Last week we had an interesting discussion in class. I really enjoyed when we spoke about white privilege. I didn’t realize some of the things that were in my “invisible knapsack” until I spoke about my personal experiences and some things just happen to come to light. It’s so funny how such a small thing can go without being seen by myself unless someone tells me. What really caught me by surprise was the activity we did together outside.  I never thought I would have ended up toward the front of the line. When we began I assumed I would end up somewhere in the middle. Since that day I have really been  thinking a lot a bout that. I feel blessed in some ways to have had the opportunities I have had thus far in my life, and I have a different outlook on my life. I feel very grateful for that experience in that activity because it truly was an eye opener for me. I hope we get to do more activities like that soon.  I think a lot of the class possibly experienced an awakening of some sort after that activity like I did.

We had some very interesting readings for this week. The first I honestly had to go back and forth a couple times to understand it better. Reading about the Diversity Rational and seeing how the Supreme Court ruled it was ok for Universities to use race as a deciding factor made me want to keep finding out more. When u look it up, funny enough a lot of the first articles that appear are about being white or a white male in universities. I read an article on nyulawreview.org called “White like Me” and it states “…the pursuit of diversity does not only benefit minority students who gain expanded access to elite institutions through affirmative action. Rather, diversity also benefits white students who grow through encounters with minority students, it contributes to social and intellectual life on campus, and it serves society at large by aiding the development of citizens equipped for employment and citizenship in an increasingly diverse country. ” Tying this to the second article, so my question is, why are white people still doing better in school?…(in lamest terms) as its stated in the second reading. I’m not sure why, I can’t seem to draw a good answer because I did go to mainly white schools and to be honest a lot of the people I knew that were hispanic as well, that went to other schools didn’t finish school. Why? I feel like there may be some sort of cultural factor. Seeing how easily it is to be pushed down by your color or your race I’m not surprised if people happen to be discouraged in the process of their education. I can say that I feel some societies believe being different that way is a stigma sadly. Answering a previous question on my last blog, I can relate to when the magnet program was almost taken out of my high school. The school I went to was primarily white, If you go visit you will see mainly white people on the banners outside of the school. You see absolutely no diversity there. The whole magnet was made up of minorities. In my group specifically we had mainly black and latino and we had all known each other since elementary so we were a pretty close group of people. I’m thankful the  magnet was never removed though, who knows where I would have end up.

I loved the articles for this week’s reading. They were all thought provoking and challenging. Reading this literature influenced me to spend a great deal of time in reflection on how white privilege pertains to me. Peggy Micontosh did a great job explaining what white privilege is and offering a long list of examples to ensure that her readers have a thorough understanding of the subject. I also enjoyed the other articles because they offered personal opinions, and experiences about white privilege, while still being very informative.  Lastly all the articles were in harmony about White Privilege being a social issue that affects us all. If anyone lacks in conviction to deconstruct or correct the  problem they are participating in continuing the a flawed, unjust, and prejudice system.

My favorite of the articles were the two written by the white mothers.  A Mother’s White Privilege was so powerful because it focused on the privilege of being free from anxiety of your children being in danger on the basis of skin color. I was especially touched by the article because some of the author’s arguments seemed so preposterous, yet when examined have an immense amount of legitimacy. Why should a mother be afraid of her children being murdered by the police for playing with toys at a walmart, or having car problems? Simply hearing statements like that is absurd, and yet we have evidence that those are in fact rational concerns of mothers’ of color. What is more alarming is that these concerns are birthed not from fictitious or similar events, but from actual events.

I also found 6 Things White Parents Can Do To Raise Socially Conscious Children to be a very insightful article. Reading the article almost felt like reading a coming of age story. The author spends time telling stories about her children learning how to live in a world filled with diversity, and her personal involvement in helping them develop a proper perspective of how to deal with diversity. I loved the roller coaster of emotions I experienced while reading this Article. I thought that each account expressed innocence and was simply adorable, but quickly shifted into serious hard learned lessons. Her children go from learning the difference between Barak and Michelle Obama, and other Black Americans on magazine covers, to learning that fear causes people to do awful things. While I do not have children of my own, and understand that this article is about raising children, I found it to be the most helpful. I was able to recognize that helping others see prejudice and white privilege is painful for both parties, but necessary to deconstruct prejudice in our society. I was also inspired by the innocence and intelligence of the children in each account. They associated themselves with white culture and and expressed sympathy without being taught or told to do so. I am reminded that we were not born with our prejudice and can change. We simply need humility and a child like heart.

Blog #1

PART I:

Last week we all got a chance to do our “who am I” presentation. We all shared an identity that has affected us in our lives. This was a great way to get to know my classmates. Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of my life with all of you. This allowed me to recognize that although we have our differences in backgrounds and identities we also share certain things in common such as all being transfer students at CI. It also inspired me that many of us want to accomplish so much not only for ourselves but for our families despite the challenges we all have encountered in life. I am looking forward to sharing this semester with each one of you here at CI.

PART II:

This week’s reading focused on racism in particular white privilege. The article that was I could relate to the most is 6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children by Bree Ervin. This is a great article that many parents could benefit from including myself it opened my eyes. As much as I try to teach my children about racism and to treat others equally I have been creating the opposite effect. By remaining silent and trying to ignore some of these difficult questions in reality I am consenting for my children to continue the cycle of racism. The second article that I could also relate to is A Mother’s White Privilege by Elizabeth Broadbent. The author explains how a mother of three blonde headed, colored eye children that she never has to worry about her children getting killed, followed in the stores, people being afraid of them..etc. This is just a further confirmation how many of us judge people based on their race, looks, and ethnicity. We quickly jump to conclusion about other not knowing anything about them. This also made me realize that many of the things I encountered growing up still occur to children today and those children are also my daughters. The privilege that others have amongst them due to their ethnic background and some of the struggles they may have encountered and will encounter. Based on these reading I hope that one day racism and inequalities will diminish.