Week 4: Explain Privilege

Is Privilege a Game-Changer? 

Take two steps forward if your parents are still married. Take two steps forward if you grew up with a father figure in the home. Take two steps forward if you had access to a private education. Take two steps forward if you never had to worry about your cell phone being shut off. Take two steps forward if you never had to help your parents pay the bills. Take two steps forward if you never had to worry about where your next meal was going to come from.


These statements have nothing to do with what a child has done or a decision that he/she has made. It comes down to opportunity or perhaps an alternative word: privilege. Some kids have a head start in life. A head start in life is a huge advantage. Whatever kind of head start we are given, we need to make it our race. We still need to run the race and run it hard. We are all in a race . . . it's called the race of life. We all enter this world the same way, but what we start with may be different. How we grow up and how we are raised completely shapes us. Is this privilege? Some may see it as privilege. Privilege is a complicated word because often times there is a negative connotation with it.


The video that I chose captures exactly how we are all different and have different upbringings and family situations. These different upbringings have a huge impact on our lives and the direction in which they can turn - positively or negatively.


Make it your race and your outcome the best way that you can through drive, direction and determination. Don't let the word privilege get in your way. Show the world that you deserve it.  This is YOUR race.  Make it a great one.