Quartz
Subscribe
Quartz
Subscribe
Edition
Business News
A.I.
Technology
Money & Markets
Leadership
Lifestyle
Latest

Get Quartz in your inbox

Free daily briefing on global business news.

Business News
AirlinesAutomobilesFoodPharmaceuticalsPolitics & GovernmentRetail & EcommerceSpace & AerospaceEarnings
Technology
A.I.ComputingConsumer TechSpace & AerospaceEarnings
Money & Markets
Economic IndicatorsMarketsPersonal FinanceEarnings
Lifestyle
Cars & BikesCollectingEntertainmentFood & Fine DiningHealth and FitnessReal EstateTravel
Quartz

Global business news for a smarter world

Topics

  • Business News
  • Money & Markets
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Generation A.I.
  • Lifestyle
  • Leadership

Products

  • Daily Brief
  • Weekly Digest
  • Member Benefits
  • Quartz Pro

Legal

  • Sitemap
  • About
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Service
  • Advertising

© 2026 Quartz Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Energy Transition

How to really understand white privilege

It was a “simple, powerful exercise about privilege.” On Nov. 21, Buzzfeed’s Nathan Pyle posted a lesson he recalled from high school, taught using a ream of paper and a trash bin. It instantly went viral, with over 4.1 million views.

By Jeff Yang·1 min read·Updated July 21, 2022
Add QZ to Google

It was a “simple, powerful exercise about privilege.” On Nov. 21, Buzzfeed’s Nathan Pyle posted a lesson he recalled from high school, taught using a ream of paper and a trash bin. It instantly went viral, with over 4.1 million views.

We’re not trying to be Thanksgiving grinches, but given recent events, the lesson struck us as a little too simple. Here’s our real-world take on Pyle’s post and the concept of privilege, which turns out to not be so simple after all.

Daily Brief

The essential business news, delivered fresh every morning.

Join 500,000+ readers who start their day with Quartz.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

 Follow Jeff on Twitter $TWTR @originalspin. We welcome your comments at [email protected].