The Mansion on the Hill: Discussing Privilege and Class in Society

In the first forty pages of his book Privilege, Power, and Difference, Allan G. Johnson touches upon the issues of race, gender, sexuality and how they effect class in our culture.  The author argues that in capitalistic societies, oppression is a matter of fact, with privileged classes oppressing the lower classes.  This idea is not attempting to fault the particular people in the privileged class.  This idea, that our society has a privileged class, is found in most capitalistic societies.  He tries to make an effort to discourage the idea that he is attacking the heterosexual white male, the privileged class, with this argument.  Johnson is only working as a sociologist to discuss the ideas at work.  Simply, heterosexual white males have an easier time in the existing society and are therefore privileged.

Johnson points out that because "all of that sits in the middle of the table like the proverbial elephant that everyone pretends not to notice" (9).  At one point, as an exercise, he suggests to the reader to imagine the how difficult life would be for a white male heterosexual to wake up as a homosexual.  Considering the recent media focus on the harsh bullying towards gays in public schools, Johnson's idea of sexuality transformation would be tremendously difficult for a person in the privileged class.  He proves with this example that this discussion might be hard to speak about but should not be discouraged.

Johnson goes on to point out that our privileged class is decided by race, gender, and sexuality.  Other societies may be organized differently.  For example, Johnson points out that "a Norwegian farmer has no reason to think of himself as white so long as he's in Norway.  But when he comes to the United Sates, one of the first things he discovers the significance of being considered white and the privilege that goes along with it (21-22)."  When discussing race, Johnson points out James Baldwin once pointed out that there is no such thing.  The idea of race is only "real" if you "live in a culture that recognizes those differences as significant and meaningful, and they are [actually] socially irrelevant and therefore do not exist" (21).  Race, as well as sexuality and gender, are only important to the privileged class of this society.  Other societies may have other standards.      

The next important point Johnson makes is that when one group has more power, chances are they are taking the power away from another group.  "Privilege is always at someone else's expense and always exacts a cost" (10).  Much like science, in his theory, Johnson shows that every action has an opposite and equal reaction.  He doesn't think that an individual from the privileged class is at fault, merely that this idea is the natural part of order.  We simplify in order to organize our thoughts - otherwise reality would be chaotic.  "People usually form such impressions without thinking, and they rely on them in order to see the world as an organized and predictable place from one moment to the next" (20).  Putting people into general groups is a coping mechanism, to make life less complicated.

Johnson attempts to stress this argument throughout his piece as a reason for conducting a discussion about these issues.  A privileged class exists because society exists.  Ignoring or pretending that this fact is false hurts the non-privileged class because they are not given the same opportunities.  I imagine the remainder of the book touches on these issues of race, gender, and sex, and how to try to change the problems for the betterment of society.

I've found that in music the ideas of race, sexuality, and gender as direct influences to white male heterosexual privilege are more openly discussed than most other parts of society.  It seems like musicians are able to broach difficult subjects before the society can.  I have linked to a couple songs that came to mind during the reading:

1.  Bob Dylan - "Hurricane" - The story of Hurricane Ruben Carter and the questionable accusations that came against him.  Race played a big part of the story, a black man who could've been the boxing champion of the world, put down by the white privileged society that didn't want him there.

2.  The Kinks - "Lola" - Ray Davies and Co. discuss a young man meeting a transvestite in Manhattan.  Sexuality and gender issues are at play here, with the man trying to figure out if he's displeased with the realization that Lola is a man.

3.  Bruce Springsteen - "Mansion on the Hill" - Bruce discusses privileged society, the "mansion on the hill," and how a town deals with large economic disparity.