Part 6

Speaking and Conversing

Being able to speak about these difficult topics is crucial to any and all social change. Luckily, the younger generations are more willing to open up about all taboo topics and are far wiser in dealing with them already. Speaking and Conversing are essential in fostering the Cultural Competence we read about in the introduction. At the bottom of the page, you can find the Goals we're working on.

In the last few lessons, you have come across different perspectives on life that might seem very unfamiliar or extremely familiar to you. Understanding perspectives that we're included in this project will go hand in hand with understanding how privileges work and what privileges are at work in your life. We've already mentioned having privileges in the writing exercise about your susceptibility to yourth criminality.
Today's lesson is aimed at discussing this topic as well as the social impact it can have. It will include watching and listening (short video), reading (doing a quiz) and speaking (discussing the results).

Before we start, we need to go deeper into what a privilege is, because the term is often met with resistance and confusion.

• Privilege (noun), prerogative refer to a special advantage or right possessed by an individual or group. A privilege is a right or advantage gained by birth, social position, effort, or concession.
  • a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed by a particular person or a restricted group of people beyond the advantages of most: the privileges of the very rich.
  • the unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a restricted group of people has over another group: white privilege based on skin color; male privilege; children of privilege.

• a special right, immunity, or exemption granted to persons in authority or office to free them from certain obligations or liabilities: the privilege of a senator to speak in Congress without danger of a libel suit.

• a grant to an individual, corporation, etc., of a special right or immunity, under certain conditions.

• the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.

• any of the rights common to all citizens under a modern constitutional government: We enjoy the privileges of a free people.

• an advantage or source of pleasure granted to a person: It's my privilege to be here.

• Note that the definition of having privilege does not imply that one's life is easier, struggle-free or comfortable. It simply means that the privilege in question does not make that person's or group's life harder when the privilege is absent. (Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/privilege)

1. Watch the video. Share your response with the class.

2. Open this link. Do the Privilege Quiz and find out how privileged you are. The questions in the quiz contain some language that might be unfamiliar to you. You can ask your teacher what it means, or you can look it up to see if the statement applies to you.