At the 1988 Democratic Party Convention, Jim Hightower described George H. W. Bush as someone who “was born on third base and thinks he got a triple.” Certainly, it’s true that Bush Sr. enjoyed a lot of advantage associated with his family’s wealth and social status. I was reminded of this quip as I read various reactions to this op-ed piece that appeared in a Princeton student publication called The Princeton Tory. The author, Tal Fortgang, has been feted across conservative media for his insights about privilege in US society.
When I look back at things I wrote in my teens or twenties, I’m often amused and embarrassed by them. I suspect that when Mr. Fortgang is greying he’ll have similar regret about this piece. It’s nicely written but it is very clear that the author has no understanding of what the phrase he condemns, “check your privilege”, means. Apparently, there are thousands of people who share his misunderstanding. Paradoxically, it is usually the privileged for whom privilege is illegible.
Mr. Fortgang complains that “check your privilege” demands that he be ashamed of his gender and his whiteness. In his opinion, “check your privilege” means that his own hard work and accomplishments are diminished or irrelevant.
He then does a very curious thing. He writes a long passage describing his family’s roots in Europe and its devastation at the hands of the Nazis. His admirable grandparents made their way to the US with nearly nothing, learned the language, worked hard and became successful. His father then worked hard, was able to go to graduate school, and then secured a good job and worked long hours to benefit his family. An admirable success story.
Here’s why I find this curious. He is either acknowledging that he is privileged and explaining that the hard work of his forebears justifies that privilege; or, since he seems to be denying that he is privileged, he is telling us about his ancestors for, well, some other reason.
I don’t have a problem with the first explanation. In fact, isn’t it part of the great American narrative that we work hard so our children won’t have to negotiate the obstacles that we overcame? Certainly, my wife and I have worked hard and done whatever we could to enhance the probability of our children’s success. It’s what parents do. If our efforts have contributed to our children’s future economic and social success, I’m absolutely delighted.
There is one thing Mr. Fortgang says that I agree with wholeheartedly. You can’t just look at someone with white skin, or some other characteristic of privilege, and assume that you know anything about that person or his struggles. It is easy to assume that, because Mr. Fortgang writes his op-ed while attending a very exclusive, ivy league school, he comes from wealth. For all I know, the fruits of his family’s fortitude were lost in the housing bubble. Perhaps, Mr. Fortgang studied hard and chose Princeton from among the schools that offered him a full scholarship to have him join their community. I don’t know and it doesn’t matter.
I have never heard anyone use the phrase “check your privilege.” And, it does sound like an obnoxious epithet to throw around casually. On the other hand, I have read a number of things that urge people to be aware of privilege. It is important to understand the advantages that, with one’s hard work and character, have contributed to one’s success.
Most people aren’t born on third base. But a lot of us are born on first base. There’s no reason to be ashamed of this. As I indicated earlier, if my children emerge from school and find themselves on third base, I am a very happy father. More likely, though, they will find themselves on first base. Or, perhaps, at bat with two balls and no strikes. The economy is uncertain and there are a host of other variables that may help or hinder my kids’ success. I certainly want them to have every advantage.
However, I will urge my children to be aware of whatever privilege they have and the advantages that complimented their hard work to bring them success. Most of all, I want my children, as they round the bases of social and economic success, to not denigrate the player who repeatedly strikes out, or who is thrown out on his way to first base. Their failure to get on base is not necessarily indicative of a moral failing or a lack of hard work and preparation. Even Babe Ruth struck out sometimes. This is when it’s most important to “check your privilege.” Noting that someone is poor, or on government assistance, provides no insight into that person’s character or the struggles that characterize his existence.
There’s another phrase that’s more apt: “There but for the grace of God go I.”