The power of privilege: Tiffany Jana at TEDxRVAWomen

Tiffany has directed organizational development, marketing, and community outreach initiatives for over 10 years. She founded TMI Consulting, the world's first Diversity and Inclusion Certified Benefit Corporation. TMI Consulting recently designed and facilitated a very successful series of transatlantic cooperative civic-engagement workshops in the US and the EU for the German Marshall Fund as well as a Congressional Leadership series of bipartisan dialogues on race and democracy. Tiffany's leadership in community building work has been recognized twice in the Wall Street Journal. She was named one of Richmond's 2013 "Top 40 Under 40" by Style Weekly. Tiffany has a bachelor's in Business Management and Marketing, an MBA in Global Management, and is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[palesaramurunzi]

"I am nothing without my failures" 👏🏽👏🏽

[paulvazzo]

I'm a minority and I've never felt that other people are worth more, or more important or whatever. Where do they get those ideas from? True, maybe initially people could have stereotypes about me, but I have stereotypes about them too

[LuckyLucyHollow]

Lmfao, “I know, a bunch of you don’t even see color” 😂🤣

[floppietbc]

I think one important aspect of privilege that gets overlooked is the fact that almost no one asks for it or seeks to abuse it. Too often lately the word gets thrown around as if it's cause for guilt. The fact of privilege should never be used to dismiss a person's perspective ("check your privilege") or shame them into silence. We do all need to be aware of the socioeconomic advantages we were born into. Without that awareness, we lack perspective on our own achievements.

[AymeeVanDykeCookiepreneur]

Thank you for opening up this difficult conversation. The fact that some folks commenting are squirming goes to show that we need to address these issues ;).

[TylerPearson]

I love her! Thank you for sharing your words of enlightenment and inspiration.

[stevedapirate]

This is significantly more nuanced than this discussion often is. I'm happy about that. I do think that this argument would be better if they are open and address those underlying presuppositions prior to their argument. I think we should start with saying wether or not "equality" is a desirable outcome.

[TiffanieD]

By the looks of these comments, very few people watched the video to the end.

[keithsmith]

Ms. Jana cites a “famous Yale study” showing that two fictitious resumes identical except for the gender of the person described were sent to “science professors across the country” and resulted in “more job opportunities” and “higher starting salaries” for the made-up male candidate. Even allowing for the fact that this is only a brief summary of the results of the study it can’t be entirely accurate. Nobody gets offered a job on a university faculty solely on the basis of a resume. The job candidate has to come to campus for an interview and present some of their research. If the person in the resume were fictitious that would soon be discovered. I’d believe that the supposed male candidate got more invitations to come and interview but not more job offers.

[haydenmary]

I don't have much, but I have told my children to use the privilege that they have just from being my children to their benefit; because of the work I have done and the recognition that I've gained, my children are often thought of and selected to participate in many activities and programs; I work so that they can be more privileged and hopefully they will use the opportunity to advance their lives and bless others

[georgiawilliams]

Amazing! So glad there's people like you in the world ❤️❤️

[lazarocedeno]

Thanks dear for sharing your beautiful thoughts. Thanks

[yellooh]

The elite college scandal is on another level of privilege

[cadarnell]

Great message !! Work with what you have and build off of that. In this day and age it’s impossible not to find some sort of privilege you do have and work it

[a.j.]

“Non of us created this mess, but we are stuck with it though.” So true. How do we fix it? How can we, when one group (the oppressed) wants to address it while the other group (the oppressor) is on the defensive, does not want to admit the obvious, and therefore cannot participate in a productive conversation about it because they feel “uncomfortable” with the obvious? The oppressed/descendants of the oppressed want to move on, but the oppressor/descendants of are so focused on their denial that they keep stopping progress... Great speech. I have a new perspective on what privilege is. There are different kinds: skin color, education, gender... the point is embrace your privilege

[WitchMyth]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. This speech was very well done. It included that privilege does make you feel uncomfortable, but you need to acknowledge it. Then goes on with what you do with it after. I especially love her real introduction, it makes me feel better that I am not the only one and it will pass.
Again. Thank you for your sharing your unique perspective on privilege is was so enlightened.

[reesepeterson]

I am a member of the faculty who just finished reading your book as our summer reading assignment. I had read portions of it before after hearing your husband speak at a VDN workshop a few years ago. I believe you are coming to our school next week to run our training on social justice and equity, and I just want to say I hope you ARE COMING. I really hope you BOTH are coming (you and Matthew) because I believe you could make a real and significant impact on our faculty and on our community. I very much look forward to meeting you if indeed you ARE coming in the flesh.
:-) And if you are not coming this time, I look forward to continuing to learn from you and from the work you and your husband are doing.

[andresvalenzuela]

my generation called is gratitude. Being great-full.

[zonismith]

Thank you Tiffany Jana for being a leader. You inspire me as a mixed woman of Mexican, African american descent, and native Indian. It's always beautiful to see our culture continue even through the harsh realities of the world we live in today. But it is a belief system and that is why even through my 24 years of age I have learned to channel my energy for positive and not negative. Thank you again for this video. I will see you soon. <3

[bethcp]

I am somewhat perplexed at people who are trying to tell others not to focus on their lack of privilege caused by a certain variable (race, gender, class, religion etc.) while commenting on the privilegies they don't have because of those same apparent variables. It's sad because there are still so many people who can't see their own faults but readily find them in others. The judgment of others comes from a denial in ones own characteristics. Love is the way. Love for self and love for other. No one is trying to compete or take things away from others. They only want what we have so things can be fair. I'm not even sure why that's a bad thing? You think by having a level playing field you lose your advantage? What is an advantage at the expense of someone who feels just like you do? Experiences being human, just like everyone else does. I really wish you all the courage and strength to let go of fear, anger and pride and find true love within yourself.