What the Hell is Water?
David Foster Wallace’s famous 2005 address was about privilege
Almost 20 years ago, David Foster Wallace gave a widely circulated and highly praised commencement address at Kenyon College with the title “This is Water.” At the time, many took it as an eloquent statement about compassion. But hearing it today with fresh ears, it’s clear that Wallace is talking about privilege. Three years later DFW would take his own life at age 46.
DFW opens his speech with a story, as he says with self-deprecation, a “didactic little parable-ish story” in the tradition of graduation speakers through the ages. Two fish, he starts, are swimming along together…
“and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?”
The point of the fish story, he helpfully explains, is not that he is present that day in the role of the wise older fish, but that “the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.” Ain’t it the truth.
Wallace was talking about privilege. These days, I suppose we might label it “white privilege” or even “white supremacy culture”, words which to many ears are so jarring and sharp-edged that we immediately become defensive. That cannot possibly be true, we think. That has nothing to do with me. Sadly, I am here to tell you, it does have to do with us and it is incumbent on us to fix it.
Giving up power is not easy. As George III sings in “Hamilton” on learning that Washington had ceded the presidency: “Is that true? I wasn’t aware that was something a person could do.” And yet, that is the task before us — to recognize the many advantages and gifts that have been given us and work to make them available to all. Or at minimum recognize and value the strengths of others who were thrown obstacles instead of gifts. And know that our gifts were often, directly or indirectly, at others expense — resources to our schools, low cost mortgages, summer jobs, the very air quality we breathe — this is the water we swim in.
Humility is also a challenge for humans. We think we worked hard and earned our success and in turn assume others are less worthy. This is BS. I ride my bike almost everywhere because parking in Cambridge is a nightmare. I cannot count the times I will be cruising along happily, thinking that my exercise routine is really paying off or that maybe I have lost a few pounds, only to turn around and struggle to make progress against the headwind on the way home. We don’t feel the wind at our back. This too, is water.
I often advise young entrepreneurs and students just starting on their careers. Unlike me, when I was in their shoes, they are aware and slightly embarrassed by the advantages they have — a degree from a prestigious university, parental support, offers of help from old guys like me. When I offer to make an introduction or talk to a colleague on their behalf, they are reluctant to take advantage.
I get it. They wish life was fairer. But it’s not. They have privileges. It cannot be undone. Don’t follow your passion, I advise, follow your gifts, be grateful for them (don’t forget to thank your parents!) and use them to make waves.
I believe they will.
