Have you identified your race? Or has the media?
In
pre-school I remember having an African- American teacher and Caucasian
teacher. I loved my pre-school teachers. They were the best teachers I have
ever had and that has to be a strong feeling. I still feel the same way until
this very day. Personally I didn't realize race as problematic until racist
things begin to happen. In school I learned about events from the past that occurred
within a specific race. For example the Ku Klux Klan which, centered around Caucasians
being racist. Once I learned more about different people of different races
acting as if they didn't like another race is when it actually sunk into me
that race could be problematic because look what has already happened. I think
when President Obama became President I really noticed what has been happening
all these years."We got a black President." The words I would
hear when Barack came into office. It seemed as if those of different ethnicities
would think Caucasian people would not like this act of having an African
American president. When really many people accepted this act even Caucasians
but, the people who didn't accept Obama just really didn't believe in what he
would say would happen or weren't for him because he was African American. I
took notice during the election of the different ethnicity’s that were at the
talks for the candidates. When questioning if race is problematic I automatically put my guard up because I'm
not racist. Why would I even think such a thing because only racist people
would think their is a problem within race. No, not only racist people should think about identifying race as problematic. Think back to when you noticed we were all of
different races. I started to think about when people mainly brought up race
which, was when I was in elementary school. I have always enjoyed the company
of others from any race. Unfortunately some people are still racist. The media
has been a reinforcing racism by releasing news of racist acts causing people
to tune into social media to debate. The media is that cataract in society’s
eye.
A very deep topic, but I loved the way you wrote this and how you wrote how you felt about it. I agree with you that media has a big part in it. Great details and all. Only thing that could have been different is adding a picture, just something to catch the attention but great writing! (:
ReplyDeleteYes, I think the topic is deep because it has created controversy. Also, I will take that in consideration about adding a picture maybe I will even add a video. Thanks!
DeleteI, too, didn't see race as a big deal as a child. Looking back, I can see that it was an issue. It was in fourth grade when a classmate - someone I really admired - called my teacher the "n-word". I hadn't any idea at the time what that word meant or the significance of the word, but I knew that the insult was deeper than other insults I had heard. I remember now how she had all sorts of African American posters in the room - I didn't think it was a big deal, but now I see that she was decorating her room in ways that honored all Americans. Your post makes me remember that teacher - Mrs. Galloway. And I can trace much of my development as a thinker and as someone who cares about community to my time with that teacher. We've progressed - we have a Black man for president - but that's not enough. In certain ways, having Obama as president has somehow made racist-thinking more visible, the racism that lies beneath the surface. I wonder if it's better that such invisible racism is now visible. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteYour response reminds me of when I was in about third grade and I believe my teacher was Caucasian. Now that I think of the vibe in the room the music she played was usually Maroon 5. I felt comfortable in her class because she wasn't the average teacher that would play elevator music. I believe that Obama as President has made racism more visible because I'm thinking of this as somewhat a microgroaggression act that we have noticed took place.
Delete