--- 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/ddb/luvvie-ajayi-9026_identity_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1061105.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 contribute to someone's else oppression. It means that you recognize that some part of your identity…” quote by luvvie ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/luvvie-ajayi-9026_identity_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1061105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/luvvie-ajayi-9026_identity_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1061105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/luvvie-ajayi-9026_identity_our-privileges-are-the-things-not-within_1061105.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 contribute to someone's else oppression. It means that you recognize that some part of your identity puts you in a better position than others.”” [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. Privilege is an unearned advantage tied to identity, recognizing it doesn’t imply personal guilt but awareness of systemic benefit. **In simple terms:** Privilege is unearned advantage. Key Takeaway Acknowledge systemic advantage. Themes equality social justice self‑awareness Mood thoughtful empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace diversity training - educational curricula - policy reform Key Concepts privilege awareness intersectionality ally responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How will you use your privilege for equity? - What steps can you take to dismantle systemic advantage? A Different Perspective Acknowledgment can lead to complacency without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledging/) [Contribute Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribute-oppression-2592026/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-quotes/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppression Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-means-2592027/) [Privileges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privileges/) [Progressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressing/) ## Related quotes > [“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-2/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“Are you progressing to be more and more like Jesus Christ? Are you investing in the moment rather than being bound by yesterday or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/are-you-progressing-to-be-more-and-more-like-jesus-christ-are-you/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/god-himself-is-increasing-and-progressing-in-knowledge-power-and/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [I have to keep developing and progressing and strive to be as good a player as I can possibly be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-grealish/i-have-to-keep-developing-and-progressing-and-strive-to-be-as-good-a/) [Jack Grealish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-grealish/) > [I've learned to never take anything for granted and that people are all works in progress. Some people are just actively working on progressing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-fishel/i-ve-learned-to-never-take-anything-for-granted-and-that-people-are/) [Danielle Fishel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-fishel/) > [I still feel like I have to go out there and get my job done and still produce. It's not about proving, it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-still-feel-like-i-have-to-go-out-there-and-get-my-job-done-and/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [My target is enjoying and proving to myself that I am progressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-krkic/my-target-is-enjoying-and-proving-to-myself-that-i-am-progressing/) [Bojan Krkic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-krkic/) > [I know for a fact that a lot of actors are desperate and unhappy if their careers are not progressing at what they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-know-for-a-fact-that-a-lot-of-actors-are-desperate-and-unhappy-if/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I want to keep on progressing. I definitely think acting is a long process to be one of the greats like Morgan Freeman or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-gamble/i-want-to-keep-on-progressing-i-definitely-think-acting-is-a-long/) [Nathan Gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-gamble/) > [I'm constantly progressing. My style is changing every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-uchis/i-m-constantly-progressing-my-style-is-changing-every-day/) [Kali Uchis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-uchis/) > [My sound is constantly progressing and maturing. It's hard with all the songs that I have written over the years to compile them all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-monroe/my-sound-is-constantly-progressing-and-maturing-it-s-hard-with-all/) [Asher Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-monroe/) > [Progress is getting back up after you have fallen, learning why you fell before, and avoiding going the same route. Keep progressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/progress-is-getting-back-up-after-you-have-fallen-learning-why-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Africa is progressing but maybe not in the way you think it is. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-is-progressing-but-maybe-not-in-the-way-you-think-it-is-even/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [“most professionals progress until they reach an “acceptable” level, and then they plateau. Software engineers, for instance, usually stop progressing somewhere around five years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-grenny/most-professionals-progress-until-they-reach-an-acceptable-level-and/) [Joseph Grenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-grenny/) ## 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 Acknowledging quotes > [“My mum always taught me the value of knowing, recognizing and acknowledging when you had a good day. There are so many bad days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/my-mum-always-taught-me-the-value-of-knowing-recognizing-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Washington culture has always had a difficult time acknowledging untruth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/washington-culture-has-always-had-a-difficult-time-acknowledging/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [How dare you ever in ya life walk past me without acknowledging their man as God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/how-dare-you-ever-in-ya-life-walk-past-me-without-acknowledging-their/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [Acknowledging the Lord's hand in our lives cultivates gratitude. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/acknowledging-the-lord-s-hand-in-our-lives-cultivates-gratitude/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [You know, I get frustrated with our country's administration, which is really the people who are not acknowledging global warming. I mean, it's accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/you-know-i-get-frustrated-with-our-country-s-administration-which-is/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Real empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay but acknowledging that it is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/real-empathy-is-sometimes-not-insisting-that-it-will-be-okay-but/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“You can’t fear the devil without also acknowledging God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-adams/you-can-t-fear-the-devil-without-also-acknowledging-god/) [Taylor Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-adams/) > [We do an epically bad job of acknowledging one another's work and checking our sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/we-do-an-epically-bad-job-of-acknowledging-one-another-s-work-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [We are acknowledging the close personal nature of our 10 years at war and the strong bonds of fidelity that Marines have for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/we-are-acknowledging-the-close-personal-nature-of-our-10-years-at-war/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [“By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-acknowledging-their-contribution-and-letting-them-go-with/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Telling the story, acknowledging what has happened and how you feel, is often a necessary part of forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/telling-the-story-acknowledging-what-has-happened-and-how-you-feel-is/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [You had two men who knew the exact same thing, which is Russia did meddle in the elections. I think President Trump wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/you-had-two-men-who-knew-the-exact-same-thing-which-is-russia-did/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [I would hope it's better, but I'm actually acknowledging now that I want to explore all these levels from a whisper to a scream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coverdale/i-would-hope-it-s-better-but-i-m-actually-acknowledging-now-that-i/) [David Coverdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coverdale/) > [Voter fraud happens on both sides of the aisle. And if nothing else, I'm glad Democrats are acknowledging that it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/voter-fraud-happens-on-both-sides-of-the-aisle-and-if-nothing-else-i/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) [Browse all 117 Acknowledging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledging/) ```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. Acknowledging them does not mean you are admitting to doing something to contribute to someone's else oppression. 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