The person who possesses can walk through life totally blind to disparities, while the person who doesn’t feels like they see everything far too clearly. In a new video for the American Civil Liberties Union, the actress and comedian schools her misguided co-worker on white privilege and reminds him that racism and sexism are still a problem in the country. “When someone asks you to “check your privilege”, what they’re really asking you to do is to reflect on the ways that your social status might have given you an advantage – even if you didn’t ask for it or earn it – while their social status might have given them a disadvantage”, explains Sam Dylan Finch at Everyday feminism.
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Saturday Night Live’s Sasheer Zamata was recently named an ACLU ambassador and she’s using her new position to “shine a spotlight on gender and privilege”, she wrote on the organization’s blog.
Zamata’s also subjected to street harassment – so much of it that she continues to layers herself until she winds up in a hazmat suit.
As her friend lectures to her about the meritocracy-“In my experience, everybody in this country is treated fairly”, he says-Zamata is pulled aside by a police officer because she “fit the description”. Her dude-friend acknowledges that he’s a feminist and is presented with a key to the city.
After he seems to have a moment of self-awareness, Zamata drops the ultimate truth bomb. “You just have to have confidence in yourself”.
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“You just need to realize that you have privilege.” she says in the clip among other comments about gender inequalities, as she uses this platform to champion women’s rights.
