I notice a lot of umbrage about privilege, and I honestly think it's off base a little.

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. Absolutely, fully agree.

I think there's a valid use for the concept of privilege; it's difficult to recognize injustice without acknowledging privilege.

That said, "check your privilege" has become and end rather than a means. Because it's proven difficult to remedy racial injustice by improving the lives of those affected by it, the crusaders have pivoted to the idea that a viable alternative is afflicting (a highly selective subset of) those who don't experience this injustice.

I work with people with intellectual disabilities daily, I'm very clear about the nature of my privilege in that regard. I am both thankful for it, and have become something of an evangelist about recognizing the disadvantage and injustice caused by the lack of it. It's not my fault for being neurotypical, nor is it something I have to apologize for. It's in no one's benefit to bludgeon me about my privilege because I already get it, and in fact most of us do, to varying degrees.

I think that recognizing injustice creates awareness of privilege, but not the reverse. Did "Eat your broccoli, did you know that there are starving kids in China" (or India or Sudan, depending on your age) cause you to sympathize with those kids? Did it make you crave broccoli?

Inclusion is the cure to injustice and marginalization, and that includes embracing and creating allies from privileged groups.