Ellie's Blog on Power and Privilege

I was really moved by what Zalika said in class about having the ability to choose when to talk about race and inequalities versus not having that liberty. I feel that privilege is something that is easy to forget about when you have it. I have been in a position of privilege and power my whole life and many times am guilty of forgetting about my place in society. I am saddened to think that I have the choice to think about power and race when millions of people do not have those abilities. When we did the workshop where each of us walked forward if we had power in life’s situations I was conflicted in my emotions. For the most part I felt ashamed to be at the front but other parts of me felt that it is not that I should be in the back but that everyone should be up walking with me in the front. Society should not be so divided in its inequalities. I think as an educator it is your responsibility to teach your children about power and privilege regardless of their power and privilege in America and around the world.

Reading everyone’s blog as I am writing mine I was struck by the many ways that power and privilege are part of people’s lives. Many times society seems to think of privilege and power in the context of race but that is not true. Power is used against people and they are discriminated against for their size, religion, economic status, gender, etc. I remember for me the first time I realized the prejudices people had and how that affected me. As a seventh grader when I moved from Portland to Eastern Oregon. I was talking to my new boyfriend on the phone about life, as seventh graders do, and the topic of religion came up he asked what religion I was and I stated, “Oh, I’m Jewish” and he reply, “I wouldn’t tell people that.” I was shocked and sadden. In that moment my bubble was popped and I realized that people were still anti-Semitic in the twenty-first century. I also understand that there were parts of me that I needed to protect and that I was being judged not just by who I was as a person. Part of the reason that I share this story is because I think it is so important for teachers and parents to discuss these topics with young children and prepare them for life’s unfortunate encounters. I do not think that that any child should been ashamed of who they are and hopefully by discussion the tough stuff and breaking stereotypes down with specifics we can work to make America a safer and kinder place for everybody.