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.
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From Publishers Weekly
In this incisive guide, Pittelman and members of the Resource Generation-a group of wealthy young people working for social justice-coach other privileged youth anxious about inherited advantage to use their economic position for social change (which, they write, "means we believe that there is an unjust distribution of resources and that we want to be a part of working towards change"). Emphasizing the positions of power occupied by upper-class youths' parents, and the likelihood of useful connections, the book argues for the importance of being up front about wealth and societal position instead of shying away from activism because of guilt over privilege. Divided into two parts, "understanding privilege" and "taking action," the books is peppered with quizzes, word searches, comics and role-playing games that may be a bit juvenile for the intended audience-people at the age to manage their own wealth (identified by the book as aged 15-35). However, with sections devoted to becoming comfortable without hiding wealth, developing a giving process and using socially responsible investing strategies, the book offers useful and hard-to-find information.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
Lighthearted and refreshingly nonrighteous... Classified takes a proactive and down-to-earth approach to sharing the wealth. -- Readymade Magazine, April, 2006
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More About the Author
Karen has worked with Resource Generation for the last five years and served as RG's first Program Coordinator. At 25 she dissolved her $3 million trust fund to co-found the Chahara Foundation, a fund run by and for low-income women activists in Boston. She's now 30 and living and writing in her hometown of New York City.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A groundbreaking, creative & thoughtful book,
By
This review is from: Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use It for Social Change! (Paperback)
Books that speak honestly about class priviledge are few and far between. Books that speak honestly about class priviledge in a voice that is completely grounded and are BOTH thought-provoking and good for lots of laughs AND throw in a super-practical guide to using your own resources for social justice are, well, this just might be the very first one.
This book covers alot of uncomfortable territory (class, money, family dynamics) in a totally approachable and supportive-yet-challenging way. The graphics and comic strips alone will pull you in, and, while primarily aimed at younger folks with access to wealth, there are several parts of this book that will resonate with a much wider audience.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing one of a kind resource,
By
This review is from: Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use It for Social Change! (Paperback)
Classified will be a classic resource for people with class privilege who want to create social change. I love the book for it's concise clear language, sense of humor and the concrete possibilities it provides for taking action. It is truly inspiring.
There is no other book like Classified. I have longed for a book like this and am so happy it has arrived. After reading it, I bought 10 copies and gave it to friends. This is a book to not only buy for yourself but to share with others. While it is geared towards young people, anyone who is trying to understand how to create social change from a position of privilege (especially class privilege) will learn from its insights. If you have any inkling that this book might be for you, buy it-it could change your life.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!!!,
By Jamie "Jamie" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use It for Social Change! (Paperback)
It's like Karen and the RG crew have been following me around for the past 15 years, and then wrote a book about me. And wrote it with humor, compassion, and kick-ass cartoons! (The Matrix Re-Invested was hilarious.)
Any young person with money--earned, inherited, or to-be-inherited--or anyone who grew up with class privilege should read this book! I think it would also be a helpful and entertaining read for anyone who works with or lives with young people with money and class privilege: community organizers, fund-raisers, college students and professors, activists, financial advisors, wealth coaches... This book totally changed the way I think about money, privilege, class, and the role they play in my life. AND it includes exercises and resources for taking actions that I can feel good about. If you know a young person with wealth/ class privilege, buy a copy and send it to them! I just wish someone had sent me this book 15 years ago!
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