Elizabeth -2nd Blog

Last week we reviewed the readings about white privilege. One of the articles was a bit difficult to read because I did not grow up experiencing white privilege. What I liked about these articles though is that there are many people who are trying to propose a solution to the social problem on ethnic discrimination. As we discussed the articles it seemed like not many of us wanted to speak on this topic. It felt as if it is a little difficult to speak your mind on this topic because it can become controversial at times. But I feel like we all kept it cool when trying to give examples. The activity that we were assigned on Thursday about what’s in your knapsack really got me thinking about the privileges that are well hidden inside of me that it was kind of hard to look past what is currently in front of me. The privilege I chose was security, because even though I was not born in a home of luxury, I always have love and support from those of whom I love and care for. As I read “a mother’s white privilege” I was left so uneasy because all the things she mentioned were things that people in my hometown almost always get worked up about. Like I mentioned in class I wish the author would have written a solution on how to raise her privileged son to not become a possible shooter. All these invisible privileges might be the reason there is so much inequality in the education system.

In this week’s readings we looked at a couple cases that took place through history that “ended” segregation and thus led to affirmative action. As colored folks began coming into the schools the curriculum began to change as well. Affirmative action was an initiative that was designed to help minorities have a good chance to be admitted in to a good higher educational institution. The plan somewhat back fired because students were being admitted on basis of their skin color rather than their academic performance. According to University of California vs Bakke students in a minority group were being accepted only because they were not white. In his words the UC used “reversed discrimination” on him. I feel like the whole deal with affirmative action was a mess because it no longer served the purpose for which it was created. Today it is not any easier for minorities to be accepted into elite schools and it may be because of discrimination, but I believe that it is because the schools that minorities attend are not being properly funded. Since the beginning of the school years children from poorer communities do not get the better education. And if you have a school that is always up to date with technology and other resources, it already makes it harder for a school that does not have those same resources to send off their kids to pursue a higher education that might lead them to a more stable, and secure life.