“Being privileged doesn't mean that you are always wrong and people without privilege are always right. It means that there is a good chance you are missing a few very important pieces of the puzzle.” I. Oluo
What very important pieces of the puzzle are you missing?
We became addicted to power and crave it as a measurement of success, survival, safety. We have sacrificed feelings, emotions, creativity, imagination to the altar of power placing it outside of ourselves, attaching it to roles and status. In its worship we have designed models (including business and society models) whose only aim is to get and control power. This is privilege without responsibility.
Artist A. Burger said: “You have to find your own path. That's important. But the test of that path is always: Am I becoming kinder? Am I becoming more sensitive to other people? Am I becoming more compassionate? Am I becoming more responsible?" This is the test of the privileged lives we live. Let’s re-frame power and privilege and ask ourselves:
How have I contributed with my privilege to take away power from someone else?
What idea of power do I need to let go?
How can I enable a more inclusive and responsible use of my privileges?
We all can take agency on our actions (or lack of actions). We all can start looking within and explore how status, affiliations, dominance benefit us. Too often we (pro)-claim a new model or paradigm but actually we are just fighting and competing to get the torch of the status quo we say we want to change.
It’s going to take radical honesty and radical transformation to navigate the complex intricacies of our privileges. I invite you to reframe your ideas around privilege and power. Look within to access their essence. Can you turn it into art? Try and let me know how it goes.
If you’re interested in learning more about RNEWB services and would like to discuss any consultancy, workshops, and talks, drop us a line at fateme@rnewb.com.
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