The Privilege Walk

The typical classroom version of this activity involves between 10-40 participants. Throughout the privilege walk, some statements are read by the facilitator and the participants are asked to take a step forward or backward based on their responses. This activity forces participants to confront the ways in which society privileges some individuals over others. It is designed to get participants to reflect on the different areas in their lives where they have privilege as well as the areas where they don't.

(Full video transcription at the end of this post)

The following is the complete set of questions from the classroom version of this activity.

• If your ancestors were forced to come to the USA not by choice, take one step back.
• If your primary ethnic identity is "American," take one step forward.
• If you were ever called names because of your race, class, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If there were people who worked for your family as servants, gardeners, nannies, etc. take one step forward.
• If you were ever ashamed or embarrassed of your clothes, house, car, etc. take one step back.
• If one or both of your parents were "white collar" professionals:  doctors, lawyers, etc. take one step forward.
• If you were raised in an area where there was prostitution, drug activity, etc., take one step back.
• If you ever tried to change your appearance, mannerisms, or behavior to avoid being judged or ridiculed, take one step back.
• If you studied the culture of your ancestors in elementary school, take one step forward.
• If you went to school speaking a language other than English, take one step back.
• If there were more than 50 books in your house when you grew up, take one step forward.
• If you ever had to skip a meal or were hungry because there was not enough money to buy food when you were growing up, take one step back.
• If you were taken to art galleries or plays by your parents, take one step forward.
• If one of your parents was unemployed or laid off, not by choice, take one step back.
• If you have health insurance take one step forward.
• If you attended private school or summer camp, take one step forward.
• If your family ever had to move because they could not afford the rent, take one step back.
• If you were told that you were beautiful, smart and capable by your parents, take one step forward.
• If you were ever discouraged from academics or jobs because of race, class, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If you were encouraged to attend college by your parents, take one step forward.
• If you have a disability take one step backward.
• If you were raised in a single parent household, take one step back.
• If your family owned the house where you grew up, take one step forward.
• If you saw members of your race, ethnic group, gender or sexual orientation portrayed on television in degrading roles, take one step back.
• If you own a car take one step forward.
• If you were ever offered a good job because of your association with a friend or family member, take one step forward.
• If you were ever denied employment because of your race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If you were paid less, treated less fairly because of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If you were ever accused of cheating or lying because of your race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If you ever inherited money or property, take one step forward.
• If you had to rely primarily on public transportation, take one step back.
• If you attended private school at any point in your life take one step forward.
• If you were ever stopped or questioned by the police because of your race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If you were ever afraid of violence because of your race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• If your parents own their own business take one step forward.
• If you were generally able to avoid places that were dangerous, take one step forward.
• If you were ever uncomfortable about a joke related to your race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation but felt unsafe to confront the situation, take one step back.
• If you use a TDD Phone system take one step backward.
• If you were ever the victim of violence related to your race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take one step back.
• Imagine you are in a relationship, if you can get married in the State of ___ take one step forward
• If your parents did not grow up in the United States, take one step back.
• If your parents attended college take one step forward.
• If your parents told you that you could be anything you wanted to be, take one step forward.
• If you are able to take a step forward or backward take two steps forward.

Full video transcription

Hey line up line up everybody line up we're about to race everybody line up shoulder shoulder take off your backpacks basketball line up were about to race hey we are we are racing for hundred dollar bill the winner of this race will take this 100 dollar bill before I say go I'm gonna make a couple statements if those statements apply to you I want you to take two steps forward and those statements don't apply to you I want you to stay right where you're at take two steps forward if both of your parents are still married take two steps forward if you grew up with a father figure in the home take two steps forward if you had access to a private education take two steps forward if you had access to a free tutor growing up take two steps forward if you never had to worry about your cell phone being shut off take two steps forward if you never had to help mom or dad with the bills take two steps forward if it wasn't because of your athletic ability you don't have to pay for college take two steps forward if never wandered where your next meal was gonna come from I want you guys up here just to turn around look every statement I've has nothing to do with anything any of you have done has nothing to do with decisions you've made everything I've said has nothing to do with what you've done we all know these people up here have a better opportunity to win this hundred dollars does that mean these people back here can't race no we would be foolish to not realize we've been given more opportunity we don't want to recognize that we've been given a head start but the reality is we have now there's no excuse they still got to run their race you still gotta run your race but whoever wins this hundred dollars I think I think it's be extremely foolish of you not to utilize that and learn more about somebody else's story because the reality is and this was a fair race and everybody's back on that on that line I guarantee you some of these black people would smoke all of you and it's only because you have this big of a head start that you're possibly going to win this race called life that is a picture of life ladies and gentleman nothing you've done has put you in the lead that you're in right now when I say go on your mark get set go if you didn't learn anything from this activity you're a fool But if anyone has the worlds goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does god's love abide in him? little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.