this was really enjoyable to read, really. i'm (as i think i explained in the post) a non-white first generation american straight male. except, to be honest with you, growing up in the eighties in the american south, i didn't know that i was "missing" a privilege. i went to school with caucasian kids and, aside from the occasional instances of name calling, i didn't know that i was different.
the life of my immigrant parents and my own experiences have led me to transcend the idea of privilege and identity. i don't want you to think that an added privilege i had was being rich, which helped me to overcome said racial bias. we were as poor as the lower middle class allows. i was always raised with the idea that i was equal. females and males were equal, whites and blacks were equal, straight and gay people were equal.
personal story, which doesn't have much bearing on your argument, but shapes a little of what i'm saying: one day my mother took me to k-mart (discount shopping business here) and asked me if i wanted a piggy bank. there were a whole set of disney piggy banks, and i chose the pink minnie piggy bank. my mother asked me if i was *sure* if i wanted that one, and i nodded my head yes. i took home a minnie piggy bank, and it was my pride and joy for many years.
my point being: i was never, ever raised to conform or believe that i was a certain identity. i was allowed to progress rather naturally, as long as i showed the proper respect for my elders and peers. i was raised to be non-violent, polite, and to present myself as intelligent and capable at all times.
so it is very hard for me, personally, to sit and consider my privilege, or the areas in which i lack it. speaking comparatively, i know that i am much more fortunate than the average black male, or a black female, or a queer black female. i don't know why.
anyway, i plan to utilize your framework for a period of time in my daily interactions so that i can see if it enhances them in any way.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-06-16 12:29 am (UTC)this was really enjoyable to read, really. i'm (as i think i explained in the post) a non-white first generation american straight male. except, to be honest with you, growing up in the eighties in the american south, i didn't know that i was "missing" a privilege. i went to school with caucasian kids and, aside from the occasional instances of name calling, i didn't know that i was different.
the life of my immigrant parents and my own experiences have led me to transcend the idea of privilege and identity. i don't want you to think that an added privilege i had was being rich, which helped me to overcome said racial bias. we were as poor as the lower middle class allows. i was always raised with the idea that i was equal. females and males were equal, whites and blacks were equal, straight and gay people were equal.
personal story, which doesn't have much bearing on your argument, but shapes a little of what i'm saying: one day my mother took me to k-mart (discount shopping business here) and asked me if i wanted a piggy bank. there were a whole set of disney piggy banks, and i chose the pink minnie piggy bank. my mother asked me if i was *sure* if i wanted that one, and i nodded my head yes. i took home a minnie piggy bank, and it was my pride and joy for many years.
my point being: i was never, ever raised to conform or believe that i was a certain identity. i was allowed to progress rather naturally, as long as i showed the proper respect for my elders and peers. i was raised to be non-violent, polite, and to present myself as intelligent and capable at all times.
so it is very hard for me, personally, to sit and consider my privilege, or the areas in which i lack it. speaking comparatively, i know that i am much more fortunate than the average black male, or a black female, or a queer black female. i don't know why.
anyway, i plan to utilize your framework for a period of time in my daily interactions so that i can see if it enhances them in any way.