We hear a lot about privilege lately in regards to people who are privileged. We are being conditioned to regard privilege as something that was automatically given to a person or a groups of people based on social caste or skin color. We have been told that because someone is lighter skinned they automatically have privileged and have reaped the rewards of nothing but their color of their skin.
I propose that instead of using privilege which denotes the idea that something is simply “given” without taking into account any and all past and present situations that contributes to it, we use the word “position” in place of “privilege”.
If we could choose to use the word position in place of privilege we do a better service to all people regardless of social caste or skin tone. We take into consideration the position of their present as well as the position of their past. Many of us grew up in traumatic situations. Many of us grew up hungry, we grew up having little or no self worth or value. Many of us started from the same position. Proof of position over privileged exists because we can look at many successful people of all skin tones and see that they have worked hard to change their position in life not because of privilege but based instead of their hard work and the merit of their character. Privilege suggests that a person has innately been given an otherwise unobtainable power or worth. Position on the other hand leaves the door open for growth and makes all things obtainable for all people. Where privilege locks us into a specific placement position allows us to move freely at our will.
The freedom that exists for all people is the ability to change their position in life. It’s not an easy task to do but it is a task that is doable. Once we unlock the cage of the idea that others benefit from privileges that we ourselves do not have we are then able to move our position.
I would encourage everyone to look at the position of their life at present and then ask themselves what position they would like to be in in a week, a month, a year, and ten years from now. What can you do today to start making that happen.
Presently processing my position.
Thoughts?
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