Talking Points #10

Article 1

Allan Johnson

Priveledge, Power, and Difference

Johnson argues that topics such as rascism and sexism should not be put on a back burner in the back of everyones minds but should be addressed especially in opressive social areas. He also makes note to say that people can change this thought if they are only willingto try to face the problem

1. "The problem of privilege and oppression is deep and wide, and to work with it we have to be able to see it clearly so that we can talk about it in useful ways."

This quote just proves that Johnson argues that people should not ignore the problems of priviledge and oppression but take charge and be able to change the way things are by talking with other people about the problems.

2. "This means we can be involved in a society's or organization's troubles without doing anything wrong and without being bad people."

If communities could talk freely and openly about rascism and sexism without feeling liek they are offending someone else, these problems would not exist. This quote again justifies what Johnson was arguing throughout this piece.

3. "This reluctance to acknowledge and use power comes up in the simplest everyday situations, as when a group of friends starts laughing at a racist, sexist, or homophobic joke and we have to decide whether to go along. "

I think this quote means that when people start "growing up" and finding that these jokes are not funny, then will those people start to help in the cause and take charge in front of their friends and say, "No, this is wrong to laugh at."

Overall I liked this article. I found it was pretty easy to read surprisingly. I like the points that Johnson makes about people taking charge and changing the way other think about sexism and racism as well.