Share your Thoughts...

Because we were not able to share our experiences of our group blogs with one another in class, I would love to give you the opportunity to do so here.  Which affected you, taught you the most? Why? Which of your postings meant the most to you?

Social Death

It is my pleasure to post our final blog!! The semester has come to an end, and what better way to wrap up and connect such profound topics than to read Lisa Marie Cacho book Social Death.
In the introduction of the book, Cacho states that, "race, gender, and sexuality are ways of knowing that make sense of social reality in the United States." (Cacho, 2) We come to find this to be true, especially with stereotypes, privilege, and discrimination being the bases of social death. Instead of analyzing the question, "How social reality and social death is constructed?", there should be a need to work toward diminishing these issues. How can we overcome social death?

I was unable to attend the workshop with Eli Clare, but was informed of the great lecture and important topics he discussed in relations to the class and this weeks reading on social justice. I did have the chance to attend the Last Lecture and hear Dr. Robin Boylorn give an awesome presentation in regards to diversity. In her lecture, Dr. Boylorn explained how as humans if we stopped trying to resist what we don't inherently know about a person and resist against hegemony then we can work toward achieving diversity.

As we all know, diversity is far more than just race, but is a combination of many identities and common characteristic discussed in the class thus far. It is often that we don't think about how we are different from others, but yet how they are different from us. In hopes that we have all come to better understand issues of race, gender, class, privilege, disabilities, and misconceptions I have posted a link below showing the power of embracing diversity.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ5e6cwxA9M

Does the Melting Pot Have Privilege?

Our discussions of mixing, misconceptions, white privilege here and abroad, and the politics that coincide with all of these caused my attention to be drawn to some interesting articles from National Geographic and The Huffington Post. They take a look at the visually changing categories of race and identity and ask the question, "What does the average American really look like?" There are changing combinations of facial features and hair types carried further with each generation. They are very interesting articles with equally interesting and "real" photos. The topic of racial ambiguity has been present since the earlier units of our class and continues to be relevant even now.
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/national-geographic-changing-face-of-america-photos_n_4024415.html

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/changing-faces/funderburg-text

What would happen if (or when) the members of the melting pot became the dominant racial category in America? It is entirely plausible that, in time, this could happen. There would be changes in advertising and other forms of marketing. We would walk more of a blurred line in our dealings with one another. All of the medical information based on racial categorization would not be as specifically applicable in a racially blended society. All of this is very interesting, but an  intriguing question is one that concerns privilege. Would white privilege die out without white dominance or would that privilege carry over to the new dominant group? We have spent a lot of time looking at how white privilege operates in the US. Perhaps, on our own turf, privilege would simply fade into equality, and we would see the fabulous results of what we have been hoping would eventually occur. However, our interaction with other humans is not limited to our continent.

The movie Babel showed us how white privilege acts outside of American boundaries. Real life stories in the media alert us when white journalists, businessmen, or politicians are abducted or killed. If the US was no longer predominantly white, white "Americans" may be seen as an even more valued and endangered species. They might find an even higher price on their head while traveling abroad (even if privilege was still on their side) because of their limited numbers. Could the new majority then travel without many of the worries of safety because of their racial ambiguity? I've heard quite a few people over the years brag about "American" privilege. Being from America makes you special and "we" dominate the world.......
But without whiteness, would all of us cease to be special?

We've discussed being black and visiting Jamaica as opposed to being black and living in Jamaica. We all seem to assume some amount of American privilege regardless of racial affiliations. So what then does equality truly mean to America? Do we really want it or do we want privilege? Can privilege exist without white faces to anchor it; especially if, abroad, Americans come to represent "just another ethnic face?"

'Murica

In “The Politics of Mothering,” Nora Murad discusses mixed families and the different contexts and situations where variations in cultures, societies, and identities affect people and families with blended races, religions, and nationalities. Murad provides an autoethnography concerning her experiences of mothering in an American-Jewish and Palestinian-Muslim family. Clearly, Murad’s families (her husband’s and her own) have experienced life, religious practices, values, etc. in various manners.  The most compelling and interesting account occurs within the context of their American community after 9/11. Patriotism and American values became intertwined and dominate in American society, and Murad recounts an incident at her daughter's school. Her daughter was required to complete an art project that involved the U.S. flag. Murad writes, “To me, the U.S. flag is a symbol of war and hypocrisy and misplaced patriotism for a national entity when loyalty to humanity is called for” (498). From our privileged American positions, we can find it difficult to comprehend why someone else could view the U.S. flag differently than we do. The U.S. supports Israel’s illegal, military occupation of Palestine (this is debated). The U.S. is involved in numerous military actions in many Muslim nations which result in deadly consequences for Arab/Muslim people. (The Arab-Israeli conflict is complicated, and I am no expert). But the fact that others have different views and beliefs should not open them up to discrimination or violence. 

Murad recalls the psychologists her daughter's school provided to speak to the families about the effects of 9/11 on their children. The focus was on American children with no regard to Arab or Muslim families for whom the threat of military action in the Middle East was very real. Murad recalls feeling judged unfavorably for teaching her children about their Arab identities. She writes, “They implied I had unnecessarily ‘outed’ my children as Arabs for my own political ends. Whites teach their White children who they are and that’s neutral, but I teach my children they are Arab and that’s political” (498). I think we can see this situation played out in several different contexts with varying content. Why is Murad accused of politicizing her beliefs? Because her views differ from dominant society’s. Are there other instances where this occurs for other communities? Can American patriotism and American values be oppressive?

"You know where it ends, though it usually depends on where you start."

There is a song that was popular in the 90’s. One of the lines from the end of the song is, “You know where it ends, though it usually depends on where you start”. This is relatable to the world in general. It is myth to say that everyone can accomplish the same things in life if they work hard enough. This is an American made myth. “We” as Americans often try to apply this myth to other situations around the globe. I have personally heard people say “the reason all of those people live in poverty like that is because they don’t want to do any better.” 

After I walked away for a while so that I could count to ten (before I went to jail for assault), we began a discussion about the chain of poverty. We hear and see things all the time that prove that generational poverty does exist. Then, I went on to that the root is education. It takes money to educate people. When people are educated, they know more about how to take care of their bodies. When people are properly educated, acts of pure hate and discrimination are less likely to happen. When people are educated, society sees themselves as useful. When people are educated, they feel better about themselves and feel inspired. When people feel inspired, movements and revolutions happen.

Unfortunately, the situation in Haiti begins with who controls the money. The current government structure that is in place is designed to keep its people oppressed. But not necessarily designed by the leaders of that nation, but by the rest of the world. The way the Dominican Republic and the rest of the world views places like Haiti is what causes these types of violence. It seems that the rest of the world thinks that places like Haiti just want a hand out. I don’t think that is the case. I think they just want a fighting chance. It is going to take a large movement of transforming the mindset of the people of Haiti, and then it will be an uphill battle. These people can break the mold of generational poverty, its just not as easy as it sounds.

I found this article while doing a bit of research on the Haitian earthquake of . According to the article, a lawsuit has been filed against the UN claiming peacekeepers are responsible for a deadly outbreak of cholera. The class-action suit is the largest ever filed against the UN.

http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/03/11/haiti-cholera-victims-file-new-lawsuit-against-un

According to Google tourist is defined as a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure. I believe the book really breaks down this concept of what does it really mean to be a tourist. In who's pain are you smiling and taking pictures in. I like how Kincaid points out that a tourist visits to escape the boredom of their own, ordinary lives. This is essentially saying a lot. Often times people would like to escape from their crazy world, yet are unable to because of lack of availability or finacinal reasoning. Yet, there are so many of us that when we get tired with our everyday life or need a get away, we are able to do so freely. Until this concept of the ugliness of tourism I never really understood how me being a tourist and choosing to get away, how it appears to others in the area in which I'm touring. They may look to me with envy or hope wishing to be able to be in my place. Kincaid also points out that tourist often make the lesser poorer apart of their pleasure.       This example made me think of myself and my short amount of time in New Orleans. Though let me first say that I know that everyone that stands on the streets of New Orleans trying to earn an extra dollar aren't always poor as they seem, but in the meantime let's talk about the honest people that really need to earn more money. So many times in New Orleans, I often took videos and pictures of and with those people that were on the street dancing or singing in hopes that the many tourist would add a few dimes in their pocket. Never once did I think of how the street performs may have looked to me and if they did or did not wish to be in my place to be able to get away from my college days and to take a small trip to New Orleans with friends.       Furthermore I enjoyed our conversation in class discussion, how being a tourist you often don't see the bad parts of the location that you choose to spend your time in. I cannot remember if we talked about it in class or not, but it reminds of the filter bubble. To, as a tourist, literally take yourself out of your environment and to visit a beautiful location and to be aware of those bad locations in your vacation area but choosing not to acknowledge says a lot as well. After reading A Small Place, it really does show how tourism is truly an ugly thing.