In this activity young people explore what privilege means, and what it means to check your privilege. They look at white privilege in particular, and think about how this manifests in their lives (or not).
Before you start
Flipchart and pens (optional but helpful for some to have key info written down)
Something to watch a video on together e.g a projector, TV or for a smaller group just a laptop (optional but ideal to have)
What to do
Introduction
Sit young people down in a circle. Ask if they know what privilege is. Highlight the things they say that are correct, and add in anything they miss from below:
Privilege is a special advantage, right, or benefit held by an individual, group, class or race. These privileges are exercised to the exclusion or detriment of others.
Then ask if they know what checking your privilege is, helping individuals express their ideas clearly and adding in anything key they don’t say:
The basic idea behind ‘check your privilege’ is that everyone to a certain extent speaks from a position of privilege and they should take into account that others are not as privileged as them. The first step is to accept that you are privileged, then to understand what that means. To be aware of that in how you behave in the world, and finally to work towards the dismantling of that privilege. There are many kinds of privilege, mostly associated with the dominant voice in power – those who are white, male, heterosexual, able-bodied or wealthy.
Race and privilege
Explain that our society is racist. White people experience the world in a very particular way due to the privilege of their race. Often they are completely unaware of when they are benefitting from this privilege. People who experience racism are painfully aware of the difference in how they are treated in many aspects of their lives. An important step in building an equal world is for everyone to be aware of these differences so they can actively work to stop them.
Check your privilege
Explain that a woman called Kenya who is on TikTok as @boss_bigmamma posted a video asking people to take a ‘check your privilege challenge.’ Show the video to the young people or read them the transcript if you have no way of showing it.
Try the challenge yourself with your group. Ask afterwards:
- How did you find the challenge?
- Were you surprised by how many fingers you put down or didn’t put down?
This sort of video can be a way of understanding how your experiences are the norm or not in your society.
Make your own challenge
Kenya’s challenge was made by an adult for other adults, so some of the questions may not relate to your life so far. Ask the young people to get into pairs and make their own version for people their age, based on the experiences of them and their friends.
If they need help, suggest the following ideas or give clues or pointers so they think of them:
Put one finger down if you have ever…
– Been followed or watched in a shop because they thought you might be going to steal something
– Been taught not to run in the street in case people think you’re running away from trouble
– Rarely seen movies with lead characters who looked like you
– Had very few books with characters that looked like you
– Had no teachers who look like you
– Been asked ‘where are you from?’ by someone expecting a different country
– Had someone insult you because of the colour of your skin
– Had someone refuse to play with you because of the colour of your skin
– Been taught how to stay safe if stopped by the police
– Ever been stopped by the police
– Felt frightened for the safety of someone in your family because of their skin colour
– Had to celebrate your religious holidays (Christmas, Easter, Eid) outside school holidays times
– Had a plaster that doesn’t match my skin colour (not counting a cartoon one!)
– Been told that my natural hair doesn’t match school rules
Try each other’s challenges
Pairs should take turns to stand at the front and lead their challenges for the rest of the group. If your group includes more than 4 pairs, each pair should find another pair and take turns to do each other’s challenge, then swap a few times.
Discussion Questions
Come back together in a circle. Ask participants:
- Did this activity change their view of how much privilege they have/what privileges they have? How?
- Did you realise that friends experienced these things?
- What can you do to support those with less privilege than you?