Born at the Finish Line: On Privilege, Power, and the Lie of Equal Opportunity

Summary:
This essay explores the concept of privilege as an unearned head start in life—something the author was born into without choice or merit. It grapples with the discomfort of benefiting from systemic advantages while witnessing others struggle to reach an unevenly set finish line. Drawing on Peggy McIntosh’s “invisible knapsack” metaphor and insights from scholars like Chong-Suk Han and Audre Lorde, the essay challenges readers to recognize how privilege perpetuates inequality and division among marginalized groups. It calls for those born into privilege to actively dismantle systems that pit oppressed communities against each other and to reimagine a more equitable “race” where everyone has a fair chance.

Excerpt:
“I didn’t ask for a head start in life, but here I am—crossing the finish line at the front of the pack in the game of privilege. On a conscious level, I’m deeply uncomfortable with this. Yet, on a subconscious level, all the unseen and unrecognized benefits of my position make me very comfortable indeed. I did absolutely nothing to earn these perks. I was simply born into them.”

Currently under submission.