Johnson Ch.2

In the reading by Johnson, he gets to the point and let's us know what he will be be talking about in the first sentence. "The trouble that surrounds difference is really about priviledge and power the existence of of priviledge and the lopsided distribution of power that keeps it going "(Johnson 12). He goes on by saying that we inherited power and priviledge and we have to figure out how to deal with it before it's given to our future generations. No one talks about power and priviledge one reason being fear. It's a big possiblility that the mention of it could turn groups of people against each other even more than they already are. As long as we ignore priviledge we will be ok. In this case it will make us stay in a state of unreality and it will seem that differnce in itself is the main problem. He also explains the old myth of why people treat others who are different form them certain ways. It has been said that people are afraid of things and people that aren't like them. Johnson says that is just a myth created by society. It gives a reason for us to keep people that we dont like or understand out of our general circles. The first response to something new hasn't always been to be afraid. Like Johnson said with the North Americans and the Native Americans. When the North Americans arrived the Native Ameicans weren't afraid, they welcomed them with open arms. Everyone is curious about the unknown and for some reason they are drawn to it. We aren't afraid of what we don't know, it's what we think we know that scares us. We create our own ideas as to what something is or what is going to happen next in a situation and it makes us afraid. In the demonstration with the diversity wheel Johnson shows how it does show certain things about us but it doesn't show our personal things like who we are as a person, or our personal history. We as a people make assumptions. An example " if they look white then they must be white." We assume certain things without even thinking it's just become so natural. James Baldwin offered an idea that no one is white and no one is black. He said that everyone was coerced into making this a white country. Like Johnson stated in response to the Baldwin quote most of what we live in is created by our cultures. Basically we form perceptions of ourselves and our surroundings by our culture. The way our culture defines something is the way it is. That's how we have been taught. Most people don't really know what priviledge is. As described by Peggy McIntosh "priviledge exists when one group has something of greater value that is denied to others simly because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they've done or failed to do." Many people are priviledged for different reasons or at least think they are if you go by that definition. McIntosh says that there are two types of priviledge "unearned entitlements" and "conferred dominance". With unearned entitlements it's things like feeling safe or working in public places. Basically the things that should be allowed to you no matter what. Now with conferred dominance that is like giving one group power over another group. If a man controls a conversation with a woman it's ok because it's normal for a man to dominate a woman. Basically one group has more control than the other. Whether or not we notice it priviledge is in our everday lives. One example "Whites are less likely than blacks to be arrested; once arrested they are less likely to be convicted; once convicted they are less likely to go to prison, regardless of the crime or circumstances." Every aspect of our lives includes priviledge. People receive priviledge because people perceive them as belonging to certain priviledged groups. Basically it's all how people perceive you. If someone doesn't think you belong to a specific group, you can lose your priviledge. It has been said by certain people that being priviledged doesn't make you happy. It demands to much on a person's life that in turn makes someone unhappy. Priviledge can damage people as well as their lives.


I agree with the majority of the points that were discussed in the article. Priviledge is something that is a problem in our society. Which ever way it is looked at it still causes issues for those who are considered to be in priviledged groups or who are considered to be priviledged people.