I’ve been reflecting on privilege lately. The truth is, I know I’ve sometimes been hired because I was white and “fit the culture.” I didn’t ask for that, and I don’t like it when it happens—but I can’t deny that it has shaped opportunities I’ve had.
It’s privilege when you can say something like “my luxury apartment is not what I had hoped.” Even being in that position is an advantage, and part of it comes from being white. I may never have been given certain chances otherwise, and I know that’s unfair.
Years ago, I worked at a Black-owned company that was proud of its identity. I was one of only a few white employees, and a coworker once told me I had privilege. At the time I didn’t really understand what that meant, but when she explained, I realized I had experienced advantages I hadn’t earned. I couldn’t deny it.
That experience also gave me a glimpse into what it feels like to stand out in a workplace. Sometimes I felt like an outsider, or like I wasn’t trusted in the same way as others. It helped me better understand why people from underrepresented groups can feel out of place in predominantly white environments.
Life isn’t fair. But I believe we can choose to live with integrity, to try to do the least harm, and to help where we can. My hope is that someday we see each other not as enemies divided by race, but as equals—as brothers and sisters.