“25 Mini-Films for Exploring Race, Bias and Identity With Students”

                     

I decided to do my social Justice project on the video “25 Mini-Films for Exploring Race, Bias and Identity With Students”. As stated in the article, all 25 mini-documentaries come from four different series published on the New York Times website from 2015 to 2017. 

            The first series was titled “A Conversation on Race”. We see everyday people speak on the issue of race and identity that either they have faced themselves or they have seen others deal with. What really stood out to me in this series was that many people mentioned the word privilege and the concept of white supremacy. Both Johnson and McIntosh talk about the existence of white privilege. In one of the videos, we have a Latino who looks white but once people realize that he is Latino he feels that it makes people view and treat him differently. Not only that but people from the same race but different skin color are treated differently. For example, someone from Japan is more likely to be treated better than someone from Cambodia because Japanese people tend to have lighter skin. When white people were interviewed they managed to prove Johnson right on why white people would rather ignore the problem rather than speak out about racism. They mentioned the fear of offending others, it makes them feel uncomfortable because white people could feel shame and guilt for being the ones to create racism in America.  In the end, because they are privileged they never have to face the conflict of racism, which Johnson calls the “luxury of obliviousness”. 

It takes more than words 

                                                       

Many of the Latinos and Asian-Americans mentioned the topic of identity. They felt conflicted with where they belonged. Was it with the White American culture or the one they were raised in at home? We all want to fit in, so what ends up happening is they try to fit in the culture that society values most, in this case, it is the white culture. In turn, they are left with a feeling of loss. Rodriguez views this as the loss of one’s private identity. 

The second series focuses on how we are all subconsciously bias. It is described as a thought process that we are not even aware of and it does not make us racist. We usually learn this through association that comes from the media, school, and society as a whole. One of the more common ones we have is the associations we make is that black men are violent and we are taught to be cautious around them. There is a blind spot that exists making it easier for us to see bias in others and not ourselves.  Below I link a video that shows racial bias’ that exist in kids, posted by CNN.

                                                      

In the third series “Confronting Racist Objects” focuses on reconciling, reclaiming and reinterpreting racist objects. There are millions of racist objects that exist in our society. Some are more obvious than others. The story that stood out to me in this series was “They think we are just historical”. It tells the story of Robert Roche, an American Indian of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, and his journey to get the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo mascot changed. He viewed the mascot as an insult to his race and spirituality. I connected this to Christenson’s article “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”.  Christenson talks about how society tends to over-stereotype certain groups. The mascot of the baseball team wears an Indian feathered headband, has sharp features, and red skin, a slang word that is used to reference Native Americans.

   

  Lastly, we have the fourth series titled “Hyphen Nation”. These videos focus on the struggle of those “belonging in a nation that both embraces and rejects them.” One of the stories that really stood out to me was Michaela’s. From a young age, she experienced racism when she was no longer welcomed to her best friend’s house because she was black. Seeing that Michaela had a light complexion, people would question her blackness, and ask her why she wouldn’t say she was White, as a way to avoid dealing with racism. I find it heartbreaking that many children have to face racism at a very young age. It also got me questioning the views kids hold on race. 

“Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us”:Stereotyping

In "Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us", Christensen writes about how our youth is constantly surrounded by stereotypes without even knowing it. These stereotypes have an impact on how they view others and the choices they make.  Children are being taught about violence, gender roles, and racism through cartoons, "advertising, on prime-time tv, on the news, in school". We have all seen it growing up where the beautiful princess is being saved by the handsome prince and they live happily ever after. Stories like this send the message to children that females have to rely on a man to save her and she has to be beautiful. Also, that men are superior to women. We also constantly have main characters that are light skinned giving children the idea that light skin is superior to dark skin. In the article "The Impact of Stereotyping on Young People" the topic of how young people see themselves is touched upon. Gary Former is quoted as saying "Consider the impression left when they see themselves portrayed this way time and time again. It's hard for them to have a positive image of themselves."Christensen also mentions barbie syndrome where girls are trying to obtain an impossible standard in beauty. Both articles focus on taking action against these harmful stereotypes. It is important that we bring awareness not only to children but also parents. In the second article, it also discusses how "new sensitivities and support for cultural diversity have brought some positive changes." Unfortunately, this only represents "a small proportion of the media that kid's consume today." Not only are these stereotypes in the U.S., but all over the world. One I have noticed is that lately in the Spanish community, there are more and more actors and actresses with light complexions and colored eyes playing the lead in shows. Personally, I would like to know any other stereotypes that other countries have.

Voices and Silences: Language is Power

   
                                   
     While reading about Rodriguez's experience, my mind kept going back to a previous article we read called "USA Land of Limitation?". Rodriguez states that "by becoming assimilated into public society, such assimilation makes possible the achievement of public individuality." He saw his language and culture as a barrier, or limitation, in being part of his society. Before, when Rodriguez and his family only spoke Spanish at home, he had a special bond with his family to the point where his brother and sister would rush home after school. Once they learned Spanish, that closeness was no longer there, but with the English language came confidence in communicating with others, and as Rodrguez described it "public individuality". They found a way to overcome that limitation, but this only serves to show that, like Kristof mentions, we are a land of limitation, and Rodriguez's story is a perfect example.
     The second article that came to mind while reading "Aria" was McIntosh's "White Privilege".  I didn't so much think about "White" privilege but the privilege, language can offer. McIntosh starts off by saying that he thiught himself as a "socially disadvantaged child" due to the fact that he knew very little English.  It took him disconnecting from his culture more specifically his language, to be able to realize the privileges he had which eventually lead to what he called his "public success" and "own public identity".

Question: I believe it is important for all students to speak a second language, so my question is should all students start learning a second language in elementary school?

Safe Spaces

                               

While reading the article Safe Spaces, it really made me think about all those people we hear about in the news who have committed suicide because they felt unaccepted. One specific memory that stood out to me at the end and that was when a friend of mine from middle school told me he was gay. At the time he was scared of coming out due to the fact that he knew he was going to be judged and treated differently. At the time, we didn't really discuss the LGBTQ community in school, and being accepting of others. He felt unsafe sharing the fact that he was gay at school. There were even moments when others would call him gay as a taunt, and I knew that it hurt him. So I completely agree with the article and believe we need to make an effort in "Making schools and communities welcoming to the LGBT youth". The best thing we can do is start early. I'm also curious to know of any examples anyone has seen of ways the community has tried to teach children about the LGBT community.

Jonathan Kozol

Amazing Grace

When reading “Amazing Grace” I realized that the article brought up some common point that Delipit, “The silenced Dialogue” and Kristof, “USA Land of Limitations”, mention. When reading “The Silence Dialogue”, Delpit mentioned how those teachers who are not white, are constantly being forced to conform to rules, and standards that are made by privileged whites, while they have little to no choice in the matter. When talking to Cliffie’s, Kozol asks if she feels insulted by having the waste incinerator in her neighborhood, she responds “It used to…The truth is, you get used to the offense.” This whole neighborhood’s voice, which consisted of poor Blacks and Hispanics, is being silenced in the same way teachers who were minorities were in Delpit’s article were. In the article we also read about Alice Washington, who grew up in the Bronx. Alice’s story sounded very similar to Rick’s in “USA Land of Limitations?”. Both were hard workers who were held back from becoming successful because of their social class or race. Although not directly mentioned, Kozol does talk about the limits being created. For example, we see hoe Alice’s friend didn’t qualify for SSI until she was dead. 

What really stood out to me while reading the article was Cliffie’s attitude towards his surroundings, especially how casual he talks about seeing a person get shot. He has grown up in an area full of drugs, violence, and prostitution to the point where he has almost become immune to his environment. Kozol mentions in the beginning that 35% of the population living in the area were children, that makes it around 16,800 who are forced to live under the same circumstances as Cliffie. That number would only increase to millions if it was nationwide. 

U.S.A., Land of Limitations?

Nicholas Kristof

     This author Kristof argues that the United States has become a socially rigid society that has created barriers and social gaps. Taking that awareness into consideration, we are no longer the “land of opportunity” that we once were. Presidential candidates use this term to boost patriotism, but in reality they should focus more on breaking down barriers and closing gaps that have been created, in order to create more opportunities for those who come from a low-income family or are considered a minority. By allowing these gaps and barriers to exist, we are limiting the opportunities of others, therefore we have become the land of limitations. While many are being limited, those who are from a higher-class are only offered more opportunities. Kristof mentions how it is our job as a society to stop these millionaires from getting away with scams that allow them not to have to pay taxes on large amounts of money. While people like Rick, who came from a lower-class family, and is hard working, spend their entire life right where they began. We have to earn the title of being “the land of opportunity” and while these factors still exist, we do not deserve this title.

                                   

     

     I enjoyed reading this article because it brought up a really good question, “Is the United States a land of opportunity or has it become a land of limitations?” For me it is sad to see how a country who has prided itself in being free and giving everyone a chance, no matter your race, religion, or if you are rich or poor, has now created a society where the rich only get richer and the poor stay poor. The chances of going from the bottom to the top are very slim.  When Kristof mentions Ricks story, it kind of gets your attention  because when don’t we see people who are hard working never move up in life? We see it all the time and that’s a sad reality.

Hi! My name is Scarlett Rivera and I am currently a student at Rhode Island College. I wish to earn my degree in Early Childhood Education and to become a preschool or kindergarten teacher someday.  

My goal in life and the reason I want to become a teacher is because I want to make a diffrence  in a child life.

This summer I spent most of my time working at Dave&Buster's, a place I have worked at for almost 3 years now. When I am not working or in school one of my favorite things to do is watch old movies and read.

    

Breakfast At Tiffany's and The Great Gatsby are one of my favorite classic movies. There's just some so fascinating about the way they would dress and speak that I just love watching and hearing.  

One of the more exciting things I got to do this summer is visit Hershey Park for the first time. I always find it exciting to visit new places, and have new experiences, which is why I love to travel. Hopefully one day I will get the chance to travel the world. Besides traveling, other hobbies that I enjoy include listening to music and watching shows from other countries. I'm fascinated with other cultures and how similar and different they are to our own.

If I could travel to anywhere in the world, I would go to Italy. I just love their food!!!!