"None of this was fun or comfortable. But it's exactly the sort of discomfort that marginalized people, and those that don't have my skin privilege go thru all the time. They don't get to avoid it."
Happiness Lab:
Hearing the above statement was profound for me. In the past its been easy to identify discomfort as an area of growth as it pertains to physical improvement, be that running, climbing, etc.... It is now a helpful indicator while I am trying to improve my mental capacity.
This episode put into perspective the need for people in non-marginalized communities to be more vocal regarding inequality. I hesitate to put down racial inequality because that's where my learning began and it has now brought me to being more aware of all these areas of privilege where I am not in a marginalized group.
I am a white, cisgender, heterosexual, neurotypical, employed, able bodied male.
After reading "How To Be An Anti-Racist" and "Me and White Supremacy" I said I would prioritize more books by African American authors and continue to look and learn in areas outside where I would typically pursue. Both of these took some real time for me to get thru and digest the content, but it has provided context that I certainly appreciate as I continue this pursuit. Yesterday I picked up "Another Brooklyn" by Jacqueline Woodson, and was unable to put this book down.
In past elections I have tried to compare my beliefs with what a candidate is proposing, and then vote with regard to the candidate that either brings me some (usually minimal) gain, or brings me less loss. I was focused solely on myself, and what a candidate could provide for me. This presidential ballot between Biden and Trump has shifted the way in which I think about where to cast my vote. Rather than my minimal gain or prevented loss, my perspective has shifted to what is the opportunity for gain in regards to people who have not had the same opportunities that I had.
My perspective has shifted to prioritize rights rather than marginal utility. In the past I think I operated under the assumption that everyone was afforded these basic human rights. In the past I took for granted and barely noticed my privilege. I will continue to work on learning and evolving.
My perspective has shifted.