Post 1- Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson- Privilege, Power, and Difference

One of the biggest takeaways I had from reading the chapters by Johnson was how if we as a society do not confront the problem at hand regarding social disparities, we will never be able to find a solution. When describing how the obstacles presented to those of minorities is connected to the fortune of those with privilege, Johnson states that "It pretends we can talk about 'up' without 'down' or that a 'you' or a 'them' can mean something without a 'me' or an 'us'" (Johnson 10). In other words, it is crucial that those who benefit from privilege recognize their role in helping to be part of the solution. In order to fix the problem at hand, we must come face to face with the obstacles we encounter before we can make steps toward making a peaceful, unified society.

 Furthermore, I found the segment at the end of the reading in which Johnson lists different examples of what privilege looks like in everyday life to be very insightful and thought provoking. It allowed me to think about similar situations I have seen through social media, the news, or experiences I have witnessed in my own life. The ideas presented in the reading also connected directly with S.C.W.A.A.M.P. If one does not identify with the dominant ideologies present within our culture, it is unfortunately likely that they will experience obstacles that those who "fit the standard" will never have to face. When one finds themselves to be part of some of these dominant ideologies, it is important to recognize that they may be gaining privilege from it before any solutions can be found, because to recognize a problem is to also recognize that a solution can be created.