Defining Racism Reflection | Usawa by Ashley Jackson https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5 After you have read the excerpt, please share your reflections with your house by Thursday, 4/13. en-us 2017-03-28 16:17:12 UTC 2017-05-04 23:24:23 UTC hello@padlet.com Defining Racism bmd0019 https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/166327072 Y’all. This was a REALLY good read for me. I’m trying to figure out how to sum up everything that I agreed with and disagreed with. One concept that was really helpful and intriguing to me is the idea that Tatum assumes we all have prejudices, and not because we want them, but because we are so continually exposed to misinformation about others. I think misinformation is a good word there. Perhaps media is our biggest source of misinformation about others. She goes on to say that prejudice is one of the inescapable consequences of living in a racist society, and uses the illustration of living in a “smoggy place”. We live in an environment in which we are bombarded with stereotypical images of others. Personally, whenever I have noticed prejudiced attitudes or thoughts in myself, there is so much guilt and shame associated with them and I get so frustrated with myself. But honestly,  in some ways, we can’t help it. It is not my fault. Now, that doesn’t mean there is not responsibility to interrupt those attitudes, as Tatum goes on to say. I love when she says, “We may not have polluted the air, but we need to take responsibility, along with others, for cleaning it up.” Secondly, I think the main thought I kept thinking as I read this was, “Okay. But what do I DO about these realities? How do I interrupt these cycles?”. I’m a pragmatist, y’all. I want to know what can be done. How do I practically go from being a passive racist to someone who actively takes antiracist steps? I need more reflection. I need reeducation. I want to stop maintaining business as usual. I want to be the person “walking actively in the opposite direction at a speed faster than the conveyor belt”, as Tatum mentions. I don’t want to find myself carried along with all the others. Lastly, I really loved the quote Tatum includes by Wendell Berry, from his book The Hidden Wound. I think I had always thought about the dismantling of racism being in the best interest of the disadvantaged people, but that’s simply not true. The dismantling of racism is in the best interests of everyone. Sorry if this was too long- thanks for reading!
-Bri DiPalmo]]> 2017-04-13 20:44:31 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/166327072 Beverly Tatum Ch. 1-2 https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/166335063 I felt that this reading was a particularly eye-opening perspective on racial identity and groups who do and do not benefit from institutional racism. I enjoyed Tatum's discussion of a definition of racism that includes the placement of power. Specifically, I thought one of the readings most important arguments was the notion that although many white people may not feel as though they hold any form of societal power, they still may unintentionally benefit from institutionally racist policies or circumstances, meaning they cannot truly consider themselves immune to racism. I also thought the use of a airport "moving sidewalk" as a metaphor for stances of active racism versus antiracism was truly original and very apt. In terms of my own experience, I would describe most of my life as having the lens of passive racism: not making much of a conscious effort to stem the tide of active racism, nor being willing or able to negate the benefits I received from being white.  One last item I felt was poignant  was the idea that dominant groups in society ascribe statuses and traits to the subordinate groups that they hold power over.  I feel that this is especially true in terms of the contemporary educational climate, as we spend an awful lot of effort focusing on things that certain groups of students are not able to do or achieve, and are thus labeled as "lower performing" or "remedial".

-David Minnick]]> 2017-04-13 23:23:57 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/166335063 Racism & Complexities in Identity... https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/166444046 I enjoyed the reading of Defining Racism “Can we talk?” by Beverly Tatum. 
I found the author’s perspective on racism thought-provoking. In my experience, Racism has been discussed and researched from various angles. What stood out to me was the impact of racism beginning as early as preschool and how internalized cartoon images set the foundation for pre-programmed stereotypes into adulthood.  (It makes me wonder how I was influenced by cartoons I watched during childhood). In my opinion, Reflecting on how the author defines racism was challenging because there are many other “-isms” that are intertwined within racism itself. In addition, racism should be analyzed from a historical perspective starting with each cultures’/ethnicities' origin.  Where I began to connect with Tatum was in Chapter 2 : The Complexity of Identity. Asking one’s self “Who Am I?” is a question many tackle with at any given stage of life. As I was reading, I could only begin to think about being a middle school teacher. This age group is at the precipice of asking that very question “Who Am I?”.  My experience working with at-risk youth I found many of my students were struggling with this very question “Who Am I?”  One particular student stands out to me when I think of someone who struggled the most: “Keith was a fourteen year old, eighth grader facing an expulsion hearing. Keith had been in trouble many times throughout the school year.  He was defiant, and verbally aggressive to his female teachers, and inappropriate to his female classmates. Although, “Keith” struggled behaviorally; he was succeeding academically in all his classes. 
In a conversation about his educational and career aspirations, “Keith” broke down in tears. He began sharing his inner thoughts about his internal conflict. Keith was born and raised in West Africa (Ghana). He is the oldest of five siblings; only male. Keith was struggling with meeting the expectations of school culture, practicing his Islamic faith, attending mosque after-schools, meeting the demands and expectations of his parents, leading the boys’ basketball team as co-captain, and trying to navigate his way through american pop culture; which conflicted with his beliefs. “Keith” cried endlessly…  In that moment, “Keith” gave me access into the mind of a middle schooler.  Reading Defining Racism was insightful. It has sparked my curiosity to further learn how racism influences the current educational inequalities in America.
~ F. Campbell

]]> 2017-04-15 22:00:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/166444046 Defining Racism https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/169983966 I believe this is the second time I have read this chapter. May of the definitions the author subscribed to, I agree with. The distinction between racism and prejudice is critical. There does exist a system that disadvantages certain races, while privileging other races. The refusal to agree or acknowledge this results in ideas of "reverse racism." The author is more understanding as to how someone may think that reverse racism can exist, however I am not as understanding as perhaps I should be. According to the author, such disagreements come down to how one defines racism and prejudice. However I believe that while a different definition may support someone's idea that reverse racism exists, it is not a justification for thier lack or inability to understand that race prejudice is not racism. That racism is a deeper. That racism is a system of oppression thousands of years in the making which still has very real effects on our societies of today. If one understood that, then by default they would have to understand that reverse racism cannot be possible. 

Besides that slight disagreement, the author does raise very important points regarding privilege, self identity, and intersectionality. One thing that is critical for all people to do, is to recognize their privilege. Even those who believe they are at the bottom of the barrel social, have some privilege they may not have recognized. It wasn't until I went through extensive cultural competence training that I realized by being able-body heterosexual female had awarded me certain benefits that others do not get. I enjoyed her discussion of her students and their identities, and what effect that has on subordinate and dominant identities. 

- Ingrid J. ]]> 2017-05-04 16:13:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_jackson2/dlimcw482oy5/wish/169983966