After you read "My Dell Hid My Privilege" and watch "The Danger of a Single Story" choose one of the topics below for your discussion post. Then read and reply to the post of one student. Topic 1: Choose "My Dell Hid My Privilege" What examples of narrative writing elements were you able to identify in the reading? In other words, how did the writer or speaker "show" you the events instead of just "tell" you? Please add one specific descriptive detail you remember from the reading or talk.
MyDellHidMyPrivilegeandMyMacHidMyFinancialNeed ByZöeSottile
Themostexcitingpartwasthelaptop.
MymomgrabbedthethickenvelopeoutofmyhandsandreadofftheamenitiesassociatedwiththeTangScholarshiptoPhillipsAcademy:fulltuitionforallfouryears,afreesummertrip,$20aweekformetospendonalltheCheetosandnailpolishmyheartdesired,andfinally,afreelaptop.
Ihadneverhadacomputerofmyownbefore,andtometheprospectsymbolizedaworldofnewpossibilities.IwastheonlystudentfrommypublicmiddleschoolIknewtoevergotoaneliteboardingschool,anditfeltlikebeinginvitedintoaselectiveclub.MyfirstweekatAndover,dazedbyitsglamourandnewness,Ifoughtmywaytothefinancialaidofficetopickupthelaptop;Isentmymomaphotoofmegrinningandclutchingthecardboardbox.Backinmydormroom,Ipulledoutmyprize,aheavybutfunctionalDell,andmarveledatitssleekedges,itsastonishingspeed.
Butthelovestoryofmylaptopcameclamoringtoahalt.Inthelibrary,asIstumbledtonegotiateaspacetofitin,IwatchedmyfriendseachpulloutaMacBook.Eachwaspaper-thinandseeminglyweightless.Andmine,heavyenoughtohurtmybackandconstantlysighinglikeatireddog,wasdistinctlyoutofplace.Mylaptop,whichIhadthoughtwasmytickettotheeliteworldofAndover,actuallygavemeawayastheoutsiderIwas.
Foralongtime,thiswasthecruxofmyAndoverexperience:alwaysanoutsider.WhenIhungoutwithwealthierfriends,Iwasdisorientedbyhowdifferenttheirliveswerefrommine.WhiletheyspentsummersinPragueorParis,IspentmineminingtheconstellationofthriftstoresaroundNewHaven.Thegapbetweenfull-scholarshipandfull-payfeltinsurmountable.
ButIalsofeltlikeanoutsidergoingtomeetingsforthefull-scholarshipaffinitygroup.MyparentsattendedcollegeandgrewupwealthierthanIdid,givingmeculturalcapitalmanyofmyfull-scholarshipfriendsneverhadaccessto.Moreover,I’mwhiteandcouldaffordoccasionalconcertticketsor
sparklyearrings.Thelaptop,carriedbyallfull-scholarshipstudentsandcodedwithhiddenmeanings,pivotedmyfriends’understandingsofme.Athome,Igrewupmiddleclass,thenbecametheprivilegedprepschoolgirl.ButatAndover,suddenly,Iwaspoor.Tryingtoreconciletheseconflictingidentities,Irealizedhowcomplexandmutableclassis.Myclassisconnectedtomyparents’income,butit’salsorootedinculturalknowledgeandobjectsthatarechargedwithgreatermeaning.
Whichbringsmebacktothelaptop:inthemiddleofmyseniorfall,myexhaustedDellbrokeandIcouldn’taffordanother.WhenImanagedtoborrowaslimMacfrommyschool,Ifeltthewallsaroundmereorient.IhopedthatnowIwouldn’thavetothinkabouttheelectricwebofprivilegeandpowereverytimeIsentanemail.Instead,Ifeltanewanxiety:IworriedwhenIsatinthemagnificentdininghallwithmybeautifulcomputerthatIhadlostanimportantpartofmyidentity.
visitwww.facinghistory.org1
MyDellHidMyPrivilegeandMyMacHidMyFinancialNeed(continued)
WhenIstartedatAndover,theseconstantduelingtensionsfeltlikeatrap:likeIwouldneverbecomfortableanywhere.(Theschoolsensedittoo,andallfull-financialaidstudentsnowreceiveMacBooks.)Butmaybeit’stheoppositeofatrap.MaybeI’mculturallyambidextrous,ascomfortableintroducingaspeakeronthestageofAndover’scentury-oldchapelasgettingmynosepiercedinatattooparlorinNewHaven.Myhyper-awarenessofhowmyDellhidmyprivilegeandhowmyMachidmyfinancialneedpushedmetobeawareofwhatcomplicatedstorieswerehidingbehindmyclassmates’seeminglysimplefacades.Iamafull-scholarshipstudentwhobenefitsfromcultural,socioeconomicandracialprivilege:mystoryisn’teasy,butit’sstillmine.1