Dear Aunty & Uncle: Let’s Talk about Privilege

Dear Aunty & Uncle,

Last time, we talked about how:

Black people did not choose the lives they live.
The history of race, racism and slavery are impacting black people’s access to opportunities today.
Systemic Racism (a combination of our history, policies, and cultural practices) contributes to the injustices (unfairness) that black people face today.

I know what you may be thinking: “We’re also minorities who struggle.”

That’s true. But it is so much more than that. Today, let’s talk about PRIVILEGE.

Privilege

Having a privilege means that some part of our life allows us to have an advantage or benefit over people without that privilege.

On the other hand, being oppressed means that we are faced with some type of unfair or cruel treatment for a long period of time.

Those who are more privileged enjoy unfair advantages (whether they know about it or not) over those who are oppressed (who don’t have as many rights or resources). However, having one type of privilege does not automatically mean an individual is not oppressed in another way (and vice versa).

In America, some privileges include being white, male, Christian, wealthy, heterosexual, and much more.

As South Asians living in America (along with our other identities mentioned in the picture), we are oppressed or disadvantaged in many ways.

At the same time, as non-black citizens of America, we also have privileges that black people in America do not have.

Having Privileges Does NOT Mean:

We don’t struggle or work hard.
We are bad people.
We should remain silent about tough issues.

Instead, Having Privileges DOES Mean:

We have access to things that help us in life, and other people are not given access to those opportunities.
We have to understand and admit that we have those advantages.
We need to use how we’re privileged (or oppressed) to work together with others who are oppressed (or privileged) to create change.

Let’s Check Our Privilege

Let’s play this quick little game. Follow along with this couple, and put a finger down for every statement that you have experienced in your life:

@allisonholkerboss
#blacklivesmatter @twitchtok7
♬ Check Your Privilege by Big Mamma – boss_bigmamma

More likely than not, as South Asians (or non-black people of color), we may have put down a couple of fingers. As the video is trying to show, most white people would have all (or most) of their fingers up. But most (if not all) black people would most likely not have any of their fingers left up.

So yes, we are people of color who also struggle in America. But:

Any finger we have left up but others put down, is a privilege that we have, but they do not have.

Any finger we have left up, but others do not have up, is a privilege that we most likely have based on the color of our skin.

Any finger we have left up but others had to put down, is a privilege we can use to stand up for racial justice and equality. So let’s aim to do that together!

Thank you for listening again with such an open mind! These topics are tough, but we’re getting through them together! Tomorrow, let’s talk about your concerns of how “they’re looting and hurting innocent businesses. Nobody will sympathize with them.”and the Realities of Protesting.💕