about the head start you get based on your life situation. On top, consider this comment that someone wrote on the video. That is the sharp point for me:
“Okay now do the race with blindfolds! Let’s tell all the black kids that there are obstacles in front of them, at every step of the race encourage them to go slow or that it is too hard and dangerous to proceed. Now tell all the white kids that the way is clear and you can go as fast as you like, encourage them the whole way and tell them to run as fast as they can and reach their full potential.”
Other people having some form of a head start is part of life – unfortunately – and it won’t go away. What should not be a fact of life, is the people starting already behind being held back by school counsellors telling them to aim low, or by the world showing them that it is not worth trying.
This is how I am planning to avoid the ugly part of my kids having privileges. Through this blog, and organizations I am involved in, I want to have a positive impact on my community. I want to encourage everybody to reach their full potential. I want to show that does not matter how many 1000’s of people are expecting you to fail, it only takes a handful for you to be successful.
The Black Negotiator 