This, again, makes me think of how "doing something about it" does not equal "people you do it for need or want it". Or rather, there's a deliberate forced equation between the two, because nobody is interested in actually ending the cause of marginalization and violence. So they imitate working on a solution and whether anyone needs this "solution" is not even called into question. The institutions and the government being in charge of "progress" has become the unquestionable norm but it's as ridiculous as if men were in charge of feminism. I guess I'm rambling. Thanks for another life story
Thanks for commenting and once again reading! And I agree with your rambling. The US, in this example, keeps teetering on something and no matter which way it falls I've got the feeling it won't end up resulting in anything good.
“But because for some students their ancestors did not come to this land by choice, let us ask each other where our spirit comes from.”
This professor probably never even considered the existence of asylees and refugees, but maybe they did. I met one in high school (whose family came over from Iraq following the first Gulf war). I asked this person whether they wanted to stay in the US or go back, and the answer was to go back. It's one thing to leave your country because you see better opportunities elsewhere, another to leave because you no longer feel at home there, and yet another to flee a likely death.
Though less frequent in this country, there are white and white looking asylees and refugees. Probably most frequently among white Latin Americans, though presumably some from the Balkans as well, and of course older ones from the USSR, or even Northern Ireland during the troubles. Some of their children and grandchildren may maintain a cultural connection ("spirit") to the old countries.
As a white person, though asocial (it took me some years to realize that cliques likely existed in my school), I grew up in a place with few black people. And the ones I saw I actually was pretty color blind to (their skin tone really didn't register). Then I moved to a large city with a larger black minority and I started reacting the way you describe the white students reacting. But after a few years I mostly got over that.
I'm still really interested in the achievements of black, native-born Americans in the sciences. I'd say half the black scientists I've seen are immigrants, who went through completely different schooling systems. I'm interested in them not just for their own sake, but what their success may say about implicit bias in general in the sciences. It gives me some hope that if the color barriers to success may be lowered, that the less visible bias (which also affects white people like me) may also be dealt with.
but I am ‘BIPOC’ who also thinks the current focus on a particular type of white elite guilt wokeism is at best empty gestures signifying nothing and worst actually counterproductive.
The sections related to people not looking at you during history lessons on slavery but then having no problem constantly singling you out as representing all Black people- damn…
As if everything that makes you a unique person: your intelligence, work habits, interests are solely due to your state of Blackness. I find that racist and so othering.
I really love the way you are able to give the reader such a clear view on your experiences.
Thank you very much! I didn't know where to start with this particular topic but am happy with how this piece turned out... even though I don't really have any proposed solutions so was a little worried it would come off as me just complaining.
This, again, makes me think of how "doing something about it" does not equal "people you do it for need or want it". Or rather, there's a deliberate forced equation between the two, because nobody is interested in actually ending the cause of marginalization and violence. So they imitate working on a solution and whether anyone needs this "solution" is not even called into question. The institutions and the government being in charge of "progress" has become the unquestionable norm but it's as ridiculous as if men were in charge of feminism. I guess I'm rambling. Thanks for another life story
Thanks for commenting and once again reading! And I agree with your rambling. The US, in this example, keeps teetering on something and no matter which way it falls I've got the feeling it won't end up resulting in anything good.
“But because for some students their ancestors did not come to this land by choice, let us ask each other where our spirit comes from.”
This professor probably never even considered the existence of asylees and refugees, but maybe they did. I met one in high school (whose family came over from Iraq following the first Gulf war). I asked this person whether they wanted to stay in the US or go back, and the answer was to go back. It's one thing to leave your country because you see better opportunities elsewhere, another to leave because you no longer feel at home there, and yet another to flee a likely death.
Though less frequent in this country, there are white and white looking asylees and refugees. Probably most frequently among white Latin Americans, though presumably some from the Balkans as well, and of course older ones from the USSR, or even Northern Ireland during the troubles. Some of their children and grandchildren may maintain a cultural connection ("spirit") to the old countries.
As a white person, though asocial (it took me some years to realize that cliques likely existed in my school), I grew up in a place with few black people. And the ones I saw I actually was pretty color blind to (their skin tone really didn't register). Then I moved to a large city with a larger black minority and I started reacting the way you describe the white students reacting. But after a few years I mostly got over that.
I'm still really interested in the achievements of black, native-born Americans in the sciences. I'd say half the black scientists I've seen are immigrants, who went through completely different schooling systems. I'm interested in them not just for their own sake, but what their success may say about implicit bias in general in the sciences. It gives me some hope that if the color barriers to success may be lowered, that the less visible bias (which also affects white people like me) may also be dealt with.
This piece was everything! I’m not Black
but I am ‘BIPOC’ who also thinks the current focus on a particular type of white elite guilt wokeism is at best empty gestures signifying nothing and worst actually counterproductive.
The sections related to people not looking at you during history lessons on slavery but then having no problem constantly singling you out as representing all Black people- damn…
As if everything that makes you a unique person: your intelligence, work habits, interests are solely due to your state of Blackness. I find that racist and so othering.
I really love the way you are able to give the reader such a clear view on your experiences.
Thank you very much! I didn't know where to start with this particular topic but am happy with how this piece turned out... even though I don't really have any proposed solutions so was a little worried it would come off as me just complaining.