Hi, today is February 12th. Today's class discussion was incredibly intense. The bell rang too quickly! I would have liked to continue to hear what everybody was thinking and feeling. I feel that the study of race and privilege is so incredibly touching and moving, that it could be discussed for extensive amounts of time. Today's discussion, especially, was very heartfelt because our classroom is filled with a mixture of races. And thus, people voiced themselves angrily, passionately and ruthlessly. For a few minutes, I was frazzled at the amount of emotion radiated from us students. Furthermore, I was very proud of the way we conducted the conversation. We not only outwardly and honestly expressed our views, but we helped each other to verify other concepts. Thank you Greg, for being so confident and persistent in your argument, providing us with a bold foundation to take off from. You, Greg, really provide thought-provoking ideas for the rest of the class. I appreciate it. I'm glad that you are in my class because you are one of the best-spoken and most mature boys (should I call you men now?) that I know.
Anyway, it amazes me how deeply analyzed the topic of privilege and race can be. So many of white people take for granted being white. It is undeniable that white people are given special treatment and outstanding opportunity. However, I sometimes feel that white people can never entirely do "right". We talked about how ignorance is bliss. This means that white people feel better if they are "aloof" to or "unaware" of the denied rights of the minorities. In a sense, it is much easier to ignore these issues and not take responsibility for any. Therefore, some argue that race should be entirely ignored and its issues within should be disintegrated. However, others argue that because white people have the fortune and capability, they should use it to advance the people less privileged. But do the minorities want the help of the whites, or do they want to feel equally as capable and dependent as the white community? I feel that these questions/possibilities inflict more uncertainty and pressure on white people than most minorities recognize. I, for one, have not stopped thinking after reading that article today in class. As a white woman, I have a lot to consider. A lot of responsibility. And a lot of power to apply it to where ever I so choose. Stimulating!
1 comment:
I remember this day like it was the back of my hand (dare I say that I study my hand)...but seriously it was a great discussion that we had because everyone got their thoughts out. Our class has a lot of different opinions and sometimes it's scary to think that one of them might be lying and really think something else on the inside. Some might be racist and we might actually be hurting them with the things we say in class and this worries me sometimes. What gives us the right to discuss about how racism is bad, but then what gives them the right to be racist in the first place. It just gets so confusing to the point where it's just good to keep some of your opinions to yourself. Not that I'm saying I love discussions in class, I just feel that sometimes we get a little too personal. By the way, thanks for the compliment in the blog, it means a lot. I guess I better start throw you in one of mine then because you give out some of the most positive opinions in class. I really appreciate your blog and your opinions Shay and thank you.
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