Teaching the Hard of the Head

In Charles M. Payne's article he talks about how Delpit's book Other People's Children is like an aspirin for a lake of awareness. I thought this was a very well state analogy for this entire book. While Delpit takes a stance that makes us aware of both the systematic issue and the personal issue of racism in the classroom, she also offers area of hope. This book acts as a welcoming wake up call.

One statement I can agree with: "They could not get past the idea that being from Stanford or Yale gave them the right to lead; they could not get hold of the idea that people who hadn't been to high school were, as Lisa Delpit says in Other People's Children, experts in their own lives and had as much to teach as anyone at Yale." This quote reassures me that the people who know best are the students and their families. Regardless of my good intentions, without insight into their personal lives, I can't teach the way that I want or continue to learn from them.

One statement I can argue with: "One of the privileges of being white in this country is that it largely insulates one from critical discussion." I wouldn't say that I disagree with this topic because  that would be untrue.. however, I don't want this sentence, this privilege to scare me, stop me, or be an excuse for me. I'm not sure how to immerse myself whole heartily, and respectfully. To be the teacher I hope to be, this statement can't stop me.

One statement that urges me to act: "They somehow go through $160,000 worth of schooling without learning to think self-reflectively, without learning to think of themselves as part of the problematic." Whether this is referring to Teacher Education programs, or public school, the idea of self-reflection and everyone's impact on the system of education can't be overlooked. This quote makes me want to start the process of self-reflectiveness early that allows students to see themselves in the system - as a part of it, as a controller of it, as a player of it, and as someone who can and will make a difference.


P.s. I love this quote...

"When I use my power in the service of my vision I am less afraid." Audre Lourde 

Peggy McIntosh

In her article she writes about how white people may be aware of the "oppressed" but we often do not identify as the "oppressor" if we view ourselves as unbiased.  As happenstance, we are awarded numerous advantages day to day in our society and we may not ever realize how lucky we are.  She goes on to list many specific advantages one has if they are a member of the dominant (in this case) white culture.

One statement that I would agree with is "The feeling that one belongs within the human circle... should not be seen as a privilege for a few." This statement really made me think about how oblivious I have been to the fact that I am a person who benefits every day strictly because I am white.  I remember a day in class when we were discussing race and someone mentioned the fact that being white meant never having to think about the color of your skin while people of color are forced to be overly aware of theirs. This is a little discouraging to me because it means that I will never fully be able to understand what others go through.

A statement that I would disagree with is "I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods which fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser's shop and find someone who can cut my hair."  I do agree with the last statement however I feel that most retail shops, if not a specialized one, carry a multitude of food items, music, etc. Granted there are places where you would have to go to find special items but I think for the most part our "melting pot" is being at least somewhat represented in stores.

A statement that makes me want to take action is "Power from unearned privilege can look like strength when it is in fact permission to escape or to dominate." I believe that becoming aware of power and privilege can be a huge benefit to teaching. Recognizing that I have an advantage over others for something I didn't even choose is an odd feeling. It is one I plan to keep myself aware of.

White Privilege ~ There isn't just one flesh color.

The reading I decided to discuss was White privilege. After reading the article I thought that it was very interesting and familiar to things I’ve read in the past from college. The author talked about white privilege in relation to male privilege and how white people are often unaware of the advantages we have over other races in the United States. This is similar to how men don’t often think about the idea that women shouldn’t walk alone at night whereas they can freely. Another thing the author discussed was that even when people realize who is being oppressed and who is the oppressor, they don’t want to give up their privilege. It’s interesting to note that is the reason why one group has more is because another group has less. You can’t both have more because it’s a balancing scale.

One statement that I really agree with and shocked me was #26 on her list: “I can choose blemish cover or bandages in flesh color and have them more or less match my skin” (McIntosh, 3). I had been going through the list and was thinking I could see the reasoning and that it was mostly true but once I hit the last one I realized how true that really is and what right do white people have to call that peachy color “skin color” which I have been known to think with crayons. It’s a habit because it’s my skin color but that doesn’t mean it’s the skin color.

One that I disagree with is #1: “I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time” (McIntosh, 2). I personally can do that but I was thinking I also live in Oregon, a very white state. There are some areas in the United States where there are a lot of other races and white people are the minority. So I guess what I’m saying is that depending on where you live this could be agreed or disagreed for someone white. I’m not trying to stir anything up by this comment at all I’m just saying in my mind it is less strong than the other privileges listed.

One quote that spurs me to action would be: “Keeping most people unaware that freedom of action is there for just a small number of people props up those in power, and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already” (McIntosh, 4). The reason why is because I don’t like the idea of things being unfair and that I would rather have things change now and have my future children grow up in a more fair environment where the world is a little less hypocritical and we can truly mean and promote that all men are created equal.

White Privilege - it's unsettling

The text I have chosen to dive into is White Privilege by Peggy McIntosh. In summary, she says in order for someone to gain power, someone else must be relinquishing or losing that power. Although I have always understood and believed there is domination and privilege in society, I have never really thought about the oppressors, only the oppressed. After this reading, I realize as a white middle class person, I am one of the oppressors, even if it is unintentional and inadvertent.

McIntosh stunned me with her list of white privileges. Of course I agree with her list and I agree they are all privileges, but I had never really thought about the number of privileges someone gets just by having a certain skin color, or the opposite: the number of privileges someone is denied because of their skin color. I realize I completely take for granted almost everything she lists including being able to “protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them,” or being able to buy bandaids and makeup “in flesh color and have them more or less match my skin”. It is upsetting to be confronted with the knowledge that some people don’t have these opportunities. Honestly I’ve always known these things in the back of my head, but that’s where the knowledge has been kept - in the back of my head.

One of the statements I disagree with is that obliviousness about white advantage is kept strongly inculturated to maintain the myth that meritocracy is still thriving. I may be naive, but I don’t believe people of our generation are intentionally keeping themselves or their children oblivious to white advantage. I think a lot of people are ignorant because they simply are not aware or exposed to it, not because someone else is doing this intentionally. I feel I have learned so much in the few weeks I have been in LC’s MAT program - things I have never been overtly exposed to before, and now my path will never be the same. What I intend to do with this knowledge is first off educate my own children! I will also continue to educate myself on other cultures and in turn let other cultures educate me. I hope to have a classroom that allows for reciprocal learning of cultures, race, and other divisive issues. I feel I am just scratching the surface.

Making the Invisible Knapsack Visible

Give a quick summary of the thesis of your chosen text so we can be "with you" as we read your reflection.

I chose the Peggy McIntosh article on white privilege. I think the main thesis of this article is encapsulated in the quote at the top of the article; I was taught to see racism only in individual acts f meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group.

Please write one statement you can "agree" with and why.

Many, perhaps most, of our white students in the U.S think that racism doesn't affect them because they are not people of color; they do not see "whiteness" as a racial identity.

This quote reminds me of Freire's theory that within an unjust system the oppressors are oppressed right along with those they are oppressing. I think as white people we don't want to admit that we are part of a system of oppression because as compassionate and level headed people, we don't want to associate with such an ugly act as oppression. Freire's says that the oppressors must be willing to rethink their way of life and to examine their own role in the oppression if true liberation of the oppressed is to occur. He says, "Those who authentically commit themselves to the people must re-examine themselves constantly." Even though it can be uncomfortable, even heart wrenching to think of myself as an oppressor, if I want to commit myself to "the people" (all people!) I must be willing to say that I am part of an oppressive culture and then do something about it.

One statement that spurs you to "action" in some way.

Disapproving of the systems won't be enough to change them.

It seems to me that most reasonable people would agree that white privilege is completely unacceptable. But how many times have you heard someone complain that the reason they didn't get into the school they wanted was because of affirmative action? When it comes to giving up some of our power (as whites) I think it's really easy to talk about it, but hard to actually do. It seems a lofty task to change the system of oppression that has occurred since our country's origins. I'm convinced that the first and most important step is to recognize my own participation within that system - without being defensive or combative - but to come at the conversation with an open mind and a vulnerable spirit. I think education is one of the most influential ways (if not the most influential) way to combat the racist system that exists in our society. I hope that throughout my career as an educator, I will have the courage, inspiration, and allies, to help me in my journey.

Assignment 7/27

First of all, I neglected to thank you yesterday for the time and engagement both in class Friday and in blog form. Thank you for going there, making meaning for yourself and "leaning in" to the community you are creating.

Secondly, I know you have felt my tension around time. There is so much to do and a finite amount of time. While attempting to honor your time to verbally process with each other while also offering activities designed to help us think deeper or differently I have not structured time well enough.

In both Friday's class and Wednesday's time we left off with so many questions still to be asked and ideas yet to ponder. Although I do believe we must at times suspend our natural desire for a "concluded" thought or experience, I also recognize that when I go over class time I am asking a lot of each of you without providing a time of closure to release the energy and allow for the shift out of whatever emotional place we have touched. I will do a better job of negotiating our time schedule as we move toward the end of class.

One of the things that differentiate the first half of this course from the second, is the personal nature of equity work. By positioning teachers as agents of society we are inviting a discourse inclusive of critical analysis of that society. What culture are we crafting in our classrooms? What messages are we solidifying or challenging? What kind of citizens are we engaged in creating? What would it take for all students to thrive in the now? What would we need to understand about our history, about our present? What do our student's need to know about their role? What will it take for a diverse society to thrive in the future?

I am not sure of the answers but I know we need to be able to talk about it. REALLY talk about it and wrestle with the contradictions and questions. I have noticed, that when engaged in these conversations people often suspend their inclination to question or "critique" the "traditionally disenfranchised" cultures', ideas, behaviors, or points of view. Well, not exactly suspend the inclination, just not feel comfortable voicing it.

I'm going to suggest that until we do voice our dilemma's regarding these issues, we are engaged in a "romantic" notion of culture and difference that is still not mirroring real relationship. When we are in a respectful personal relationship we do ask when we are confused, because we really want to know! We do argue when we have another experience that conflicts, because we are authentically invested. We listen and stay open because we are honestly engaged. We are not afraid to push back because we genuinely believe in the strength of the person to withstand a little heat. We are respectful and loving and full of admiration but we are not willing to swallow our words, merely to think carefully about how to use them.

That said,

Blog post today: Chose any of the readings due for last class (Delpit chapters or White privilege) and follow the following protocol.

• Give a quick summary of the thesis of your chosen text so we can be "with you" as we read your reflection.
• Please write one statement you can "agree" with and why.
• One statement you would "argue" with and why and
• One statement that spurs you to "action" in some way.

"When I use my power in the service of my vision I am less afraid." Audre Lourde

See you Friday,

P.S. This is a powerful video reminding us why we must educate, not just teach. Watch when you feel strong. http://youtu.be/IT6H00U_p7w

Zalika

"I am from" Activity

Maybe it had something to do with it being the end of a long week. When I began this activity it was difficult for me to move from negative emotions about early life experiences into the positive experiences that have shaped my life which was interesting to me because I feel that I am someone who generally looks to the positive in life. I almost began to write a poem as opposed to “I am from” statements. If I had longer to form my piece I feel that I might have gotten past where I was stuck. When I left class I did feel in touch with my inner child. I also felt vulnerable. On the drive home I couldn’t stop thinking about this activity. What might I have added? Is there a way to reconcile past experiences in order to make them less painful? How will this activity change if I do it more often? Will it become more positive? I appreciated having the opportunity to listen to some of my classmates “I am from” reflections. This helped me to see other ways to approach this activity. This is an activity that I would like to do more often; it was difficult for me to approach this reflection piece in the allotted time and perhaps if it had been a different time and location my piece and my thoughts would have been entirely different.