Racial/Ethnic Identity

I believe that stage of race identity intercepts with the concept of privilege through the encounters whites and African Americans have and how they differ. It’s a good assumption that in today’s society that race is still a big issue and something that affects many. The Trayvon Martin case is an example of race and its prevalence. White Racial Identity Model explains privilege regarding contact status, whites deny race as important in society and prefer to themselves as “color blind.” If you have never had a problem in school or at your job because of the color of your skin it’s no surprise to regard race as non factor.  

In regards to my daily encounter, white privilege is something I notice often. Having several classes were I am the only minority, it’s something I notice but a white person never has to think about. I also thing African Americans are caution when approaching other minorities and the way we think about them because of African Americans History. One point that came up in regards to the Trayvon martin case was that it would be hard to imagine an African American man/woman taking the same actions as Zimmerman. Regardless of where you might fall in the People of Color Identity Model, there is an understanding of African American oppression that it would be hard to relay the same hatred on to others.

In regards to the learning group project, we have to be open to encountering people in different stages and like we talked about in class we can’t change a set way of thinking, but we can let facts and actions speak for themselves. From the Beverly Tatum’s article Family life and school experiences: Factors in the racial identity development of black youth in white communities Tatum states that the student that had some kind of encounter with someone who was proud and educated in Black history, it had a positive impact in the way the students thought about their own culture. We can hope for our learning project that we can in some way be a positive role model to those we encounter.

Affirmative action: Racist by nature

The article discusses affirmative action and goes as far as calling it reverse-discrimination. There are so many things wrong with this article that I hard time believing someone through it was okay publish such a skewed opinion. To start, he mentions the reason for the affirmative action was in response to segregation and the “many wrong done to black” but had he understood the details of slavery and oppression he would come to realize that some of his assumptions are wrong-like assuming we are on the same playing field. Fact of the matter is racism still prevalent in today society demonstrated by the teen shooting in Florida so quoting Martin Luther King Jr. said to make his argument is inappropriate Also, McGravey talks about these injustices by mixing race and social class together.  He talks about the divide between whites and Asian American with African American and Hispanics and uses Affirmative action as a response to simply race but then goes further to talk about whites living in slums who don’t have the same advantages.

He does make some good points in that whites who are disadvantage should have a policy to help them but that’s a separate issue. Affirmative action doesn’t have to be all or nothing deal. We can still have affirmative action but also have another policy that looks out for the disadvantage in general.  The article is in support of Abigail in the Abigail Fisher v. University of Texas lawsuit. Abigail was denied acceptance at the University and her reasoning for the lawsuit was that it was because she was white and that other undeserving minorities took her place. The admission process takes in to account GPA and ethnicity but there are also other attributes that might separate one candidate from another like the required essay and extra activities so to assume it was solely based on race is crazy. Abigail decided to go after affirmative action but what about legacy admission??

In regards to African American children, there needs to be resources and programs so that we don’t rely on affirmative action but use it when there is injustice. Resource is the biggest thing that is hindering the Africa American community not ability as we saw from the SXSW video and Urban Prep and so there needs to be program supported by the state to make sure every student regardless of neighborhood gets the same education especially in Texas where TASK testing determines high school graduation.

Mid-Term Essay

For the children growing up in high distress areas with low self-authenticity and self-worth, who feel  like they don’t have much, this is devoted to you. I hope you find inspiration and one day define perseverance.

African Centered Behavioral Change model demonstrates ‘behavior is largely determined by culture, belief in what is real and perception of self within ones environment’. This transformation process is based on the environment and the person. Quadrant four also Aberrant is the concern of this essay.

Growing up witnessing crimes and misfortune can lead any child to believe that this was their destiny and there is no way to escape such a cycle. When the system has given up on you and you are forced to redefine yourself let alone a race that becomes a big burden. But somehow many have managed to make it out of such circumstances and define strength and hard work. We hear about rags to riches stories all over the media and although they can be inspiring many seem far from reach. Oprah is a great example of someone who had nothing and worked for everything but what about dreams of becoming doctors or lawyers? The Black Middle Class: Progress, Prospects, and Puzzles” defines the Talented Tenth as most educated and affluent part of the Black Community. But what has happened in the talented tenth in the African American community? Also, why is there such a high disproportion in Immigrants occupying high percentage of the middle class?

I have first-hand witness the struggles many immigrants face to live the “American Dream”.  This dream consists of higher education, high pay and high self-worth. There are a high percentage of immigrants obtaining bachelors and masters because it is the only way to reach that dream. Growing up my father always emphasized the importance of education and how it was the only guaranty in life to truly live to my full potential. Many Immigrants come to the United Stated and end up living in high distress areas while working low paying jobs to reach that ultimate goal but what separates them from quadrant four is that they believe in their future and they believe they can be the one to break the cycle of living in poverty. This type of tenacity is what quadrant four needs. We can’t let our neighborhood define us as people. By starting within and defining ourselves we can transform our environment. Just as these Immigrants had a goal of living the American Dream, quadrant one can be the ultimate goal one that consists of high self-worth.

CNN in American had a great peace in regards to quadrant four and Malaak Compton-Rock attempt to transform the lives of teenagers form Bushwick, Brooklyn -- a community of thriving drug trade, severely under-achieving schools, and extreme poverty. Rocks attempt took the children all the way to South Africa. Although, she took them out of the distressed environment, her goal was to work on their self-esteem and the way they viewed their goals. The problem I found with her method is that by removing the children form their environment, South Africa became another reality. They can transform and become all she hopes in South African but when they return home and they still face the same obstacles as before, and then it becomes inevitable to transition right back to their on reality. Instead we need to work on changing our mindset in our own environment.

Nguzo Saba’s Self- determination and Faith can be grate reference for our ultimate goal of reaching quadrant one. Self-determination refers to “defining ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves” and Faith refers to “believing with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.” If we have faith and self-determination then we know that anything is possible. From the Article Dynamic Duo “create for ourselves” stands out to me in self-determination because nothing is handed to the African American community, so to have the ability to create opportunities for our self and then extend that same opportunity to our brother and sisters would is an amazing accomplishment.  

To change our mind set completely would be asking for the impossible and not mentioning all the obstacles quadrant four face would be unfair. The system is set up discourage upward mobility in the African American community from the poor educational system to welfare system. Robert Hill’s article The Impact of Welfare Reform on Black Families discusses how hard children suffer from welfare. The article states that 4.7 million children who are eligible for health care don’t have one because new laws “decoupled health benefit and food stamps.” Health and safety are ranked low on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs so enable for these children to reach the top which is self-actualization; the system has to provide the basics.

We can’t change the welfare system or education system at this given moment but we can make the best decisions for ourselves in hopes of one day altering society. We can use our given circumstances as a challenge. Take every opportunity to talk to a mentor, ask for help in class, and reach for opportunities outside the norm. A Plea to the Talented Tenth states that the ‘talented tenth tends to use success to departure from the hood but leave their brother and sister behind. My hope for the quadrant four is to use every resource possible to find low distress and high self-worth but in the process to look back and help one another.

My Philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life,but doing the best at this momnet puts you in the best place for the next moment.
                                                                          -Oprah Winfrey

Class Discussion

Strange Bedfellows against Gay Marriage: I think the fact that conservatives want to ‘team’ up with the African American population against gay marriage is just crazy. They are in a way bribing the community with money that is highly needed to oppress another community. I think as an individual African Americans have a right to agree or disagree with gay marriage and the issue as a whole but to go after a community is wrong. Most African Americans identify as Democrat so what better way for conservative Republicans to gain votes as well as support from the African American community. According to the article 60% of African Americans are against gay unions, which happen to be a bridge that brings conservatives and African Americans together but I believe that’s where the similarities in values end. Conservatives don’t need African American communities help regarding gay marriage because it’s currently illegal in most states so I feel like this partnership holds other motives.

Class Discussion: It’s one thing to discuss in class after a reading articles about how we think African American Gays feel but it’s another to actually hear straight from them.  Kerry discussed his transition from Female-to-male and the first thing I learned is that they are not changing to become someone new but correcting what was wrong. It’s hard to understand the thought process that goes on especially at a young age but hir openness was helpful. I always assumed that transgender meant that you prefer the same-sex and I learned that it differs from person to person.  We talked a lot about lack of acceptance in the African American community so it was great to hear that everyone in the panel had a strong support system that understood and was accepting. Zach spoke about spirituality as a Pan-sexual and growing up in a mixed household.  I have never heard of pan-sexual and would have assumed he was a gay man so it was interesting to hear his side and his outlook. Lastly, it was great to hear Rose talk about her coming-out story with such a sense of humor. I feel like she made the class comfortable to ask question in the way she shared her story. I leaned overall to never assume about others based on preconceived notion. Zach said it best when he said it was like hearing someone speak French the way Kerry talked about the queer community because I never knew half of the things before class.