Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use It for Social Change!

by Karen Pittelman, Resource Generation, Molly Hein (Illustrator)

The fight for economic justice can draw stark battle lines, with the fight portrayed simplistically as Us versus Them, with the rich in the role of "Them." So where does that leave young people with wealth who believe in social change? Afraid of being branded the enemy, yet deeply committed to social justice, they're left in a confusing no-man's land. This conflict can lead most young people with wealth to keep their privilege hidden, making it impossible for them to bring their resources, access, and connections to the struggle for social change. Coauthored by Karen Pittelman, who dissolved her $3 million trust fund to cofound a foundation for low-income women activists, Classified is a resource guide for people with class privilege who are tired of cover-ups and ready to figure out how their privilege really works. Complete with comics, exercises, and personal stories, this book gives readers the tools they need to put their privilege to work for social change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Class, Activism, Politics, Economics

228 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2005

Reviews

[Spicy T AKA Mr. Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for books on class and privilege and came upon this book somewhere on the internet. I found aspects of it odd and not on point with my thinking or experiences. However, there were other parts that asked really good questions and got me thinking about my own economic and class privilege. It offered some suggestions about how to view and work with class privilege but it was not exactly what I was looking for. It seemed to suggest the liberal line of how we should all "just get along" meaning the wealthy are upfront about their wealth and use it to pursue social good--though it really doesn't seem to come from a school of radical left-wing politics nor does it address group dynamics in terms of empowerment--both for people with money and those without. It makes no qualms about its point of view; it states explicitly that it's coming from the perspective of a wealthy person who wants social change. If you read it, keep that in mind. I did appreciate the workbook type technique and it was accessible.

[Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

eye opener

[Aly P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super glad to have found out this exists! Helpful analysis of privilege for young people with wealth and/or class privilege and lots of great concrete resources and actions to make change. 👍👍

[Richard]

The fight for economic justice can draw some stark battle lines. It's often painted as an Us versus Them battle, with the rich in the role of "Them," and everyone else cast as "Us." So where does that leave young wealthy people who believe in social change? Afraid of being branded the enemy, yet deeply committed to social justice, they're left wandering in a confusing no man's land.
This conflict can lead most young people with wealth to keep their privilege hidden making it impossible for them to bring their resources, access and connections to the struggle for social change.
Classified is a resource guide for people with class privilege who are tired of cover-ups, who are ready to dig through the buried files and figure out how their privilege really works. Complete with comics, exercises and personal stories, Classified gives its readers the tools they need to stop hiding their privilege and instead put it to work for social change.

[Alona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate this book! Some parts felt slightly outdated, but overall this book was really informative. It operated in three parts: 1) Working through Class Privilege 2) Creating a giving plan 3) Inspiring your wealthy networks to give more.

I got the most out of the detailed steps for investigating how much wealth I have access to, and imagining what I can do with it -- including different ways to be in right relationship as I move my excess money to people with need. This is an incredible how-to guide. It vastly opened my imagination around what social change is possible with wealth. Highly recommend!

[Marcel Schwarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important content about class privilege packaged into a fun format involving comics and stories.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and felt it was a refreshing mixture of systemic analysis and personal exploration. It is aimed at wealthy young people who want to understand their class privilege and use their money and resources toward social change (rather than avoiding or misusing their wealth because they are uncomfortable with their own privilege). Many parts of this book were applicable to middle-class folks as well, though, and many parts seemed universally useful in deconstructing/ understanding class privilege (I loved the "x-ray" diagram of a job applicant). The cartoons sharing people's personal stories were really great as well and brought in some of the emotional issues around wealth and class.

I notice that some reviewers didn't seem to feel it was right for a book about class privilege to be aimed at wealthy people. I quote from one reviewer:
"I am sorry your rich life is so hard and you feel so guilty and you need help dealing with your money. this book is not liberatory."
I disagree. I thought this book really offered a lot of challenges (e.g. identifying ways wealthy people can power-trip when they get involved in activism, etc.), and I thought the book did not imply that rich people are somehow "worse off" or deserving of others' sympathy.

[cubbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i picked up this book because it was on-remainder, it looked fun, and because of a video by rob bell that i watched that said that if you have a car, you are rich. now, i actually don't have a car, but i could. so i'm rich. but this book is really more for the top 10% of westernish wealthy people, which is definitely not me (and it was particularly evident during this reading of this book, since i'm currently job hunting). but it was so engaging and readable, in a fun zine-like style, and infused with humor and warmth, i still am really glad i read it.

[Sunshine Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was talking to a friend about the need for a book that helps those with financial privilege find ways of being in ethical relationship with those who do not. Ghe referred me to this book. It is funny, witty, and honest. Through comics, serious facts, anecdote, ethnography, and workbook styles the book addresses class privilege and ways to feel both comfortable with this and in accountability with everyone else.

It is both powerful and fun to read.

[Nat Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

to answer a question asked by the book notes... that still leaves the folks in question as 'them". I am sorry your rich life is so hard and you feel so guilty and you need help dealing with your money. this book is not liberatory.

Am I the only person here who rated this book as crap? Maybe that's because I am not rich and/or white (rich and white are not synonymous, just referring to the directed audience). hmmm

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide to thinking about the role of class and class privilege in the lives of rich kids (or those of us that grew up "middle class" but with more than enough). It's quite thorough and oriented toward action, does a great job calling out all the b.s. alive and well in our psyches about class dynamics. Super fun and easy to follow--including comic strips and activities.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This offers some great tools for breaking down class privilege for wealthy/class privileged folks. It's full of great cartoons by Molly hein(?) and is super accessible to folks who haven't thought much about how class plays out in their lives. It's great fodder for workshops on class too.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really expected A LOT MORE from this book. My friend had used it to give a workshop so I picked it up... um its pretty terrible as far as deconstructions of class and privilege go. I was utterly disappointed.

[Lev]

this is a useful book for people with access to resources working for social change. the format is easy to use, and it includes exercises, talking points, and where to go for more information about many topics related to money and wealth.

[Laura]

I heard about this book from Resource Generation, a group that helps young people who come from privilege wrestle and comes to term with that privilege and how they can use it to better the world.

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the work that Resource Generation does in helping young people with wealth move money to the movement. This book is an incredible resource!

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

even if you dont think of yourself as someone with economic privilege and especially if you do or have wrestled with your economic privilege, i highly recommend this book

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

FYI to those who want to read it but don't want to buy it or find someone to borrow it from: Download and read the electronic copy as a PDF at http://www.classifiedbook.com.

[Syd · Rating 5 out of 5]

completely transformative and funny! plus karen is a rockstar. 15x over.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the reflection/discussion questions.

[Fei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mix of class privilege 101 and action guide on how to get started in putting class privilege to work. Some of it was fairly basic, but the resource section and the action guide is pretty useful