Week 6: A Look at the Journey thus Far
After reading the two pieces by Lindsay
Johns and Juan Williams, I was reminded of finding the importance balance
between color-blindness and treating all races as equals. It can be harmful to
be color-blind and not recognize difference races and cultures; it critically
important to appreciate people’s differences and acknowledge them as global
citizens. However, it is also important to ensure that all races are given
equal opportunities in areas included but not limited to education, careers,
housing, and courts of law.
Lindsay Johns piece reminded me that race and
ethnicity is so much more than the color of a person’s skin. In 2013, I was
very fortunate to work for UT New Student Services as an orientation advisor.
Social justice is a major component of the training for the position and this
is something that I will always carry with me. Every year OAs put on a show
with monologues about different identities on campus. Many of the monologues
emphasize that identities consist of much more than appearance. For example,
Hispanic/Latino(a) says “Don’t be surprised if some of us have blue eyes”. This line always touches me and I feel like it
can be applicable to a wide variety of identities because all go far beyond
appearance.
One quote
in particular that struck me from Williams’ piece was, “The real issue is
whether America can come to terms with a reality of change.” This piece was
written in 2006, but I feel that this quote is undoubtedly still relevant in
the USA today. It is still relevant because, racial, gender, and religious
inequalities continue to exist in the United States. Much progress has been
made, but there is still much more progress that needs to occur moving forward.
http://cf.linnbenton.edu/
http://www.theroot.com/
http://cf.linnbenton.edu/
http://www.theroot.com/
It is so true what you said about appreciating people's differences and identities. I remember very vividly the monologues during my freshman orientation, and I love how it wholeheartedly embraces the rich diversity on campus. This diversity is also found in South Africa and is rooted in hundreds of years of history and turmoil. I am glad that exposure to these articles and the country we are traveling to this summer will help us become better global citizens.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the article from The Root about how that man is proud of his identity. People of color in the United States often reclaim a degrading term and turn it around to become a sense of empowerment and self-identity. This takes away the power from the dominant group who has used that term to degrade that group.
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