After watching this video I can say I am pretty privileged even in simple ways. One way I consider myself to be privileged is being in good health. Being in good health is very important because without help I believe if you can not function physically it will take a toll on your mental. I believe this because physically you are wanting to do stuff like play sports but because of your health you are unable to, then you start to wonder why you can not be like everyone else or be a “normal” person that is when it can start affecting your mental state. Other ways I am privileged are being able to have access to education, being able to walk and talk, having clean water to drink, having food in the fridge to eat, and having a roof over my head. Having a roof over your head is very important because you need it to survive and to maintain good health physically and mentally. Oppression is considered to be cruel and unjust treatment. One way I have experienced oppression is being a biracial child. I have been treated differently by members of my family because I am half black and half Hispanic. To me my Hispanic side of the family I was never Hispanic enough for them to consider me Hispanic. This experience made me very confused and not sure where I stood in life or what others considered me to be. Another way I experienced oppression was due to my mental illness. Not many people would understand how mental illness works. In people’s eyes, mental illness is for the “crazy people.” This unfair treatment tolls me because my mental illness has made me bitter. This is because of the way people define me due to my illness that I can not control. In my opinion, my illness does not define me it is just a part of me that I have to work out. To me, I will define privilege as being able to have access to things that other individuals might have a difficult time getting access to the simple things you need in life. While oppression to me is defined as a long-lasting treatment of cruel and unjust treatment that individuals face due to the color of their skin, poverty, and where they come from. This video and reading have to be grateful for the simple things in life because there are others that do not have anything. Things that we complain about people wish they had, so live life and be grateful.
5 thoughts on “Nia Brown Discussion 4”
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Hello Nia, I can honestly say that those were my exact sentiments as I watched the video. From my ability to be typing these words in my laptop to the food that I am blessed to consume regularly, privilege surrounds me. I have also never been in a situation where my health was not at its best and that once again is privilege. For a majority of us attending BMCC, I think it is safe to say that we are in a place of a certain degree of privilege and that makes us responsible for being aware that oppression and privilege exist.
I do not consider myself to be oppressed but the experience you shared with me hit hard. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be denied your culture because you happen to come from two different cultures. I think that you are bringing up mental illness however, is powerful because mental health does face stigma. Just as you said, mental illness does not define a person but there are people who do stereotype and associate all mental illness with a straightjacket. It’s not only inappropriate, its harmful and it needs to end. I am sorry that people have not taken the time to educate themselves and get to know you for you, but it is amazing to see how you have not allowed it to define you.
Hi Nia,
I relate to your comment as not being enough to one side of the family, except for me it’s the fact that I was born in the US. My family all came from the Dominican Republic, and they had a hard time living in poverty. Many of them believe my life is so easy because I live in the US, when in reality it’s not. Yes, I am much better off and I don’t have to carry gallons of water, but living in poverty in the US makes it hard because without money it’s hard to do anything here. We have to do the bare minimum in order to survive, even getting a job is very difficult.
Hi Nia!
Thank you for sharing. I like your point of view – if we have any privileges, it’s important to not take them for granted and to be thankful for what we have. This can help us use our privileges to help others in need, too.
There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness, that’s for sure. I’m truly sorry you’ve had such negative, judgemental experiences. I relate to that as well.
I’d definitely agree with your point in the definition of privilege as well as its ever so relying roles in our society. Although certain times there may be deciding factors that tend to tell a specific story understanding them to the fullest is what really matters. I say this in correlation to seeing someone, and still understanding that though they may look one way knowing that someone personally is what should generally consists of how you decide to treat that person. Being that this is yet another mere aspect of certain types of privilege and or who it pertains to, this point still highlights key points.
Hi Nia!
I like the way you defined oppression, short and simply but straight to the point. “Oppression is considered to be cruel and unjust treatment.” I also agree with your definition of privilege, and found that after I watched the video I realized I was more privileged than I had realized before. I definitely am more grateful for things in my life now.