They call me privileged, yet I can’t find my voice.
I am a 24-year-old white, Christian, heterosexual male… I try to share my opinions, and many say I can’t speak. I talk about values and reason, and many say I’m a bigot who can’t preach. Why? Because I’m nothing more than a white privileged male who many believe shouldn’t have a voice.
To many, my character and reason is not important: what matters most is that I’m not a victim. And no, this is not about playing victim and refusing to listen. This is about me gaining courage, standing by my values, and finding my voice. Join me on my journey.
I will be honest with you… I am what people consider a privileged individual. And I agree. I am a 24-year-old white, heterosexual male who grew up in a wealthy Christian family in suburbia. Relying on values passed through family and reestablished through my own faith and reason, I developed a voice.
It is no surprise that I grew up in a bubble. When I left that bubble for social media, college, and a corporate job, I tested and once again reaffirmed many of my values. However, I lost my voice.
When I share my views on poverty, systemic racism, and anything else that involves societal power dynamics, I am condemned. Professors, coworkers, and “friends” on social media scoff and tell me the same thing: “We do not want to hear from you. Your eyes are clouded with privilege and, therefore, bigotry.”
It is clear that in many of today’s forums, my individuality has taken a backseat to my position in a hierarchy of victimhood. Put another way, I am told my voice and its value depends on my level of privilege. The more others perceive me as privileged, the smaller my voice gets.
I often ask myself where everyone else is. Am I the only one at the bottom of this hierarchy of victimhood who is having difficulty expressing personal values and contributing to the political sphere? No, there are many who share my frustrations with today’s world, especially those in high school or college.
To be clear, I am not playing victim. I don’t want sympathy nor do I deserve sympathy. A victim mentality is toxic and self-defeating. This is about me gaining courage, standing by my values, and finding my God-given voice.
Does this mean I must raise my voice to drown out the voices of others? Not at all. I must speak up but also listen.
It will not be an easy journey. I must face the demons of today’s society as well as the demons within myself. And yes, we all have flaws and biases… this means that, although there are objective truths that can never be abandoned—and are increasingly difficult to distinguish in today’s distorted world—we can all grow.
Join me as I, the “embodiment of white/male/heterosexual privilege”, address my concerns, fears, and share my perspective along the way.