Privilege Walk
The privilege walk demonstration concentrated on the situations individuals of today’s American society have endured. Participants are lined up in a single straight line standing shoulder to shoulder without speaking to one another. They are then asked a series of questions which they interpret any way they choose to. The participants answer by stepping forward or backwards before the actual race begins. Once all questions are asked and all steps are taken, the race begins no matter how far ahead an individual is or how far behind an individual is. Who so ever reaches the finish line first is the winner. The questions that were asked referred to experiences and advantages or disadvantages that each individual might’ve been subjected to with or without their consent. Some questions included:
“If there were more than 50 books in your household while growing up?”, “If you were able to marry the person you loved by law?” and “If your ancestors were forced to come to the USA not by choice?”
Other questions ventured off to what type of activities occurred in the neighborhood you were raised in to the fear of being abused because of your gender. Many questions were focused on issues that as a child growing up would have no control over.
There was only one time when all participants were standing shoulder to shoulder after the demonstration had begun. The person who was closer to the goal ended up winning the race which means that they would have a greater chance of being successful throughout life in society. The person who was the farthest from the goal line was probably discouraged before the actual race began because of the amount of distance they were from the person in the lead and for the odds being against them in winning the race. The last place individual represents a large majority of people in society that are discouraged to succeed and end up failing or giving up. Every individual that participated was a part of American society one way or another. If the race would have included individuals from 3rd world countries, then there would have been more people that would have been in the far back. Perhaps they would have been farther than anyone that is apart of the American society.
The privilege walk demonstration concentrated on the situations individuals of today’s American society have endured. Participants are lined up in a single straight line standing shoulder to shoulder without speaking to one another. They are then asked a series of questions which they interpret any way they choose to. The participants answer by stepping forward or backwards before the actual race begins. Once all questions are asked and all steps are taken, the race begins no matter how far ahead an individual is or how far behind an individual is. Who so ever reaches the finish line first is the winner. The questions that were asked referred to experiences and advantages or disadvantages that each individual might’ve been subjected to with or without their consent. Some questions included:
“If there were more than 50 books in your household while growing up?”, “If you were able to marry the person you loved by law?” and “If your ancestors were forced to come to the USA not by choice?”
Other questions ventured off to what type of activities occurred in the neighborhood you were raised in to the fear of being abused because of your gender. Many questions were focused on issues that as a child growing up would have no control over.
There was only one time when all participants were standing shoulder to shoulder after the demonstration had begun. The person who was closer to the goal ended up winning the race which means that they would have a greater chance of being successful throughout life in society. The person who was the farthest from the goal line was probably discouraged before the actual race began because of the amount of distance they were from the person in the lead and for the odds being against them in winning the race. The last place individual represents a large majority of people in society that are discouraged to succeed and end up failing or giving up. Every individual that participated was a part of American society one way or another. If the race would have included individuals from 3rd world countries, then there would have been more people that would have been in the far back. Perhaps they would have been farther than anyone that is apart of the American society.
This demonstration was performed to provide participants with an opportunity to understand the ins and outs of what privilege really means. By definition, privilege means an advantage, right, or benefit that is not available to everyone. It also simulated who was more likely to be successful in today’s society. This display actually illustrated the saying of “Your cards are already dealt to you before you are even born”.
