Indiana college hosts ‘privilege simulator’ on MLK Jr. Day

Indiana University Bloomington will feature an “interactive privilege simulator” on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The simulator will “provide participants the opportunity to gain perspective on how various racial, gender, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, religious, and ability-centered identities impact the lived experiences and opportunities of minoritized people and communities,” according to the event’s description.

Indiana University Bloomington will showcase the simulator at an annual IUnity Summit, which the school describes as an “interactive, inspirational, and transformative diversity education experience.”

[RELATED: Univ honors MLK Day with gender identity ‘teach-in’]

Monica Johnson, director of the school’s Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, told the Indiana Daily Student. The simulation will investigate privilege, systemic oppression, and power. Students will use an identity tag to act out decisions in different situations.

“We will be turning Alumni Hall into a game board,” Johnson told the student publication. “Around the room will be various stations representing essential entities and systems within life: Housing, employment, education, finance, healthcare, and the judicial system.”

“Although they are difficult to dismantle completely, it is our responsibility to disrupt [systems of oppression] and advocate for transformative change,” she said.

Illinois Wesleyan University is also using Martin Luther King Jr. Day to advocate for social justice.

[RELATED: College celebrates MLK’s dream with white privilege event]

The school hosts an annual Martin Luther King Jr. teach-in. This year’s theme is “Gender and social justice,” as Campus Reform reported previously. 

Charlene Carruthers, who advocates for “Black liberation” and serves as national director of Black Youth Project 100, will be giving a  keynote speech titled “Gender Justice is Social Justice: An Unapologetic Perspective on Black Liberation.” The speech will discuss gender-based oppression as it pertains to race, the LGBTQ movement, and class.

Illinois Wesleyan University will also host Prairie Pride Coalition President Dave Bentlin, who will give a speech entitled “Pre-Stonewall Actions That Formed the Foundation for a Modern-Day LGBTQI+ Movement” and the IWU Pride Alliance will address human rights and gender identity.

Follow the author of this article: Cory Compton