Thinking back to the video on microaggressions and the point the speaker made about the impact conformity bias, similarity bias and attribution + confirmation Bias has on the self-esteem of POC--over generations--where they identify only being valued for their labor and having a strong sense of not belonging. This then becomes an easy way for the white-powered government at all levels to consistently and righteously deny POC human rights and push POC to the margins. Continuing to examine the white power structure where whites have an inflated sense of self-worth coupled with the fact that whites to not have a real or unique culture creating a natural unease around the need to talk about race and culture.
The last statement above is supported by a woman from the first video: A convo w/white people on race, she said, " I didn't group up having to think about race or being white." Another person said, " I had no idea how my whiteness shaped y identity. And another said when asked why don't you talk about race and racial issues, "I don't want to offend...say the wrong thing."
I do identify with these statements as a white woman. Since starting my education career in the mid 90s, I've always tried to be other-centered and listen so to respect. I often chose to put myself in environments where I was the other. Thinking back now I wonder if I was coming from a white savior mentality. Or more probable, I felt like an other among people like me (white educated middle class) so to feel like I belonged, or had a sense of community or connection--where I could be seen for my talents and gifts, I chose to work with non-white communities, schools, organizations. Did I do this to feel accepted, or did I think I was going to be special to them because I was different and offering my work for their improvement or entertainment?
Convo w/Native Americans on Race:
I will now use the terms Indigenous or Native.
Reminded of how the white government pushed them from their land and how connected the Indigenous communities are to the land and how deeply it hurts their souls--to loose their land is to loose pieces of themselves--the same w/their tribal names and Indigenous birth names--using them to maintain their identity--not to assimilate so the white government cannot eliminate them completely.
The reality that (coming off of #2's point) Indigenous people must constantly prove their existence! The one-drop rule: 1 drop makes a black person black so they are free to be oppressed; 1 drop of anything else for an Indigenous person complete dilutes their authenticity and it's easier to dismiss them as native=they have no treaty rights and the white government can take all their land
Convo w/Latino on Race:
Latino has a history of the coalition of many different races: African, Indigenous, European, Conquestadore often without the individuals consent = a lot of loaded issues, especially around how to navigate ones identity.
Identity issues surface often w/the desire to or to not recognize one's country of origin either birth or hereditary, thus creating the condition: "not from here...not from there"
Convo w/Black women on Race:
the attacks come in nuanced ways
a. internal issues w/in own culture
b. external race issues
c. mothering issues around race
2. Power comes from accepting your woman-ness: a validation from outside of yourself
Asian: How You See Me
Two major stereotypes that need to be eliminated:
"no one talks about Asians' racial issues because Asians don't speak up"
All Asians are the same.
2. The white power structure clearly accept Asians because they present more polite/culturally
ascribe to a quieter code of conduct, thus the white power structure has easily silenced them.
3. Lumping all Asians into the same country and language is another way for the white power
structure to ignore the unique human value each person brings to the table. It is a way to
"appreciate" them for their labor, but not see them as fully realized individuals.
Convo about Growing Up Black w/boys and young men
Realization that "no wonder so many young black men are angry"--constantly being profiled, constantly being hunted, constantly feeling like they exist to fill a [policeman's] quota, never truly feeling free.
"Boys and young men of color must constantly reassure their parents that they taught their children well. The children hope to keep their parents from worrying about loosing them to senseless violence, because the children know the right things to do to keep them safe." This is beyond heart breaking. White parents do not need to have these safety conversations w/their sons. White parents do not need to worry that one stupid boy/young man behavior will land their sons in jail or dead on the streets. White boys and young men don't have to worry about doing the "right thing".
