The token of privilege and what it means says that you are
given an advantage. An opportunity someone else was dying to have. I understood
the words; “you are so privileged” as noting that I not deserving, throughout
my life.
I grew up in a beautiful wealthy suburb called Westville in
Durban. I still live there in fact but I live alone and my mom still lives
there with my younger sister. A few things have turned for us in the recent
years. When I was born mom was a domestic worker. She was a single parent and
up till this day I have understand mom’s life to be that of single parenting.
So she had me and the couple she worked for at the time, took it upon
themselves to help her raise me the best way possible. This meant I was sent to
great schools. I went to for swimming lessons as a toddler and I enjoyed the
best experiences when it came to life. I was different compared to my family
members like my cousins and I knew it. I felt it.
Every now and again I would have situational changes in my
life that meant more money or more time invested in me. Continuously mom had
the help she needed especially if it was about my academics. Academically I was
not strong and so I battled with Maths. People within the church circles and
the circles of friendship with my mom and family would say you are privileged
and don’t forget that. As if the privilege didn’t come with the heavy
responsibility of doing well and not failing. I would watch my mom deep in
thought as she would attempt to give me an arousing speech on how to succeed.
Her call to action was always based on the premises that if you didn’t want to
be a domestic servant, go to school and finish school.
Privilege is something that falls on the laps of a few. Most
people’s parents work two jobs to make sure their children go to school and
have the best of the best. My mother did that too but for food and clothes.
Being privileged doesn’t take away having to prove yourself and having to
strive for better and for more. It doesn’t exempt you from feeling like a
burden when you ask for help or advice. It doesn’t stop you from feeling
inferior when you are walking in the midst of wealthy people who can smell
poverty from you. Privilege just opens the door and you as the person still
need to step through the door and see what are the possibilities that lie on
the other side of the door labelled “Privilege”. I really wish people would
offer help and encourage whoever is being helped strive for better.
