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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums‘When You’re Accustomed to Privilege, Equality Feels Like Oppression’
Chris Boeskool
03/14/2016 01:18 pm ET | Updated Mar 14, 2016
Ive never been punched in the face. Not in an actual fight, at least. Im not much of a fighter, I suppose... more of an arguer. I dont think Im scared to get into a fight, necessarily there have been many times I have put myself in situations where a physical fight could easily have happened.
I just cant see myself ever being the guy who throws the first punch, and Im usually the kind of guy who DE-escalates things with logic or humor. And one of the things about being that sort of person, is that the other sort of guy the sort who jumps into fights quickly tends to not really be a big fan of me. Not when he first meets me, at least. They usually like me later. Not always. You cant win em all...
When I moved to Nashville, I didnt really know anyone. I got a job as a server on my second day here. And before long, I was one of the servers the management favored, which meant I got better shifts, better sections and better money.
About nine months after I had been there, a new guy started. We instantly disliked each other. He didnt like my smart mouth, and I didnt like how he walked in and immediately acted like he owned the place. He carried himself with this annoying confidence like it was his world, and he would tolerate our being in it, as long as we stayed out of his damn way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-boeskool/when-youre-accustomed-to-privilege_b_9460662.html
Wounded Bear
(58,758 posts)A great read, and a glimpse into the real ways our minds work.
psychmommy
(1,739 posts)K & r
brer cat
(24,630 posts)Thanks for posting! K&R
salin
(48,955 posts)mia
(8,363 posts)Insightful article.
Behind the Aegis
(54,032 posts)Congrats on having more recommendations.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016147511
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Behind the Aegis
(54,032 posts)LOL!
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)There was an article in the NYTimes recently about white men in the Democratic party who didn't feel like Hillary Clinton wanted them in the party. They were talking about how she needed to appeal to white men more, that it was a serious problem for her. Her crime? She doesn't use white men as norm when she talks about issues. She addresses issues that concern women. She addresses issues that concern minorities. White men, and white women to a great extent, are used to being centered in the political debate. It feels uncomfortable for many of us when we aren't. But as Boeskool points out, when you're accustomed to privilege, equality can feel like oppression.
Boeskool was privileged - he describes how he is given advantages over his colleagues, with regards to shifts, sections etc. His privilege was challenged by another white guy. I would be interested to know if he worked with any black colleagues, and can he now see a difference in how they were treated. Because how would he have reacted if he was accused of privilege before this guy came along and showed him by taking his privilege? Would he have been as open to those accusations?