Blog #12

Privilege, Power, and Difference
Allan G. Johnson

In What Can We Do? Becoming part of the solution Johnson argues that privilege exists in social systems not individuals. Johnson says that " Privilege is created and maintained through social systems that are dominated by, centered on, ande identified with privileged groups." (p.141) People of privileged groups don't see themsevles as privileged because "they see it as a personal rather than a systemic problem,because they feel angry and deprived and closed to the idea that they belong to privileged groups, because they're blinded by prejudice, because they're afraid of what will happen if they acknowledge the reality of privilege."(140) I didn't always come from a privileged home, but now that I do, I don't ever want to think of the things to be taken from me. I know it does exist because I have experienced not being privileged, but now that I am, the thought of having that taken away, I can see why people of privileged groups deny everything.
Johnson argues that we as individuals cannot change this, but there are things we can do. He states that we have two myths that stop us from trying to correct oppression.

Myth 1: "its always been this way, and it always will"
Johnson talks about people choosing paths of greater resistence in this myth.
"Since people can always choose paths of greater resistance or create new ones entirely, systems can only be as stable as the flow of human choice and creativity, which certainly isn't a recipe for permanance." (144) If everyone worked on making better choices, one person wouldnt be able to change everything, but if every person contributed in some way then maybe we could get a change.

Myth 2 : "Gandhi's Paradox and the myth of no effect"
In this myth Johnson argues that " The problem of privilege and oppression requires complex and long-term change coupled with short-term work to soften some of its worst consequences. This means that if we're going to be part of the solution, we have to let go of the idea that change doesn't happen unless we're around to see it happen." (145) Johnson is saying many changes can't happen overnight but if we thing of what will happen in the long run change can occur even if we don't see it in our lifetime. Things do take years to figure out. Look at different cars that come out, people just can't come up with these designs or models overnight, it takes a long process of many ideas put together to come up with the best reliable model.

What can we do? Johnson gives some suggestions as to what we can do, about privilege. He says a way we can try to end this or change it is to take risks.
Acknowledeg that the trouble exists, " An awareness of oppression compels people to speak out, to break the silence that continued oppression depends on. (152)

In the long run the argument that Johnson is making is that " When people join together to end any form of oppression, they act with courage to take responsibility to do the right thing, and this empowers them in ways that can extend to every corner of their lives."(170) If everyone was to take risks and work together, we may not get a big change right away but over time there will be a difference even if we don't see it in our lifetime, it needs to start somewhere and why not with us?