Define Privilege

Watching the first part of the film on Monday made me really sit down and think about privilege. What is privilege? Do people carry different meanings and significance behind that word? Is privilege related to ones family, resources, opportunities, social class, schools, support system, neighborhood, or even experiences? So I looked up the definition in my old school Webster dictionary that was published in 1928 and this is what it said….

Privilege: Ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual. A right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; to grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity.

The first thing that comes to my mind is immunity that is granted on the TV show Survivor and I don’t even watch that show. So does one have to earn privilege? According to the definition it seems like privilege is something that is earned. Is that the case for children? Lets take the boys of Baraka for example…would they be considered privileged? In one way yes, because the boys are offered an opportunity to or even an advantage to have the resources to help them grow into who they want to become in life. On the other hand, they are not so privilege in some of their past experiences, family, or support systems.

I am not sure where I am going with this idea, I guess I feel like in the article white privilege emphasize that whites carry higher privileges, which to some degree is true due to Americas history. Overall, I think privilege is what someone takes out of their life experiences and doesn’t take advantage of the good things that are offered to them. Most of the boys in Baraka are excited to have the privilege to follow a different path, rather then following the people that surround them, but they also are taking advantage of that even if some are scared and miss their family. Sometimes one has to go out of their comfort zone to embrace the positive change within themselves and allow change to occur. I do feel horrible for people (children or adults) that have to experience life situations that are beyond belief but its what they take out of those situations and how they address those situations that can aid them in a positive direction. (I am sure its easier said than done.)