Note: If you were absent from class and need to catch up, click here to go to the Frontline video. We watched all of Chapter One and the first six minutes of Chapter Two (16 minutes in total).
Jane Elliott created privileges for her third-graders: things like extra recess time, getting to go back for seconds at lunch, and being first in line were fitting rewards for her eight year olds.
To explore what kinds of privileges exist in the adult world, read Peggy McIntosh's classic article "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." (You will need Adobe Reader to view this file; you can download it for free, or click here for a web version.)
Pay special attention to McIntosh's checklist. Use the checklist as a basis for self-reflection, asking "Can you count on this?" A "yes" answer scores 1 point. For a "no," subtract 1 point. Score nothing for "does not apply to me." The higher the score, the greater the degree of privilege one has in the context of living in the United States today.
After you have (1) read the article and (2) scored yourself on the checklist, then (3) write a journal entry about your reactions.
Were you surprised by your score, or did it confirm what you already knew? Why is privilege normally invisible and what does it feel like to make it visible? Do you agree with McIntosh's argument that the word "privilege" is misleading? If you have read the article before, have your opinions changed since the first time you encountered it?
This assignment is due on Thursday. The updated calendar is below.
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