Students discuss privilege, classism at Anytown Alabama

Standing in a room of their peers, more than 80 teenagers from 35 schools confronted the advantages and disadvantages life has dealt them.

“If you had more than 50 books in your house growing up, take one step forward. … If your family ever had to move because they could not afford rent, take one step back. … If you own a car take one step forward. … If you had to rely primarily on public transportation, take one step back.”

These questions were read out in a meeting hall at the Hargis Retreat in Chelsea on June 6, as part of a “Privilege walk” activity with Anytown Alabama. A teen leadership summit that includes students from a variety of neighborhoods, schools, races, religions, gender identity and sexual orientations, Anytown Alabama is geared toward empowering students and helping them embrace diversity and use that to “help make their schools and communities more fair and inclusive for all,” according to a release.

“It’s empowering our local teens to lead the progression of inclusivity in Birmingham,” said co-director Anamaria Santiago, who added that the program celebrates all parts of an individual’s identity while showing how attendees — called delegates — can celebrate themselves and celebrate others.

During the privilege walk, delegates started by all holding hands in a square. They then stepped forward or backward, depending on their relationship to statements that were read. These statements represented advantages and disadvantages that were out of the students’ control — where they grew up, the state of their parents’ job, their gender, race or sexual orientation.

By the end of the list of questions, the camp delegates were no longer in straight lines. Some had approached the center of the room, while others were back against the wall.

The activity was “just a reflection of how circumstances beyond their control … how that affects their experiences,” Santiago said. The goal is not for students to feel bad about where they end up, but to recognize how those circumstances can affect where individuals end up in life.

While she had participated in a privilege walk before, Brianna Braden, a Chelsea High School student, said the Anywhere Alabama activity went into more details of every aspect of life and hit on a personal level.

“You kind of realize how big of a part those [factors] are in who you are,” she said.

Recent Huffman High School graduate Jordan Williams said acknowledging some of the parts of the privilege walk made the activity difficult.

“The privilege walk was heavy. I didn’t want to realize I was under privileged,” he said, adding that it allowed him to see individuals coming together despite differences in privilege. “I just realized even though everyone is from different backgrounds, we all still love each other.”

Following the privilege walk, the group broke into smaller caucus groups, where delegates talked with others that ended up in similar positions. Students could open up about individual experiences in a smaller group, Santiago said, and thereby be more comfortable to talk about their takeaways in the larger group.

As a large group, the delegates discussed how the activity made them feel, and how it made them feel about other delegates.

“I was proud to go through some of that stuff,” one student said, in reference to the statements that meant he would step back.

“Even though we’re in the back, we can still be successful,” another student said. “We just have to work a little harder.”

Other students discussed using their privilege to help individuals with less privilege and to encourage those with more privilege to do the same. And while the exercise divided them into smaller groups in a way, the discussion allowed them to come back together, Santiago said.

“We’re still kind of connected, even if we can’t hold hands,” said one student. 

Conversation then turned to how privilege can manifest itself in everyday life — including through wage gaps, community resources and other means. Students discussed how those advantages or disadvantages also go on to impact employment opportunities, potential colleges and treatment in the criminal justice system.

Following the group discussion, Johnson reminded everyone that “inequities are caused by institutions, not individuals.”

“We can’t choose our gender, sexuality … but we can use our advantages to level the playing field,” Johnson said.

As they continue their week, delegates will discuss topics ranging building an inclusive community; culture, ethnicity and spirituality and empowerment and apply what they discuss to real-world situations.

On the second day of the program, Braden said she looked forward to leaving Anytown Alabama with a renewed sense for social justice and a goal to help change her community.

“I have definitely interacted with people who I never would have had the opportunity to meet, and I think that’s where you learn the most,” she said. Being around like-minded people can just support your worldview, rather than challenge it, she said, and being around a diverse group helps you learn from others’ experience and foster a sense of community.