Choices!

Hi everyone! I can’t believe this is our second to last blog post. I really enjoyed the Johnson reading this week, but it was also pretty convicting. Immediately, I could identify with the idea that even if we are aware that inequalities exist and we want to make a positive change, if we sit in silence and do not stand up and give a voice to the people that don’t have one, we are contributing to the problem.

I also liked that Johnson took the time to redefine “privilege,” because I think that, especially lately, it’s a word that gets thrown around a lot when talking about inequalities in society and its meaning has been lost or misunderstood over the years. Here are the most important things I think we need to recognize about privilege:

·      It is not assigned on an individual basis

·      People who have it often don’t know it

·      People who have it have it at someone else’s expense

The poem “stubborn ounces” really reminded me of an idea we have been talking about all semester—though our voices may seem small, they matter and they can ultimately make a difference.

            Johnson also touched on the importance of acknowledging the problems that exist in our society. Again, this reminded me of Verna Myers’ and her advice: instead of shying away from the things that make us uncomfortable and the biases we know we hold, we need to walk boldly toward them.

            I loved, loved, loved, that Johnson touches on the importance of reading. I have found that a lot of information about privilege can be found in books. I just started reading Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. It has really made me aware of problems I previously never would have thought about. The same holds true for a lot of the pieces we have read in this class—I’ve recommended them to some of my friends and family.

            It’s awesome that being in the School of Social Work makes it a little bit easier to find ways to stand up for what we believe in. Just today, I saw a stand in the lobby advertising a letter writing campaign.

            Johnson’s list of ways to actively promote change was encouraging, because there truly are so many opportunities for us to make a difference! And most of them are as simple as questioning current policies and standing up for what we believe is right.

            I think Johnson is right: the main reason people (including me) choose to be silent in the face of discrimination and oppression is the risk that’s often involved, whether that’s being thought of as “weird” by your friends or even feeling ostracized by certain family members. However, it’s worth it to experience the sense of empowerment and to promote lasting, positive change. As I look at the Action Continuum, I am definitely able to say that I have gone from supporting oppression to confronting oppression. Hopefully, we will all become better at initiating and preventing oppression in our world in the future.

References:

Johnson, A. G. (2005). What can we do? Becoming part of the solution.