The author, Alan Johnson, argues that we as a society are our own downfall when it comes to discussing, educating or dealing with any sort of difference between human beings.
In the introduction and first chapter of his book, he highlights a common denominator in the struggle to address most social issues, is that people are scared to talk about it. Words like "racism", "privilege", "sexism", "agism" etc., have such a negative connotation to them, that when people use them, it is almost like the conversation then takes on a heavier/darker tone. But why?
He emphasizes that, as a white person himself, he feels like it is taboo for him to talk about and discuss the topic of racism because he is white. It is like he, as well as other "white people" are conditioned that because of their skin color and the privilege it gives them, that they are not able to discuss such things because they do not truly understand what it is like to face racism. Which is true in a sense, that white people do not understand what it feels like to be discriminated against or judged based only on the color of their skin. However, as a woman of white descent myself, I feel that it is a collective duty to use the privilege that we do have, to use to shine a light on the injustices that others face, that don't have enough representation or a voice due to their "differences". This then creates a world that tells people, if it doesn't affect you then don't talk about it.
Johnson dives more into this topic in chapter two. He states, "we cannot talk about it if we cannot use the words." This statement stands out to me in a big way. People tend to think, if they don't talk about something, then it doesn't exist. But we all know that is not how things work. By staying quiet and not discussing such big issues in society makes us less than. It makes our world a harsher place to live in. How are we supposed to move forward and grow as a society if we can't use basic words? If we can't talk about major issues? If we can't verbalize the problem? We need to stop being so afraid of addressing these issues.
Chapter 3 discusses the way privilege affects people in everyday life. Reading the examples he list was eyeopening. For me personally, when I think of privilege, I immediately think of race and I see the privilege I do have being white, but I forget that there are so many other ways that I am privileged and don't even realize it. I think this also goes into the point that I don't see some of these privileges because they are not talked about as much. We need to talk, we need to educate, we need to argue and discuss hard topics because they will not go away. They are at the core of our society as a whole. We cannot sweep things under the rug because they don't affect us.
