So the congregation I serve is taking on “privilege” in its many forms. I should preface that our congregation is more than 95% of European decent. We have some members who are Native American, of Chinese descent, and whose families are from Latin-American countries. But this is mostly white people talking about privilege.
To understand privilege in broad terms, check out this video:
As I understand it, privilege is an un-earned advantage. For instance, here’s a scenario where privilege is used to protect someone who does not have privilege:
So, here’s one of my take aways so far. Privilege can go both ways: it can be used to get ahead (knowingly or unknowingly), and it can be used to check privilege from others by shedding a light on prejudice, whether it is racial, socio-economic, or otherwise.
I grew up privileged in many ways, in addition to the color of my skin. It has taken me years to get to the point where I am able to recognize the privilege I am given by others because of the way I look, the car I drive, the education I have been given, and even my financial means. I am still, and probably always will be, working to understand how my unearned privilege affects others. I can’t feel guilty about it, but the more aware I become the more I can work to dismantle these systems of privilege and work toward everyone being judged for who they are, not “what” they are.
So, that brings me to my second take away: Just because I am aware of my privilege, just because I am trying to work with others to dismantle these systems of prejudice, I can never assume that I have “arrived” or that somehow I am “enlightened” or “woke” when it comes to racial prejudice. Unless I’ve walked in the shoes of a person of another ethnicity or skin color, I will never fully know. But what I can do is try to be a good ally. I can listen. I can try to pay attention. I can speak up and speak out when my friends tell racial jokes that reinforce this racially biased privilege system. I work harder to be friends with people of other-than-European-descent, and attempt to “normalize” diversity as just another aspect of what it is to be human. And, I can keep trying to learn a whole lot more.
Then I can ask, “What does the kin-dom of Good look like?” And we can answer: “This is what the kin-dom of God looks like!”
Be of good courage, my friends,
and know that you are loved!