I’m Lucky to be Privileged
A few weeks ago I had lunch with a friend from college. During lunch we discussed the topic of privilege. How privileged were we to be able to sit and have a meal together on a weekday in Manhattan. Or have the ability to choose the jobs we want.
Those discussions always stick with me. I don’t think about privilege much. For a long time, I assumed it was for the wealthy. I didn’t think I’d ever be in that position to have those opportunities and be privileged myself. All I ever wanted was a chance to do better than my parents.
Ever since Ronin was born, I’ve been thinking more and more about the lessons I want to teach him. Sometimes I want him to go through similar struggles so he doesn’t ever forget how far his family had to come just so he could have those privileges we never did. Other times I just want to teach him to be a good person and hope that everything else just works out.
When I think about that lunch conversation and similar ones over the years, I’m quick to give credit to luck. I can’t help but wonder how Ronin’s life would be different if luck hadn’t done its part to ensure to ensure Erum and I are where we are today. I use it as a reminder that sometimes we can’t control what happens to us. And sometimes I wander back to all the things that went wrong in order for the amazing things to come together. That’s how I’ll end this.
- I’m lucky that I was born in-between two siblings who died.
- I’m lucky I didn’t drown both times.
- I’m lucky my dad didn’t give up his immigration opportunity to his younger brother.
- I’m lucky I grew up in the LES.
- I’m lucky that being homeless wasn’t permanent.
- I’m lucky that I graduated, even at the height of the recession.
- I’m lucky that we survived the projects in Harlem.
- I’m lucky that I got to feel heartbreak before meeting Erum.
- I’m lucky that I got to be a parent to my siblings.
More importantly, I’m lucky that I have people around me who will never hesitate to remind me that a chubby little village boy, now gets to raise his own family in America. Talk about being privileged.
