Reflect on the discussion about history, our foundational structures, the "red lining" of families of color out of opportunity for economic advancement, the connection between poverty, educational opportunity, and incarceration. Are you able to see those connections?
There are absolutely structures put in place to limit the economic, educational, and social mobility of Americans based on the color of their skin. From denying loans to clutching purses in public spaces, these mentalities are so deeply and quietly engrained in American society that it can be difficult to identify them if never alerted of their presence.
Now that you have viewed all of the content for Module 1, how much do you believe our history informs people's beliefs and behavior today? What information in this module stood out to you or impacted you the most? To share your thoughts on the training forum, click the button below.
I don't think it would be possible to reflect on current beliefs and behaviors in America without acknowledging the profound impact of its history of systemic abuse. How -- and either whether -- a person acknowledges, perceives, or processes this history as a part of their own lived experiences can differ so much between individuals, and even across time for a single individual.
For me, what stood out the most was recognizing images, songs, and phrases that I hadn't thought about since my own childhood. From learning to play along to Dixieland on the piano to playing with old toys from my grandparents' basement to watching beloved cartoon characters interacting with caracatures of African Americans, I was undeniably influenced by these ideas. I feel angry knowing I was exposed to what amounted to hate-filled propaganda marketed as childhood past-times. I don't know if my family recognized these instances for what they were, if they didn't know better, or if they simply didn't care, but I'm not sure any of those options is better than the others.
