Reflection, Connections and Arguments:
As I read both articles, a few things entered my mind and I sat to think how I was going to compose the piece but then thought I have used all my options, so incorporating a few different options for this pieces will help me tie it together. Especially since on article is in reference to allies, why the other is clearly about how to battle racism and bigotry. So here goes nothing.
I as I read the first article by Ayvazian as the author addressed the ways to interrupt the cycle of oppression being using a few of the masters' and their tools to dismantle the wall that they helped build. By this the author means that if we can find the people that fit the SCWAAMP profile to help the people that are opposite of them. I understand that these people are helping others understand the oppression that they are placing on people that are opposite of what they are. My one question becomes do they truly understand the pain and anguish that comes from the social injustice? Or how these people have to pick up the broken pieces on the floor and act like nothing is wrong and continue doing what they were doing unfathomed by anything. As a female and someone that endure a terrible illness, the only ones that get that pain and anguish are those that have experienced the pain that is associated with the action that was placed on them. Everyone else can try to sympathize or give you piety but you don't want that either. You want them to relate but they cant even imagine themselves in that predicament or even in your shoes.
I once was told a story by a man that stood up for what he believed was correct. One day walking to his car he came upon a couple arguing about something, so he payed no mind to the couple and continued to walk to his car. Got into the car and watched the couple continue to bicker. Then from one moment to another the couple got into a physical altercation, he thought about getting involved and decided that it would be a bad idea. So the guy continued to mind his own business, we he saw the male continuously beat on the female. So the guy got out of the car and told the other guy that if he wanted to pick on someone his own size that he would take him on. So then the two guys began fighting eventual someone called the police and the police arrived at the scene to break up the fight and arrest the two guys. He was standing up for her because his mother taught him that a woman is something you treasure and not abuse. A fight is not a fair one between a man and a woman, so that is why he intervened. As the story goes on he tells me that not only did he get arrested for sticking up for the female, but he had to go to court because they were both pressing charges on him for assault. Do you believe that, he was doing a honorable thing only for the female to accuse him of beating on her boyfriend for no apparent reason. As he told me the story he told me never again will he get involved in a domestic dispute, and he will walk away and pretend it never happened due to all the legal fees that he acquired for that one act of bravery. Here is two different scenarios with different races involved, and what local patrons did for each woman.
Then you have the article on Blanchard argues that we can combat bigotry and racist acts through education and diversity of the schools. I agree to disagree. I agree that education on other races, will give you an understanding but not a complete understanding on the pain and discrimination that the person or race endures on an everyday basis. It can cause an awakening for the individual to see their faults. This awaken can lead to many great things but at the same time can cause their own families to disown them, because of their racial preference. I disagree because your learning comes from your environment and upbringing. If in your household you are taught to be racist to a certain race for no reason, but you have to go to school with that race you may tolerate that fact that you guys go to school together but that may be the extend of it. As for your prejudice and racism comments you may have, it has been instilled in your brain since childhood the reason that you have for not liking the race can be as simple as you don't know but your parents feel that way so you will feel that way. It is hard to educate a person that the very thought process that was given to them by their parents has been ignorant and wrong on all levels. So as I continued to read this article it reminded me of the article that we read on race as a feminist issue. On how these authors spoke to us about how even though they may have a great education, they are not only being singled out because they are females but because of there racial background so they have a hard time finding their place in society.
As a Spanish female I can tell you I have dealt with prejudice and racism on many extremes. I will tell you a personal story that involved my education and racism. When I was going to high school my own guidance councilor discouraged me from applying for admittance at an Ivy League School because her belief was because my parents did not attend college and my racial statistics that I would automatically be a failure. I had the grades and the entrance exam to apply to one if I wanted ( I later found that out because my mother gave my transcripts to someone at Brown University in admission that I would have been able to attend.) and I had several garbage bags filled with college letters seeking to enroll me. Due to the lack of guidance I developed a fear of failure, in not being able to get the grades I need and in being able to believe that I will not achieve success in graduate school. This has taken me time and several illness to believe and fight the fact that I am intelligent and able to accomplish anything that I set my mind to. Even those that are educated enough still have prejudice and racism that enters their mind, they may never say anything but there actions speak louder then words. So I am ready to graduate and conquer my fears to the fullest, despite what people believe about my ethnic background, or even challenges that have been set forth for me to tackle. I am ready to achieve what I was meant to achieve regardless of whoever or whatever decides to stand in my way.
As I read both articles, a few things entered my mind and I sat to think how I was going to compose the piece but then thought I have used all my options, so incorporating a few different options for this pieces will help me tie it together. Especially since on article is in reference to allies, why the other is clearly about how to battle racism and bigotry. So here goes nothing.
I as I read the first article by Ayvazian as the author addressed the ways to interrupt the cycle of oppression being using a few of the masters' and their tools to dismantle the wall that they helped build. By this the author means that if we can find the people that fit the SCWAAMP profile to help the people that are opposite of them. I understand that these people are helping others understand the oppression that they are placing on people that are opposite of what they are. My one question becomes do they truly understand the pain and anguish that comes from the social injustice? Or how these people have to pick up the broken pieces on the floor and act like nothing is wrong and continue doing what they were doing unfathomed by anything. As a female and someone that endure a terrible illness, the only ones that get that pain and anguish are those that have experienced the pain that is associated with the action that was placed on them. Everyone else can try to sympathize or give you piety but you don't want that either. You want them to relate but they cant even imagine themselves in that predicament or even in your shoes.
I once was told a story by a man that stood up for what he believed was correct. One day walking to his car he came upon a couple arguing about something, so he payed no mind to the couple and continued to walk to his car. Got into the car and watched the couple continue to bicker. Then from one moment to another the couple got into a physical altercation, he thought about getting involved and decided that it would be a bad idea. So the guy continued to mind his own business, we he saw the male continuously beat on the female. So the guy got out of the car and told the other guy that if he wanted to pick on someone his own size that he would take him on. So then the two guys began fighting eventual someone called the police and the police arrived at the scene to break up the fight and arrest the two guys. He was standing up for her because his mother taught him that a woman is something you treasure and not abuse. A fight is not a fair one between a man and a woman, so that is why he intervened. As the story goes on he tells me that not only did he get arrested for sticking up for the female, but he had to go to court because they were both pressing charges on him for assault. Do you believe that, he was doing a honorable thing only for the female to accuse him of beating on her boyfriend for no apparent reason. As he told me the story he told me never again will he get involved in a domestic dispute, and he will walk away and pretend it never happened due to all the legal fees that he acquired for that one act of bravery. Here is two different scenarios with different races involved, and what local patrons did for each woman.
As a Spanish female I can tell you I have dealt with prejudice and racism on many extremes. I will tell you a personal story that involved my education and racism. When I was going to high school my own guidance councilor discouraged me from applying for admittance at an Ivy League School because her belief was because my parents did not attend college and my racial statistics that I would automatically be a failure. I had the grades and the entrance exam to apply to one if I wanted ( I later found that out because my mother gave my transcripts to someone at Brown University in admission that I would have been able to attend.) and I had several garbage bags filled with college letters seeking to enroll me. Due to the lack of guidance I developed a fear of failure, in not being able to get the grades I need and in being able to believe that I will not achieve success in graduate school. This has taken me time and several illness to believe and fight the fact that I am intelligent and able to accomplish anything that I set my mind to. Even those that are educated enough still have prejudice and racism that enters their mind, they may never say anything but there actions speak louder then words. So I am ready to graduate and conquer my fears to the fullest, despite what people believe about my ethnic background, or even challenges that have been set forth for me to tackle. I am ready to achieve what I was meant to achieve regardless of whoever or whatever decides to stand in my way.
I was very touched by the video you put up here. It was interesting to see the different reactions that the two couples got based on their race. The white couple got there first reaction from a male and the African American couple got their first reaction from two female cousins. When the two females started yelling at the African American man in the second couple's scenario, I began to tear up with them.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I agree with you when you stated that our learning comes from our environment and upbringings.