--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our privileges are the things not within…" description: "\"“Our privileges are the things not within our own control that push us forward and move us ahead from that starting line. Acknowledging them does not m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/luvvie-ajayi-9026_head-start_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1970326.jpg" --- # Our privileges are the things not within our own control… ![“Our privileges are the things not within our own control that push us forward and move us ahead from that starting line. Acknowledging them does not mean you are admitting to doing something to purposefully contribute to someone else’s oppression or marginalization. Nay, friends. It means you…” quote by Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/luvvie-ajayi-9026_head-start_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1970326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/luvvie-ajayi-9026_head-start_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1970326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/831/luvvie-ajayi-9026_head-start_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1970326.jpg) > ““Our privileges are the things not within our own control that push us forward and move us ahead from that starting line. Acknowledging them does not mean you are admitting to doing something to purposefully contribute to someone else’s oppression or marginalization. Nay, friends. It means you recognize that some part of your identity puts you in a better position than others. It means something about you assists your progress in the race of life. It also means that whatever majority group you belong to has likely contributed to the oppression of another. Knowing our privilege does not make us villains, but it should make us more conscious about the parts we play in systems that are greater than us. It should make us be more thoughtful; it should humble us. We need to admit that some of us had a head start and aren’t just flourishing on our strength alone.”” [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing privilege means acknowledging unearned advantages without feeling guilty, and using that awareness to act more responsibly. **In simple terms:** Know your unearned advantages and act responsibly. Key Takeaway Use privilege to help others. Themes privilege social justice humility Mood thoughtful challenging Type social ethical When to use this quote - workplace discussions - activism - education - policy making Key Concepts systemic inequality intersectionality self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What advantages do you have? - How can you leverage them for equity? A Different Perspective May provoke defensiveness or feel accusatory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Head start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-start/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Race of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Black Privilege is a concrete motive which gives a black straight male or black female the benefits and opportunities in life and not knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/black-privilege-is-a-concrete-motive-which-gives-a-black-straight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“of other women. Oppression is most powerful when internalized and self-imposed. Self-oppression (knowing your “place”) becomes a passport to acceptance by the dominant group.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/of-other-women-oppression-is-most-powerful-when-internalized-and-self/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [Privilege is not in and of itself bad; what matters is what we do with privilege. I want to live in a world where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/privilege-is-not-in-and-of-itself-bad-what-matters-is-what-we-do-with/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Privilege does not operate without silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/privilege-does-not-operate-without-silence/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Privilege is when you contribute to the oppression of others and then claim that you are the one being discriminated against.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/privilege-is-when-you-contribute-to-the-oppression-of-others-and-then/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Our privileges are the things not within our own control that push us forward and move us ahead from that starting line. Acknowledging them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within-our-own-control-that-push-us/) [luvvie ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“Racism is not always white hoods and burning crosses. It is on Wall Street and on Capitol Hill. It’s in public policies and financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/racism-is-not-always-white-hoods-and-burning-crosses-it-is-on-wall/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“When the day of toil is done, When the race of life is run, Father, grant Thy wearied one Rest forevermore. When the strife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/when-the-day-of-toil-is-done-when-the-race-of-life-is-run-father/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [Help others in their race of life. Remember that when you help another up a mountain, you are a little nearer the top yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/help-others-in-their-race-of-life-remember-that-when-you-help-another/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“Don’t keep running the race of life with the same heavy load of mistakes and indecisiveness! You may grow weary and weary! Mistakes lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/don-t-keep-running-the-race-of-life-with-the-same-heavy-load-of/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [“Solitude sets you free from the rat race of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/solitude-sets-you-free-from-the-rat-race-of-life/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The poor man the guys that dug his hole, even they don't have any respect for him. His last farewell before he is put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-poor-man-the-guys-that-dug-his-hole-even-they-don-t-have-any/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Our everyday cares, making a living, the crazy rat race of life, often make us forget the value of a good deed. Thus, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-arison/our-everyday-cares-making-a-living-the-crazy-rat-race-of-life-often/) [Shari Arison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-arison/) > [He who starts behind in the great race of life must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/he-who-starts-behind-in-the-great-race-of-life-must-forever-remain/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [To run with the majority during the race of life is to be mediocre all of the time and wrong most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-smith/to-run-with-the-majority-during-the-race-of-life-is-to-be-mediocre/) [Len Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-smith/) ## More by Luvvie Ajayi > [In a world that wants women to whisper, I choose to yell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/in-a-world-that-wants-women-to-whisper-i-choose-to-yell/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [There are two types of people in this world: people who can be on time and Nigerians. I am in the latter group, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-can-be-on-time/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [I am of the bridge generation that remembers life before social media permeated everything but cannot imagine life without it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/i-am-of-the-bridge-generation-that-remembers-life-before-social-media/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [If a brand will shy away from you because you dare to say that black lives matter, that's probably not a brand you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/if-a-brand-will-shy-away-from-you-because-you-dare-to-say-that-black/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Shoes are my love language, and women love shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/shoes-are-my-love-language-and-women-love-shoes/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Working 16-hour days to ensure that I can pay my bills has been a bulk of my entrepreneurship life. And on days when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/working-16-hour-days-to-ensure-that-i-can-pay-my-bills-has-been-a/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Good friends are often our lifelines. Mine have seen me through heartbreak, through the deaths of loved ones, and through that phase in college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/good-friends-are-often-our-lifelines-mine-have-seen-me-through/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [I am not the best. I don't have to be. I am enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/i-am-not-the-best-i-don-t-have-to-be-i-am-enough/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“When your empire grows out of soil fertilized with the blood of a people, it must sustain its power with their continued bloodshed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/when-your-empire-grows-out-of-soil-fertilized-with-the-blood-of-a/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [If we don't challenge each other to use our platforms for better than our niches or what our quote-unquote brand is, what are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/if-we-don-t-challenge-each-other-to-use-our-platforms-for-better-than/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“When keeping Black and brown people marginalized literally elevates white people, as they use our backs as stairs, why would they want us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/when-keeping-black-and-brown-people-marginalized-literally-elevates/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [When I set out to write 'I'm Judging You,' I wanted to create something that was both timely and timeless. But I didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/when-i-set-out-to-write-i-m-judging-you-i-wanted-to-create-something/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Fire Yourself. Outsource some of your life. Because you know what won't be cute on a tombstone? 'Her grind was impeccable, and she did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/fire-yourself-outsource-some-of-your-life-because-you-know-what-won-t/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Chicago's one of the most segregated cities in America. Everybody lives in their own silos and vacuums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/chicago-s-one-of-the-most-segregated-cities-in-america-everybody/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [I wish people were realer in talking about how leaps of faith don't have to be taken without at least looking down first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/i-wish-people-were-realer-in-talking-about-how-leaps-of-faith-don-t/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) [Explore all 76 Luvvie Ajayi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) ## More Head start quotes > [“Having always lived in fear of being surprised by the worst, I have tried in every circumstance to get a head start, flinging myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/having-always-lived-in-fear-of-being-surprised-by-the-worst-i-have/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [A novel is like an animal you have to hunt down and kill. If you let it sit for two days, it's got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-alarcon/a-novel-is-like-an-animal-you-have-to-hunt-down-and-kill-if-you-let/) [Daniel Alarcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-alarcon/) > [Funding and maintaining programs from Head Start to Pell Grants must be a high priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-pastor/funding-and-maintaining-programs-from-head-start-to-pell-grants-must/) [Ed Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-pastor/) > [“You are everything that’s ever been my favorite thing,” she wanted to tell him. “You are my love song, my birthday cake, the sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-are-everything-that-s-ever-been-my-favorite-thing-she-wanted-to/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Head Start has a proven track-record of success in Central Virginia, and millions of Americans have walked through its doors and benefited from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/head-start-has-a-proven-track-record-of-success-in-central-virginia/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) > [Each person begins life with a head start in some areas and a handicap in other areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lapin/each-person-begins-life-with-a-head-start-in-some-areas-and-a/) [Daniel Lapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lapin/) > [My parents told me that education was the path to success - and they showed me, taking me to Head Start while they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-juneau/my-parents-told-me-that-education-was-the-path-to-success-and-they/) [Denise Juneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-juneau/) > [Before Congress cuts funding for Head Start, Social Security, and financial aid for college, we have got to make sure that large, profitable corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/before-congress-cuts-funding-for-head-start-social-security-and/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Hollywood is a challenging place; it's very easy for people to lose their heads. Fortunately, I grew up on it and I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troian-bellisario/hollywood-is-a-challenging-place-it-s-very-easy-for-people-to-lose/) [Troian Bellisario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troian-bellisario/) > [“People marvel at the genius of Mozart because he supposedly wrote "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" at the age of three and composed his first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/people-marvel-at-the-genius-of-mozart-because-he-supposedly-wrote/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) > [...it’d be like looking for a needle in a burning haystack.' 'Oh, I’ve done that,' Mark said airily. 'It’s a game we used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-d-be-like-looking-for-a-needle-in-a-burning-haystack-oh-i-ve-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The main thing is to try to put in your head that we all start from the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-van-dijk/the-main-thing-is-to-try-to-put-in-your-head-that-we-all-start-from/) [Virgil van Dijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-van-dijk/) > [The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act dramatically expanded child care provisions and Head Start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-american-reinvestment-and-recovery-act-dramatically-expanded/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [“Jesus said that whatever you did to the least of his people, you did to him, and the lifers in penitentiaries are the leastest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/jesus-said-that-whatever-you-did-to-the-least-of-his-people-you-did/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [During consideration in the Education and the Workforce Committee this year, Democrats and Republicans worked constructively together to improve the delivery of Head Start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-roybal-allard/during-consideration-in-the-education-and-the-workforce-committee/) [Lucille Roybal-Allard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-roybal-allard/) [Browse all 118 Head start quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-start/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our privileges are the things not within our own control that push us forward and move us ahead from that starting line. 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