Introduction

The real and inherent danger of privilege is in giving others power over you, declaring that power, that privilege, to be unfair, then demanding compensation in the form of cash, preferential job or schooling treatment, or just the right to be self-righteously angry.

Privilege is another word for advantage. Advantages are everywhere in our society; sports, education, business, military, etc., etc., etc. That’s a poor excuse for giving up and demanding that the advantages be eliminated before trying your best. The book, then movie, Moneyball, by Michael Lewis, published in 2003, was about the relatively impoverished Oakland Athletics baseball team and its general manager Billy Beane. Its focus is the team's analytical, evidence-based, sabermetric approach to assembling a competitive baseball team despite Oakland's small budget. Other big-market teams, e.g., the Yankees and Red Sox, had 5-7 times as much money to spend on players as did the Athletics. That’s a real advantage; privilege, if you will. But Oakland did not whine and ask for relief; they found a way to win. And the baseball world sat up and took notice. And we are taking notice as well.

The danger of privilege, of having advantages, does not come from some people having it and others not; it comes from how we react when others have more than we do in areas that are important to us. That’s the subject of today’s 10-minute podcast.

Continuing

“Check your privilege!” When I first heard that admonition, I had no idea what it meant. I knew the speaker thought that privilege was bad, and that the other person was supposed to reflect on his supposed privilege, and make some changes. After a bit of research, I found that when someone tells you to “check your privilege,” what they're really asking you to do is to reflect on the ways that your status might have given you an advantage--even if you didn't ask for it or earn it--while their status might have given them a disadvantage. For example, a tall white guy might get hit with “Check your privilege” if he cuts in front of a small woman of color in a movie line. That has nothing to do with privilege; the guy was being a jerk. Asking him to check his privilege will do nothing but get a laugh and the middle finger from him. Two guys his size telling him that what he did was “not cool” might actually teach him a useful and lasting lesson.

Let’s all take a trip to the homecoming football game at either our former high school or college alma mater. We are excited to be there. The weather is great and the $2 hot dogs are actually hot and quite tasty. The other team is our archrival, and the hometeam stands are buzzing. Then we remember that we have not won a game against them in the last 12 years. Or is it 14? They have more funding, winning coaches and recruit better players. We don’t stand a chance. How are we going to handle ourselves? Choice time. Before we make that choice, let’s hear another voice, “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.” -John Wooden. Now for our choice. Do we grumble and complain about how unfair it is? Do we yell out the football equivalent of “Check your privilege"? Maybe something like, “Overpaid, overpaid,” or “Unfair game, unfair game?” Or do we settle in for 2 1/2 hours of supporting the young men who have trained hard to get ready for their formidable opponent, and need and deserve our encouragement for the entire game? They are walking onto the field, knowing they are in for a tough 150 minutes. They will be able to hold their heads up if they do their best--despite the physical beating and the score. We will be able to hold our heads up with them if we give them our all in support. And we will all be the better for it.

Remember Coach Wooden’s words, “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.