#diy-quote

I decided to do a quote that felt prevalent in what is happening recently (technically it's been happening for a long while but uh-). Growing up with the privileges that I have, being white, straight passing, etc- I always knew that I had better chances of succeeding. It was never a question of IF I was going to college, but which college it would be. Never did I question if I would get hired, or if I should hide a side of me in school growing up. It was always a given that I never took a second to be thankful for. Even now, I'm still learning to recognize my own success as something that did come from talent but also was given to me a lot easier than it does to others. Something that should be said- equality does not involve taking white people and making them on that lower level of minorities/the underprivileged- but rather bringing them to the same level we are already on (yes that last sentence is targeted at my dad). (Also also- this is a drawing I did a while back at the beginning of quarantine!)

I know this probably isn’t the most interesting quote in Johnson’s essay but it truly resonated with me anyways. This is what I’ve been trying to tell people all throughout my area when it comes to the concept of privilege; it’s not discrediting or denying your accomplishments but it explains how so many others didn’t have the same opportunities and/or chances of success that you did. I think Johnson articulated this concept superbly. 

I’ve had this idea in my head, for a long time. This piqued my interest specifically in this reading as I am looking back through my family history. I am mixed race-and the two sides of my family, at first glance, are drastically different. One from the north, one from the south. One white, one black. one came by choice, the other not so much, but fundamentally, they are the same. They both are poorer families who made their money farming, lived in too small homes with too many people, led by predominantly Matriarchs throughout their time in this country.