Reading through Explorations in Privilege, Oppression, and Diversity (EPOD),
helped me to have a stronger recognition of several insights I held already.
Reading through Explorations in Privilege, Oppression, and Diversity (EPOD), helped me to have a stronger recognition of several insights I held already. When I went to India for 5 weeks in 2005, I returned with one overwhelming realization/question – “What did I do to deserve to be born here in America instead of India?” I recognized that in some ways privilege exists and provides some an easier way to freedom, prosperity, happiness, and ease. By birth I gained privileges that some only dream of, and escaped tribulation that others live everyday. A second insight I am struck with as I read through EPOD, however, is an assumption of prejudice. While in some forms privilege exists, to emphasize privilege so heavily and tie success almost completely to privilege is to assume that prejudice is the rule, not the exception. I choose to believe the opposite. I have at times held prejudices (and in some ways, probably still do), and I regularly see examples of prejudice – from all sides of every issue. However, I refuse to believe that the vast majority of humankind is filled with and makes the majority of their decisions on prejudice. When we assume that cheap rent, being laid off, being pulled over, and every other aspect of life occurs to us or does not occur due to privilege or oppression, we have insisted that everyone operates on prejudice. I deplore that prejudice does continue to exist on every side of every question in some people. Yet, I believe that most people usually handle things fairly. Furthermore, everyone has some form of both privilege and oppression. Women (for example) have the privilege of maternity leave, doctors specially trained in their needs, media focused upon their interests, and the list goes on. EPOD’s definition of privilege is too broad, in my opinion. A final insight I have had reaffirmed as I read this text is my belief that many are trying to overcome prejudice with the wrong emphasis. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech did not argue for African Americans to be considered separate but equal. Quite the opposite! He encouraged America to overcome division in race and treat everyone as equals. I still believe this concept holds the healing for prejudice today. Emphasizing distinctions in race and other areas encourages a division between people. Instead we should be able to unite on the fact that we are PEOPLE. When we see all as simply PEOPLE, we will move beyond the prejudice we attach and encourage by emphasizing divisive categories. My readings from EPOD simply further my belief that this emphasis on these categories encourages prejudice, instead of healing it.
