Johnson Think Piece

Johnson, from Privilege, Power and Difference

     Johnson’s piece basically discusses the many social issues that are in our society. He talks about how humans need to be part of something bigger in life starting from birth considering we cant survive without someone else when we are born. We look up to people to tell us right and wrong and create rules and guide lines however this probably doesn’t help in some situations the way generations and generations of people carry a racist hate against people that aren’t their own gender, race, or sexual orientation. Humans cause much of this problem because of stupidity and ignorance against other people. Then again people also have the ability to change this mind set, I think that our generation is working on that, of course there are still some racist red necks all across the country and there are still the neo-nazis with their radical and ridiculous beliefs but most of this garbage is just passed down from their parents or grandparents. When you actually look deeper into racism it makes almost no sense, no one is better than someone else because of their skin color or beliefs. This is the United States our country is built off of diversity it’s who we are. Even though im white I was proud of the country and participated in the election of Obama, maybe hes not the greatest president we’ve ever had but he definitely promoted change he broaded the spectrum of possibility and success. I know I am getting a little off topic.. Johnson really tries to give the reader the understandin of the social indifferences in the US, he mentions that social status and class can be changed but appearance cannot and it is this which categorizes people from birth. I will say this however, while I agree that there may be a “white privilege” present and most of us know that theres some things that are easier for whites, I think the idea is starting to slowly lose its credibility as a vaid idea. I don’t think many people think they have all this extra power based on skin color. Maybe in the 50’s all the way to the early 90’s this would have made more sense but we live in the 21^st century. Youth has been stirring uprisings all across the world because they are sick of the garbage we are being served. Why should millions of the younger generation of Egypt be makings two dollars a day while their president bathes in the riches that they sweat and bleed for. Well they shouldn’t which is why Egypt is forming a democracy and their president is gone. Old ideas and old methods shouldn’t be what determines our generations and just like this idea applies to the people in the middle east right now fighting for their rights it should apply to the way people as whole think. There are always going to be stereotypes and racist ideas, there are people who are racist against whites. However I think authors such as Johnson will see their writings and ideas actually take effect, hes right people can change and we are the only ones that can change the ways people think about others but the day is coming where whether your black, white, Spanish, Chinese, gay, lesbian etc. we will all be recognized as humans with our own distinct qualities. Out with the old and in with the new.