The document summarizes a privilege walk exercise conducted in a class where students lined up based on their responses to questions about experiences with discrimination. By the end of the questions, white students were largely at the front while African American students were farther back, having faced more challenges. The experience made the author feel badly about the unearned advantages they had compared to others. They realized the importance of not taking privileges for granted and helping those without the same opportunities.

1. Roach1
Joshua Roach
Harold Blanco
FYS
September 17, 2015
Privilege walk
Today in the privilege walk, we all lined up as our professor asked us questions like “If
you were ever called names because of your race, class, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation,
take one step back”. By the time he was done reading all the questions there was a line of
white students in the front on the other hand there was a couple of African Americans towards
the back who seem to have a tougher time then the white students. To be honest during the
exercise I started feel really bad, like it was not fair that I had all these advantages and they
didn’t. Also I felt like I have been taking all my advantages for granted and didn’t realize what I
had. I guess I had never realized what I had and that other people didn’t. I also thought it was
very unfair that people were going through this just because their race, sexual orientation, race,
and class. My thoughts during this exercise were while yes I am lucky that I have the privileges
that I do, I am also aware that not everyone has them like me and I need to not take them for
granted. I have learned from this exercise that I need to maybe help people who don’t have the
advantages I do. Also I learned if I see someone being racist, or making fun of somebody that I
will come in and help and make sure everything is okay. So after this exercise I learned a lot,
and will use what I learned.