Well,
This Social Justice class just keeps getting better and better. It definitely calls for me to question some of my own beliefs. The guest speakers are always awesome and inspiring and gives me a lot of hope as to just how far one can go if they but put their minds to it! So, the topic of the day is "Racism". I bet that some people are uncomfortable with this subject. As for me, it has been my reality for all of my life. I sometimes wish we could fix it so that it doesn't continue to be the big pink elephant in the room that people keep acting like is not there. If not in my lifetime, maybe in the lifetime of my children.
So, what is racism? According to Adams, et al., racism is the set of institutional, cultural, and interpersonal patterns that create advantages for people defined and socially constructed as "White", and the corollary disadvantages for people defined as "non-white" in the United States (p.60). I was quite impressed as to the extent that the authors argue that racism does still exist and that it is perpetuated by the amount of inequalities that exist in today's society.
We would like to believe that racism only goes back to the days of slavery but racism reaches all the way back to the eradication of Native Americans. The slaughter, enslavement, and unjust treatment of those people already living in this country before the Europeans arrived pisses me off! For them to be able to decide they were "savages" and unworthy of living in the same space is just down right wrong!! It really gets me going! Contemporary manisfestations of racism continue to exist in the U.S. today. It is shown when border guards chase Mexican men and women, often shooting at them; it is shown in the incarceration of Arab Americans without evidence or legal warrant; it is shown when undocumented immigrants who have been paying taxes and residing in this country as law-abiding citiens are deported; and it is shown in the arrest and conviction of young, black men without evidence or due cause.
In Arizona, the governor recently signed a bill that prohibits the teaching of Ethnic Studies www.huffingtonpost.com/.../arizona-ethnic-studies-la_n_572864.htm... That really makes the believe that racism still exists a firm reality. It was passed into law because those in charge believe that teaching ethnic studies somehow breeds "white" hatred. All I know is that as I've learned about the struggles of different races and cultures it has made me proud of my race and proud to be an American. This type of thing really kills that proud to be an American piece!
Until next week...
I really agree that racism still excists as well, and it pisses me off too. I wish people can just look at everybody as just people, you know?? I believe we are all the same, and we shouldn't be judged by our different cultures or the color of our skin. We have a long way to go, and hopefully one day our society will consist of just one race and everyone is created equal. Thanks so much for sharing this with me!
ReplyDeleteGwen,
ReplyDeleteI am in complete disbelief that a government would pass a law against teaching cultural studies. That is completely ridiculous! Looking at all of the racist motivations of our country's "fathers" certainly pisses me off.
You know, I found the ethnic studies thing to be appalling as well. I actually went to a screening about it at the Worker's Defense Project and it really shocked me just how adamant the government in Arizona was about not letting these kids partake in the program. I just kept thinking, why would they do that? Unfortunately, many of these students were talking about how unmotivated they felt and how it didn't seem right that they didn't have the opportunity to learn about their roots. The ethnic studies program really seemed to have a positive impact on them while it was in place, to the point where the students were led marches to the governor's office to protest. Honestly, I really felt like the governor's reasoning behind banning the program reeked of racism and xenophobia.
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