Week of April of th 18th and April 23rd
Last Two Week Blogs
Suicide
AnaMaria blog about her situation was so hard to read, my heart was so overwhelmed with hurt for her. This is so upfront, that I feel that it will change how I view people different from me and that we do not know how and what people have been through in their lives. We are not supposed to judge but as humans I feel it is in us to do it without even thinking about first. I will take the information AnaMaria gave us and use it to help others to seek help for the issues that have them thinking about taking their own lives. This is something serious and need to pay close attention to because we could be sitting right next to someone whom may not be alive the next day due to taking their own lives. I commend AnaMaria for being open with the class about her past and future, so thanks to her for opening up my eyes to the subject of suicide.
Service Learning Project
The Eastside Community project is one that needed to looked at and so we took it upon ourselves to find out peoples reaction to the new and coming changes of the central Austin formerly known as east Austin. Many do not refer to it by central east Austin, including me I still and will continue to refer to it as East Austin. Personally I wanted to get inside look at what people really thought especially the African American community, that were born and raised in East Austin. During the project it was a surprising outcome of what the few people I interviewed thought about the changes, it truly was a surprise to me. The results had a spin on what we thought these group of people would with what they actually felt and how they believe in those changes. We decided to pose questions on how they felt communication should be implemented with upcoming changes to the East Austin and how those plans of changes should involve the African American who feel they are being left out and or remove from an environment that they built together as a African American and their roots. As we read the article on Individual and Family Intervention skills, it talked about how in African culture is rooted in a spirituality relationships with human beings and how their was or is a need to live in harmony. African Americans deal with many things in life by gracing life with spirituality beliefs and praying about things instead of literally acting on things that may have a negative effect on their future, being okay with what is to come and accepting changes as good changes and that God has his hands on the situation. I do feel myself when things are too much for me to handle, or things just seems to high for me to reach and debate, I pray and allow some changes to take place. Basically leaving our lives and our future in the hands of someone, who has no idea what being African American is about and what we've been through and where we're going.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Week 12
Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes?
While watching the film in disbelief, I can not imagine why the women in the rap videos would belittle themselves while dancing half naked and also while attending the BET fest and being groped by the men. There has to be some level of very low self-esteem, to think that this is healthy attention from the men in the crowd. I also feel if the ones making the rap videos have no respect enough to know that they are exploiting the women in so many ways. I understand that it is a money making business like many other businesses who take advantage of many others but just in a different way. I also feel if more people are aware of the negative consequences then some of what happens can take a turn in a positive way. If we do not start educating our young women at home, in communities and in our schools, I feel it will just continue and poison our African American women who have so much more potential than to be a cloth less pawn for a rap video.
Watts Article
The idea from the article is a good start and to focus on the consciousnesses of the young African American males is a great beginning. To understand where their actions come from and what they lead to is an important part of oppression liberation. Once the focus is integrated into the communities, the homes and the school system, it may possibly change the way of thinking. We have to change the way we feel and see things to have a effect on the policies that effect our communities and its people.
Peterson Article
I feel the way African American women are portrayed in rap videos is a total disrespect to all mankind. As women we should teach our younger peers to have more respect for themselves, to have confidence and that self-esteem, that says I am worth more than just a piece of flesh. I also feel that this may be the reason for the rape in African American women, early teen pregnancies and the unhealthy relationships with many partners. Their has to be a way to get information out there about the negative portrayals of women in music videos and in some movies. We have to demand more positive portrayals in rap video and how those actions in some rap videos have an adverse effect on our society of African American women. I believe that the future of the African American people depends on the change in media, rap videos and how African American males treat women in their personal and public lives.
While watching the film in disbelief, I can not imagine why the women in the rap videos would belittle themselves while dancing half naked and also while attending the BET fest and being groped by the men. There has to be some level of very low self-esteem, to think that this is healthy attention from the men in the crowd. I also feel if the ones making the rap videos have no respect enough to know that they are exploiting the women in so many ways. I understand that it is a money making business like many other businesses who take advantage of many others but just in a different way. I also feel if more people are aware of the negative consequences then some of what happens can take a turn in a positive way. If we do not start educating our young women at home, in communities and in our schools, I feel it will just continue and poison our African American women who have so much more potential than to be a cloth less pawn for a rap video.
Watts Article
The idea from the article is a good start and to focus on the consciousnesses of the young African American males is a great beginning. To understand where their actions come from and what they lead to is an important part of oppression liberation. Once the focus is integrated into the communities, the homes and the school system, it may possibly change the way of thinking. We have to change the way we feel and see things to have a effect on the policies that effect our communities and its people.
Peterson Article
I feel the way African American women are portrayed in rap videos is a total disrespect to all mankind. As women we should teach our younger peers to have more respect for themselves, to have confidence and that self-esteem, that says I am worth more than just a piece of flesh. I also feel that this may be the reason for the rape in African American women, early teen pregnancies and the unhealthy relationships with many partners. Their has to be a way to get information out there about the negative portrayals of women in music videos and in some movies. We have to demand more positive portrayals in rap video and how those actions in some rap videos have an adverse effect on our society of African American women. I believe that the future of the African American people depends on the change in media, rap videos and how African American males treat women in their personal and public lives.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Week 11
Boys of Baraka
The film touch me so that when I left the class I continued to tear up and wonder what can I do and where do I start. I truly feel that the system affected the individuals which in turn caused a huge achievement gap. We are one of most powerful countries, the United States will rescue other countries, rebuild their communities, their schools and their people. But yet here we have people who suffer daily, who are homeless and children who go hungry everyday and night. We have billionaires who give money to many causes because somehow can not bring those children out of despair and give them the proper tools for an education. This system allows these children to live in dangerous area and watch them disappear behind prison walls and or watch them be buried six feet under. How can such a rich country not have the funds to give back to what society took so much from, hung, burned and mutilated their ancestors just because of the color of their skin. How can you not feel the need to give back to what you have taken, how can you sit back and watch people of color be treated like non-human and treat slime in the gutters with more compassion and respect. It truly makes me so sad that I know even at my age, I have to do something, I just do not know where to start. I know that this is why I have stayed in College at my age for so long and that is to reach back and give back to those who have been neglected and so misunderstood by this society and its people. And now I do have to wonder why so many of the wealthy have gone to other countries to adopt and to create an entire school system to help others when there is so many in need here. I am not saying neglect those children but why not start at home and give back. My outlook now on those wealthy people is a little different now and I will always question their mission. When the outcome of the Boys of Baraka ended the way it did, I knew at that moment we as a people still have a long way to go. I truly feel that some things will never change but that does not mean that we as individuals can not change. As parents, students, professors, teachers and so many others have to begin to question, challenge and seek the answers needed to make areas such as the projects in Balitmore Maryland extinct. One district at a time, one parent at a time and one child at a time and most importantly it begins in the home, to change the system that was built to make sure many fail in hope, education and life. Taking the time to educate our children in the homes and educate them on our history of where we been, where we are and where we need to be. All this can be done by supporting each other, praising each other, respecting each other and reaching back and pulling someone up with you on your journey. We say all the time we will but yet we pass each other on campus and not even acknowledge each other, we are doing exactly what that same system that has set people of color up to fail, not standing behind each other. As a parents we need to make education important in the household, find out what books are needed and find funds to buy the books, attend all parent/teacher meetings and stop accepting what is thrown at us as the last resort. And people make it a point to let all know that those prison complex's that are being built probably has many people of color names on the front door and we need to start early with our children, it is hard work but I am sure it will all pay off in the end. I respect and appreciate the opportunity to be apart of such classes and take what I have learned and continue to learn to people I come in contact with and uses your privilege to vote will help change who is in charge of your life.
Closing the Gap
I do feel there is a achievement gap and a structural oppression, the both work together to continue to cause oppression. If the system is not working to educate all children in society then it is set up so that many will fail and those who are privileged will continue to have those privileges of success and a bright future. I believe that the gap can be closed, it is just going to take an extreme amount of hard work from the parents and of the community of which we live.
Acting White
I had not observed this while in my particular High School because it was predominately white and foreign students, the African American students were pretty much trying to keep up and achieve because that was expected of us and something we wanted to do was to get good grades. I have noticed it while my son was growing up, I would do things I know needed to be done to make sure he had received a good education. So reading books, and trying to get him to speak with correct words, his friends who were not being taught the same thing would tell him to stop acting white. So it was a struggle trying to get him to see that education was very important and that it was okay to be smart and be apart of groups such as the book club, boy scouts etc. because some of his peers were not involved in the groups and some of their parents were not doing some of things I was trying to do with my son. The acting white to me is a form of internalized oppression because we have been taught to think we are not smart, not worthy and not capable of achieving great things.
The film touch me so that when I left the class I continued to tear up and wonder what can I do and where do I start. I truly feel that the system affected the individuals which in turn caused a huge achievement gap. We are one of most powerful countries, the United States will rescue other countries, rebuild their communities, their schools and their people. But yet here we have people who suffer daily, who are homeless and children who go hungry everyday and night. We have billionaires who give money to many causes because somehow can not bring those children out of despair and give them the proper tools for an education. This system allows these children to live in dangerous area and watch them disappear behind prison walls and or watch them be buried six feet under. How can such a rich country not have the funds to give back to what society took so much from, hung, burned and mutilated their ancestors just because of the color of their skin. How can you not feel the need to give back to what you have taken, how can you sit back and watch people of color be treated like non-human and treat slime in the gutters with more compassion and respect. It truly makes me so sad that I know even at my age, I have to do something, I just do not know where to start. I know that this is why I have stayed in College at my age for so long and that is to reach back and give back to those who have been neglected and so misunderstood by this society and its people. And now I do have to wonder why so many of the wealthy have gone to other countries to adopt and to create an entire school system to help others when there is so many in need here. I am not saying neglect those children but why not start at home and give back. My outlook now on those wealthy people is a little different now and I will always question their mission. When the outcome of the Boys of Baraka ended the way it did, I knew at that moment we as a people still have a long way to go. I truly feel that some things will never change but that does not mean that we as individuals can not change. As parents, students, professors, teachers and so many others have to begin to question, challenge and seek the answers needed to make areas such as the projects in Balitmore Maryland extinct. One district at a time, one parent at a time and one child at a time and most importantly it begins in the home, to change the system that was built to make sure many fail in hope, education and life. Taking the time to educate our children in the homes and educate them on our history of where we been, where we are and where we need to be. All this can be done by supporting each other, praising each other, respecting each other and reaching back and pulling someone up with you on your journey. We say all the time we will but yet we pass each other on campus and not even acknowledge each other, we are doing exactly what that same system that has set people of color up to fail, not standing behind each other. As a parents we need to make education important in the household, find out what books are needed and find funds to buy the books, attend all parent/teacher meetings and stop accepting what is thrown at us as the last resort. And people make it a point to let all know that those prison complex's that are being built probably has many people of color names on the front door and we need to start early with our children, it is hard work but I am sure it will all pay off in the end. I respect and appreciate the opportunity to be apart of such classes and take what I have learned and continue to learn to people I come in contact with and uses your privilege to vote will help change who is in charge of your life.
Closing the Gap
I do feel there is a achievement gap and a structural oppression, the both work together to continue to cause oppression. If the system is not working to educate all children in society then it is set up so that many will fail and those who are privileged will continue to have those privileges of success and a bright future. I believe that the gap can be closed, it is just going to take an extreme amount of hard work from the parents and of the community of which we live.
Acting White
I had not observed this while in my particular High School because it was predominately white and foreign students, the African American students were pretty much trying to keep up and achieve because that was expected of us and something we wanted to do was to get good grades. I have noticed it while my son was growing up, I would do things I know needed to be done to make sure he had received a good education. So reading books, and trying to get him to speak with correct words, his friends who were not being taught the same thing would tell him to stop acting white. So it was a struggle trying to get him to see that education was very important and that it was okay to be smart and be apart of groups such as the book club, boy scouts etc. because some of his peers were not involved in the groups and some of their parents were not doing some of things I was trying to do with my son. The acting white to me is a form of internalized oppression because we have been taught to think we are not smart, not worthy and not capable of achieving great things.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Week 10
Tatum Article
In reading the article I realized that I had been in some of those situations. As I think back I grew up in a race-neutral household, my parents did not go out of there way to make sure that we interacted with a diverse group of people. We were surrounded by African Americans and exposed to White Americans in a later stage in our lives. I had not realized how divided society was until I began my high school year, attending Austin High School and it being predominately white (upper class) that I noticed that the color of my skin made a difference if I would be invited to birthday parties and or a trip to the mall on the weekends. Thinking back I do wish that I had been better prepared to deal with what was to come but my parents did the best they could with what they knew. My parents had to endure many civil rights violations during their years, being treated like a non-human, having to take five dollar a week jobs and having to enter houses through the back doors where my grandmother was a maid/housekeeper and raising the upper class whites children. It did not dawn on me that the one child that my grandmother raised happened to be a grade above me, at the same high school and I never knew it until years later when I saw a picture of her in my grandmothers photo album. With all that being said my parents never said a negative word against a white person and dwell on the past and what they had to endure. My parents worked hard and provided us with a home and with the things we needed and most of what we asked for. My father was able to work forty plus hours weekly and receive a Associates Degree and he became the first African American assistant director for the city of Austin water/wastewater department and my mother became one of first supervisors for Travis State School. The only thing I would change about my childhood is that if I could have been a little more prepared for what was on the other side of IH 35 and what people may say or do when I walked into such a high school. I would have love to learn what I know now about African American history and its effects on my people. Though my high school did not offer or encourage any such opportunity for knowing who I am and where I came from. Now a mother of twenty-two and nineteen year old interracial young men, I have made it a point to teach them as much as I can about what it is to be Black in America. Trying to teach them to be proud of who they are and to recognize the importance of African American culture and the culture of their father as well. Teaching them to respect where they came from and they have the opportunity to be whatever they want to be, but they will have to work a litter harder than the average white American. That the choices that make now determines what the future may hold for them and never put a label on an entire race for what the majority of a race is doing and saying against our culture. They know and are confident about who they are and can walk with their heads held high and know NOW the information is there so take it, learn from and use it to change the equalities in our society. Last I am very proud of my parents and as I watch them walk away, their frail bodies but still holding strong, I know they protected us from the ugliness of society and gave us the tools to become who we are today :).
Tatum Article
In reading the article I realized that I had been in some of those situations. As I think back I grew up in a race-neutral household, my parents did not go out of there way to make sure that we interacted with a diverse group of people. We were surrounded by African Americans and exposed to White Americans in a later stage in our lives. I had not realized how divided society was until I began my high school year, attending Austin High School and it being predominately white (upper class) that I noticed that the color of my skin made a difference if I would be invited to birthday parties and or a trip to the mall on the weekends. Thinking back I do wish that I had been better prepared to deal with what was to come but my parents did the best they could with what they knew. My parents had to endure many civil rights violations during their years, being treated like a non-human, having to take five dollar a week jobs and having to enter houses through the back doors where my grandmother was a maid/housekeeper and raising the upper class whites children. It did not dawn on me that the one child that my grandmother raised happened to be a grade above me, at the same high school and I never knew it until years later when I saw a picture of her in my grandmothers photo album. With all that being said my parents never said a negative word against a white person and dwell on the past and what they had to endure. My parents worked hard and provided us with a home and with the things we needed and most of what we asked for. My father was able to work forty plus hours weekly and receive a Associates Degree and he became the first African American assistant director for the city of Austin water/wastewater department and my mother became one of first supervisors for Travis State School. The only thing I would change about my childhood is that if I could have been a little more prepared for what was on the other side of IH 35 and what people may say or do when I walked into such a high school. I would have love to learn what I know now about African American history and its effects on my people. Though my high school did not offer or encourage any such opportunity for knowing who I am and where I came from. Now a mother of twenty-two and nineteen year old interracial young men, I have made it a point to teach them as much as I can about what it is to be Black in America. Trying to teach them to be proud of who they are and to recognize the importance of African American culture and the culture of their father as well. Teaching them to respect where they came from and they have the opportunity to be whatever they want to be, but they will have to work a litter harder than the average white American. That the choices that make now determines what the future may hold for them and never put a label on an entire race for what the majority of a race is doing and saying against our culture. They know and are confident about who they are and can walk with their heads held high and know NOW the information is there so take it, learn from and use it to change the equalities in our society. Last I am very proud of my parents and as I watch them walk away, their frail bodies but still holding strong, I know they protected us from the ugliness of society and gave us the tools to become who we are today :).
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Affirmative Action
As I was reading the article it come to mind, that some Asian and White Americans already feel negatively towards African Americans. When you want to be a part of what someone would consider great, they will do as they do and act as they act, meaning that some Asian look upon African Americans as worthless and lazy just as some White Americans do. So no need to worry about affirmative action making Asians and White Americans feel resentment it is already present. Affirmative action to me means equality for those who have been oppressed for hundreds of years and are currently still being oppressed its just a little undercover now. If Affirmative action is a way to give those left behind a step up, no doubt I am all for it. I became a little disturbed to see that they would stoop as low as to use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech to their advantage, which to me is despicable but is not a surprise. I feel that some people will still feel the same way about African Americans but I do feel and hope the baby steps will continue to move us forward. I also realize that when one has been "privileged" all their lives and their ancestors before them, that when that "privileged" is being threatened that many will do everything in their power to not let it happen.
President Powers
I saw the video and to my surprise, I sort of felt that he was being sincere about giving opportunity to those who deserved the same opportunity as those who has it all their lives, even without trying. President Powers may have been one of those who does not like to look bad and not to happy about losing but in this case, I hope he doesn't lose either. I hope this is correct and this is what he was trying to say.
Programs for African Americans and their families
I googled a topic and could not find anything located in Austin and any near by cities, I did find a program called Afro Puffs and Ponytails, Inc.. It consist of improving resources for parents of young African American girls/black teens. Improving on academic performance, building confidence, enhance self-esteem, instill leadership skills, empower the young girls and their families. I am interested in finding out if there are other programs out there that will improve the quality of life for African Americans in Austin, so I will continued to look.
As I was reading the article it come to mind, that some Asian and White Americans already feel negatively towards African Americans. When you want to be a part of what someone would consider great, they will do as they do and act as they act, meaning that some Asian look upon African Americans as worthless and lazy just as some White Americans do. So no need to worry about affirmative action making Asians and White Americans feel resentment it is already present. Affirmative action to me means equality for those who have been oppressed for hundreds of years and are currently still being oppressed its just a little undercover now. If Affirmative action is a way to give those left behind a step up, no doubt I am all for it. I became a little disturbed to see that they would stoop as low as to use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech to their advantage, which to me is despicable but is not a surprise. I feel that some people will still feel the same way about African Americans but I do feel and hope the baby steps will continue to move us forward. I also realize that when one has been "privileged" all their lives and their ancestors before them, that when that "privileged" is being threatened that many will do everything in their power to not let it happen.
President Powers
I saw the video and to my surprise, I sort of felt that he was being sincere about giving opportunity to those who deserved the same opportunity as those who has it all their lives, even without trying. President Powers may have been one of those who does not like to look bad and not to happy about losing but in this case, I hope he doesn't lose either. I hope this is correct and this is what he was trying to say.
Programs for African Americans and their families
I googled a topic and could not find anything located in Austin and any near by cities, I did find a program called Afro Puffs and Ponytails, Inc.. It consist of improving resources for parents of young African American girls/black teens. Improving on academic performance, building confidence, enhance self-esteem, instill leadership skills, empower the young girls and their families. I am interested in finding out if there are other programs out there that will improve the quality of life for African Americans in Austin, so I will continued to look.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
March 6, 2012
Mid-Term Essay Blog
African Americans parents raising children in today’s society, have a tremendous amount of obstacles to overcome. As parent’s we have to collectively integrate ideas on how to raise our children to become successful African American so that we can as supportive of each other and raise above what had been placed upon us. As history will show that African Americans have been, oppress and manipulated for decades and stripped of all that we could be proud of, so that others can prosper and continue to strive forward while our people fall backwards in society.
During slavery the family unit was ripped apart and made to feel non-existence, it then left the struggle to survive upon the women who were left behind to breed more children for the benefit of the slave owners for profit. During slavery and even more so now, women had to become the head the household because their husbands were either sold to other owners or killed. As parents raising children we have to get back what had been ripped from our souls and physical bodies to build back on the strong unity of the African American that once lived decades ago and in some areas in today’s society. In the “The Nguzo Saba and the Black family” it spoke of finding the resources collectively and learning what it will take to be the best of being an African American and the human in the fullest sense.
When raising the children we have to become so familiar with the history of our people and to past those thoughts, feelings and facts down to our children, so that they can appreciate why it is so important to live in the richness in spirituality, union of family and the union of positive relationships rather heterosexual or same sex marriages. The guest speakers were well aware of whom they are and how much more the community needs to understand about whom they are and how they feel. They are comfortable in opening up about their spirituality and relationships within the family and the community. That is why it is so important to raise our children to be strong with whom they are and to love and appreciate the differences in people as they are. In the “Strange bedfellows against gay marriage” When there is a strong bond in loving relationships, the strong bond of family shall follow. In the empowerment theory, it speaks of independence and self-determination as the forces in changing people’s lives and doing as collectively as a union. Using this theory to teach our children they have the power to lead and to effect changes within the family, community and the oppressed society. The teaching that power comes in a unity of a strong culture, a culture that has the power to overcome the oppression of the white privileged society, which still today controls the members of our society and has distorted our African American culture. In the Africentric Theory, it explains that it is important to change behavior and promoting human transformation through spiritual, moral and humanistic ends and this can begin and end with the raising of the children. The children can be the end of what society calls an oppressed culture of people, the African American people. The raising of our children needs to be composed of those set of beliefs, values that African Americans need to rebuild our communities worldwide.
In the article African American Women’s spiritual beliefs, it touches on many qualities that involve the family union and roles of raising our children in today’s society and starting from scratch. Spirituality was one of the important unions that kept the family together; it was one of the things that could not be stripped from the African American culture before, during and after slavery. Spirituality was the one component that we can instill in our children, so that it can strengthen our values and beliefs system. The strengths that African American women possess are the importance of spirituality that bonds that family unity and as it was mentioned in the article serves as a resource and coping mechanisms. In another article its speaks about our emotional inheritance, freeing yourself of negative beliefs and to have faith and that change can help us to heal from the past. Those changes that we pass down to our children can help them to live healthy lives and that lasting love is important to the survival of our culture of people.
The raising of our children should be the most important privilege known to humankind, because these are the people that will continue to change the face of oppression and that will end the inequalities that still exist in our societies. As African Americans, we have to educate our children from birth and throughout their adult hood. When there is a disservice in one place, there is a disservice all over the world. Raising the children to be comfortable in their own skin, to build and maintain that community they call their own and to lift up their brother and sisters left behind, will help the entire African American culture.
Mid-Term Blog
March 6, 2012
Mid-Term Essay Blog
African Americans parents raising children in today’s society, have a tremendous amount of obstacles to overcome. As parent’s we have to collectively integrate ideas on how to raise our children to become successful African American so that we can as supportive of each other and raise above what had been placed upon us. As history will show that African Americans have been, oppress and manipulated for decades and stripped of all that we could be proud of, so that others can prosper and continue to strive forward while our people fall backwards in society.
During slavery the family unit was ripped apart and made to feel non-existence, it then left the struggle to survive upon the women who were left behind to breed more children for the benefit of the slave owners for profit. During slavery and even more so now, women had to become the head the household because their husbands were either sold to other owners or killed. As parents raising children we have to get back what had been ripped from our souls and physical bodies to build back on the strong unity of the African American that once lived decades ago and in some areas in today’s society. In the “The Nguzo Saba and the Black family” it spoke of finding the resources collectively and learning what it will take to be the best of being an African American and the human in the fullest sense.
When raising the children we have to become so familiar with the history of our people and to past those thoughts, feelings and facts down to our children, so that they can appreciate why it is so important to live in the richness in spirituality, union of family and the union of positive relationships rather heterosexual or same sex marriages. The guest speakers were well aware of whom they are and how much more the community needs to understand about whom they are and how they feel. They are comfortable in opening up about their spirituality and relationships within the family and the community. That is why it is so important to raise our children to be strong with whom they are and to love and appreciate the differences in people as they are. In the “Strange bedfellows against gay marriage” When there is a strong bond in loving relationships, the strong bond of family shall follow. In the empowerment theory, it speaks of independence and self-determination as the forces in changing people’s lives and doing as collectively as a union. Using this theory to teach our children they have the power to lead and to effect changes within the family, community and the oppressed society. The teaching that power comes in a unity of a strong culture, a culture that has the power to overcome the oppression of the white privileged society, which still today controls the members of our society and has distorted our African American culture. In the Africentric Theory, it explains that it is important to change behavior and promoting human transformation through spiritual, moral and humanistic ends and this can begin and end with the raising of the children. The children can be the end of what society calls an oppressed culture of people, the African American people. The raising of our children needs to be composed of those set of beliefs, values that African Americans need to rebuild our communities worldwide.
In the article African American Women’s spiritual beliefs, it touches on many qualities that involve the family union and roles of raising our children in today’s society and starting from scratch. Spirituality was one of the important unions that kept the family together; it was one of the things that could not be stripped from the African American culture before, during and after slavery. Spirituality was the one component that we can instill in our children, so that it can strengthen our values and beliefs system. The strengths that African American women possess are the importance of spirituality that bonds that family unity and as it was mentioned in the article serves as a resource and coping mechanisms. In another article its speaks about our emotional inheritance, freeing yourself of negative beliefs and to have faith and that change can help us to heal from the past. Those changes that we pass down to our children can help them to live healthy lives and that lasting love is important to the survival of our culture of people.
The raising of our children should be the most important privilege known to humankind, because these are the people that will continue to change the face of oppression and that will end the inequalities that still exist in our societies. As African Americans, we have to educate our children from birth and throughout their adult hood. When there is a disservice in one place, there is a disservice all over the world. Raising the children to be comfortable in their own skin, to build and maintain that community they call their own and to lift up their brother and sisters left behind, will help the entire African American culture.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Week 7
Down Low
In this article I found it disturbing that some men who choose to have sex with other men on the down low, then turn around and have unsafe sex with women. I wonder if this has anything to do with the high rates of HIV in African American women, whether you are African American, White and or Brown, no one should put the health of someone else in danger do to selfishness. On the other hand I do understand how keeping being gay on the down low because of all the other oppressions that have complicated the lives of African American, having to cope with past oppressions do to no fault of their own and having to deal with what oppressors are placing upon African American males in today's society. Until everyone is fully educated on the African American culture and its people and being educated on HIV, their will be people out there will always assume the worst when it comes to African Americans, and Gay African Americans. Hoping that one day all communities will receive African American gay men and women with open arms and not use religion to condemn a human being.
Homosexuality and the African American Church
I find that the church as come a long way, personally in my church congregation we have a few openly gay men and they are treated with respect by others. Because the article discusses the fact that the church is the oldest institutions in the African American community it is important that we support our gay African American men and women. We need to accept the fact that we are all God's children and not use the bible to make judgements against other human beings. I feel that most churches do some teaching on homosexuality being a sin and so the African American church is no different than any other church. Education should be the topic when it comes to safe sex, who and when HIV can be contracted and that the disease does not choose people by the color of their skin.
In this article I found it disturbing that some men who choose to have sex with other men on the down low, then turn around and have unsafe sex with women. I wonder if this has anything to do with the high rates of HIV in African American women, whether you are African American, White and or Brown, no one should put the health of someone else in danger do to selfishness. On the other hand I do understand how keeping being gay on the down low because of all the other oppressions that have complicated the lives of African American, having to cope with past oppressions do to no fault of their own and having to deal with what oppressors are placing upon African American males in today's society. Until everyone is fully educated on the African American culture and its people and being educated on HIV, their will be people out there will always assume the worst when it comes to African Americans, and Gay African Americans. Hoping that one day all communities will receive African American gay men and women with open arms and not use religion to condemn a human being.
Homosexuality and the African American Church
I find that the church as come a long way, personally in my church congregation we have a few openly gay men and they are treated with respect by others. Because the article discusses the fact that the church is the oldest institutions in the African American community it is important that we support our gay African American men and women. We need to accept the fact that we are all God's children and not use the bible to make judgements against other human beings. I feel that most churches do some teaching on homosexuality being a sin and so the African American church is no different than any other church. Education should be the topic when it comes to safe sex, who and when HIV can be contracted and that the disease does not choose people by the color of their skin.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Week 6
African American Women's Spiritual Beliefs
Going back to slavery, when slaves were brought here everything had been stripped from them even their identity. The only thing they had left to call their own was the spirituality and religious beliefs which became the stepping stone to try to raise above what the oppressor had began to tear apart. As you see in many church congregations the majority are women who attend and worship trying to find that control of their lives that was taken from them from slavery until the present.
The choice to be gay
This article was very interesting it depicts what the conservative christian thinks and feels about society and its people that do no conform to their thinking and way of life. I feel the author response was to the point and gave her something to think about. The mother at one point gave her son credit for being a good educated young man, but when it came to something that was out of her control she downed him to being naive and abnormal. Most will misused the bible to down grade others to justify their way of life and way of how someone is supposed to live life according the "christian". To acknowledge and accept that her son is gay, for her would mean she failed as a mother and rather to accept she had not failed as a mother and or to accept the fact her son was born this way, she chooses to find fault in others to justify her embarrassment and disagreement of her son's life style. The author gave her something to think about, cherish the gift from god and use other commandments of the bible to see that she is not perfect and that god accepts all his children as they are.
Found: 85,000 Black Gay Households
African American gays have so much against them, besides being gay, their African American, stereotyped as not being worthy and stereotyped as being worthless. Though many steps are being made to bring the gay community on the same level as heterosexuals but some of those steps are not helping many African American gay couples, because they are not at the economy level of many others and so any changes will effect them almost double it would the white gay community.Separating the African American community is the same movement in separating the African American family the breaking of the family union at any means.
Understanding the Marginalization of Gay and Gender Non-Conforming Black Male Students
In this article to me is saying okay we will deal with one thing or other but not both. Simply not understanding when you oppressed one group you oppressed other forms of groups as well. Having social support groups with majority white students and once again leaving out the already oppressed group of African American gay community. Many not willing to stand up for the students and it may be that they are not in agreement with the gay community, so allowing the abuse and bullying to continue in schools and turning around as though the gay students ask for what they are receiving the physical and mental abuse from others students and some of the staff members at the school direct and or indirectly condoning the abuse. Also the oppressed oppressing others, living up to the stereotypes that was placed upon the African American community simply saying that being smart is being white and playing dumb is being Black. If changes are expected to come the community withing the Black community will have to combat its own racism against each other and tear down those actions and comments that have been handed down to the community since the era of slavery. Looking at the positive side having groups that consist of all races when it comes to educating people on the gay community in and outside of the school system, will down the line prevent dropout rates and bullying within and outside of the school system. Acknowledging people of color for their accomplishments gay and straight will give both sides of the community something to be proud of educating on Gay Black History will benefit many.
Nai'm Akbar
Never thought to look at mental illness in the Black community as important as I do now. African American males having to combat all other struggles that have been placed upon them by the oppressors and if mental illness sets in, having to combat that as well. Knowing that it is difficult for some men to seek help and even more difficult for African American men to seek help for all the oppressed feelings about himself and life in general would in a sense cause depression. Trying to understand the minds of African American men will help them to heal those scars since the days of captivity.
John Head
Hoping that important information such as this will get out and help those who need the help, the courage to seek the help. African American men feeling that "no bodyness" which eventually leads to depression is heartbreaking. Knowing that many out there feel like no body's and have accepted those negative stereotypes has a way of life. Need more support within and outside the communities because this is not just a African American problem it is a humanity problem.
Girl like me
I know this all too well, as I grew up in the 60's I do not ever recall having a African American doll, never knew they existed until my late teenage years. That is when I discovered that my dark skin made me different from all my other peers and even my sister who is of light skin and hazel colored eyes. Society has placed those thoughts in our minds as to who is smart, who is worthless and who is worthy and beautiful. The thoughts that must have been going through those children's minds while having to choose what doll they wanted to keep. I wondered though who was conducting the research and who was asking the questions. If we as young kids are so impressionable that when asked by a white researcher that question, I wonder if the kids felt that had to choose the white doll, because it would have been the acceptable thing to do. Sometimes as adults we say what other people want to hear even if we know its not morally right. We need to show our young girls of color that love is within the eyes of the beholder and that love comes from within and will shine outward and that when we accept who we are others will follow suit.
Going back to slavery, when slaves were brought here everything had been stripped from them even their identity. The only thing they had left to call their own was the spirituality and religious beliefs which became the stepping stone to try to raise above what the oppressor had began to tear apart. As you see in many church congregations the majority are women who attend and worship trying to find that control of their lives that was taken from them from slavery until the present.
The choice to be gay
This article was very interesting it depicts what the conservative christian thinks and feels about society and its people that do no conform to their thinking and way of life. I feel the author response was to the point and gave her something to think about. The mother at one point gave her son credit for being a good educated young man, but when it came to something that was out of her control she downed him to being naive and abnormal. Most will misused the bible to down grade others to justify their way of life and way of how someone is supposed to live life according the "christian". To acknowledge and accept that her son is gay, for her would mean she failed as a mother and rather to accept she had not failed as a mother and or to accept the fact her son was born this way, she chooses to find fault in others to justify her embarrassment and disagreement of her son's life style. The author gave her something to think about, cherish the gift from god and use other commandments of the bible to see that she is not perfect and that god accepts all his children as they are.
Found: 85,000 Black Gay Households
African American gays have so much against them, besides being gay, their African American, stereotyped as not being worthy and stereotyped as being worthless. Though many steps are being made to bring the gay community on the same level as heterosexuals but some of those steps are not helping many African American gay couples, because they are not at the economy level of many others and so any changes will effect them almost double it would the white gay community.Separating the African American community is the same movement in separating the African American family the breaking of the family union at any means.
Understanding the Marginalization of Gay and Gender Non-Conforming Black Male Students
In this article to me is saying okay we will deal with one thing or other but not both. Simply not understanding when you oppressed one group you oppressed other forms of groups as well. Having social support groups with majority white students and once again leaving out the already oppressed group of African American gay community. Many not willing to stand up for the students and it may be that they are not in agreement with the gay community, so allowing the abuse and bullying to continue in schools and turning around as though the gay students ask for what they are receiving the physical and mental abuse from others students and some of the staff members at the school direct and or indirectly condoning the abuse. Also the oppressed oppressing others, living up to the stereotypes that was placed upon the African American community simply saying that being smart is being white and playing dumb is being Black. If changes are expected to come the community withing the Black community will have to combat its own racism against each other and tear down those actions and comments that have been handed down to the community since the era of slavery. Looking at the positive side having groups that consist of all races when it comes to educating people on the gay community in and outside of the school system, will down the line prevent dropout rates and bullying within and outside of the school system. Acknowledging people of color for their accomplishments gay and straight will give both sides of the community something to be proud of educating on Gay Black History will benefit many.
Nai'm Akbar
Never thought to look at mental illness in the Black community as important as I do now. African American males having to combat all other struggles that have been placed upon them by the oppressors and if mental illness sets in, having to combat that as well. Knowing that it is difficult for some men to seek help and even more difficult for African American men to seek help for all the oppressed feelings about himself and life in general would in a sense cause depression. Trying to understand the minds of African American men will help them to heal those scars since the days of captivity.
John Head
Hoping that important information such as this will get out and help those who need the help, the courage to seek the help. African American men feeling that "no bodyness" which eventually leads to depression is heartbreaking. Knowing that many out there feel like no body's and have accepted those negative stereotypes has a way of life. Need more support within and outside the communities because this is not just a African American problem it is a humanity problem.
Girl like me
I know this all too well, as I grew up in the 60's I do not ever recall having a African American doll, never knew they existed until my late teenage years. That is when I discovered that my dark skin made me different from all my other peers and even my sister who is of light skin and hazel colored eyes. Society has placed those thoughts in our minds as to who is smart, who is worthless and who is worthy and beautiful. The thoughts that must have been going through those children's minds while having to choose what doll they wanted to keep. I wondered though who was conducting the research and who was asking the questions. If we as young kids are so impressionable that when asked by a white researcher that question, I wonder if the kids felt that had to choose the white doll, because it would have been the acceptable thing to do. Sometimes as adults we say what other people want to hear even if we know its not morally right. We need to show our young girls of color that love is within the eyes of the beholder and that love comes from within and will shine outward and that when we accept who we are others will follow suit.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Week 5
Being a Man About It:Manhood Meaning Among African American Men
I believe that the meaning of what manhood comes from African American men not believing in themselves and having no hope because society has placed that influence upon them for many years.
Until that thought is broken some African American will assume that being tough and being arrested makes for some a manhood. They will have to overcome what has been handed down to them in order to work towards a new definition and meaning of manhood. Dealing with the presumptions of the oppressors and using that to further break down the unity of the African American family.
African American Women and the Male-Female relationship dilemma
To read that these myths still exist is very sad and should be a huge concern for all African American women and men. I do feel that couples of African American have so much more to deal with but on the other hand I feel that couples in general have numerous situations to overcome and can be solved through understanding and patience. We have to stop believing those negative myths and it needs to begin within the African American communities. In the days of slavery women had to assume the roles of husbands due to fact that the males were sold and or sent away to work for another owner. Women had to maintain the household and could not depend on having a male partner in the home due to no fault of their own. I suppose some women still feel the need to assume that role because of uncertainty within the family union. In the current times there is no longer slavery but the system has set it up where many outlets for African American males is a narrow opening for survival and so many find themselves in jail or prison for one reason or another and so we have the women once again taking that role of mother and father.
Limiting and Freeing Beliefs
Having to carry on those beliefs that had been handed down since before Jim Crow era, has made it even more difficult to maintain trust for oneself and no less their mate. If we are unable to control the people, places or things in our lives we let them go, which includes our significant others. Because of the faith that many African Americans hold until this day, have enhanced our ability to appreciate the positive things in life especially the love ones that are apart of our lives.
In Search of Love and Commitment
A system that tears a family apart finds fault in why the unity of African American family is not there. The myth about Black women being so strong willed is the reason why there is a low marriage rate among African Americans, we as women in general search for love with someone who is compatible with us. When you have a society who agrees with the myth that Black women are too loud, hostile and that White women are submissive and quiet is the reason why Black men marry white women is a myth that has plagued some into believing that is true. When we begin to understand why some women feel they need to be strong willed, the reason why they feel that love is not permanent and the reason they search for love outside of the community of which they live is because the oppressor has torn down the unity of the family, have torn down the pride of our African American men and have some thinking that the Black man is not worth our love and commitment to stand by each other through thick and thin and so we abandon those who need us the most. It is like everything else in life we have to change ourselves and way of thinking and everything else will fall into place. We can sit around for another century for the oppressor to change their way of thinking or we can start building up each other and starting new beginnings for the African American community.
Being a Man About It:Manhood Meaning Among African American Men
I believe that the meaning of what manhood comes from African American men not believing in themselves and having no hope because society has placed that influence upon them for many years.
Until that thought is broken some African American will assume that being tough and being arrested makes for some a manhood. They will have to overcome what has been handed down to them in order to work towards a new definition and meaning of manhood. Dealing with the presumptions of the oppressors and using that to further break down the unity of the African American family.
African American Women and the Male-Female relationship dilemma
To read that these myths still exist is very sad and should be a huge concern for all African American women and men. I do feel that couples of African American have so much more to deal with but on the other hand I feel that couples in general have numerous situations to overcome and can be solved through understanding and patience. We have to stop believing those negative myths and it needs to begin within the African American communities. In the days of slavery women had to assume the roles of husbands due to fact that the males were sold and or sent away to work for another owner. Women had to maintain the household and could not depend on having a male partner in the home due to no fault of their own. I suppose some women still feel the need to assume that role because of uncertainty within the family union. In the current times there is no longer slavery but the system has set it up where many outlets for African American males is a narrow opening for survival and so many find themselves in jail or prison for one reason or another and so we have the women once again taking that role of mother and father.
Limiting and Freeing Beliefs
Having to carry on those beliefs that had been handed down since before Jim Crow era, has made it even more difficult to maintain trust for oneself and no less their mate. If we are unable to control the people, places or things in our lives we let them go, which includes our significant others. Because of the faith that many African Americans hold until this day, have enhanced our ability to appreciate the positive things in life especially the love ones that are apart of our lives.
In Search of Love and Commitment
A system that tears a family apart finds fault in why the unity of African American family is not there. The myth about Black women being so strong willed is the reason why there is a low marriage rate among African Americans, we as women in general search for love with someone who is compatible with us. When you have a society who agrees with the myth that Black women are too loud, hostile and that White women are submissive and quiet is the reason why Black men marry white women is a myth that has plagued some into believing that is true. When we begin to understand why some women feel they need to be strong willed, the reason why they feel that love is not permanent and the reason they search for love outside of the community of which they live is because the oppressor has torn down the unity of the family, have torn down the pride of our African American men and have some thinking that the Black man is not worth our love and commitment to stand by each other through thick and thin and so we abandon those who need us the most. It is like everything else in life we have to change ourselves and way of thinking and everything else will fall into place. We can sit around for another century for the oppressor to change their way of thinking or we can start building up each other and starting new beginnings for the African American community.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
African American Families
In this article I found that the system that was and is meant to keep African American family union divided is still currently apparent. Slavery was meant to keep the families apart, by selling each member of the family to owners from different parts of the United States, without this system of slavery in place the union of the African American family would be as strong as ever even in this day and time. In order for oppression to occur one would have to keep that threat open. When the people were brought here on slave ships and coming to America, all they had was their religious beliefs and the family because everything else had been stripped from their existence. When the owners of slaves began to allow them to worship within their own comfort of the family and community, the slave owner would still have an "overseer" standing in the distance, never allowing the slaves rather freed or not out of their sight, in fear of the slaves becoming independent and becoming a strong union. Every event that comes in large numbers "Black Coalitions" are a threat to the oppressors. Until there is a change in the system beginning with the education system and political system, this will continue to effect the majority of African American families and intentionally keep the family unity apart. We as people of color have to stand by one another so that we all can prosper from what being America has to offer, we have to be willing to take that risks.
Living in a class apart
This was a really interesting article because if we have racism and prejudices within our communities and in and around our own race, how do we expect others to see us in a different light and give the respect that we deserve. Growing up in the 60's I always felt the difference between light and dark African Americans, being a darker skinned African American woman, I always wondered where we women like me in the magazines,and now so I am delighted when I see a dark skinned women in some of our popular magazines, and it makes me even more proud to be who I am. I feel we have a long way to go, to completely honest I had my own prejudices against light skinned African American women for years, there was an underlining resentment towards them. Though I do not feel that way today, I had to learn to love myself inwardly and outwardly to move past that feeling. It mentioned in the article that slave owners would sometimes put light skinned in the house and live the dark skinned slaves outside, to me that was just another for of oppression to keep the African American families down and separated. To find out that some of African American elite groups feel comfortable enough to donate to organizations such as the NAACP but feel they are too elite to socialize within the group, is a step backwards for all African Americans. One portion of the article talks about how some of the Black elites feel guilty, I feel they should not feel that way, they worked and earned what they have and we as African Americans should not make them feel guilty about what they have. As a 49 year old woman and knowing that these practices are still happening today really makes me know that is a lot of work that needs to be done within our own communities and within ourselves to make that change needed for all less fortunate.
The Impact of Welfare Reform on Black Families
It is unfortunate that people are still suffering in a welfare system that is supposed to help the family and not tear it down, is just another form of oppression. The system is supposed to give a hand up so that person can become self sufficient and independent but it seems it holds more people back, in a hole so deep that some can not seem to climb out of it. There are no proper tools to positively help those in need in the welfare system and its just a band aid that when taken off the wound has not healed. The welfare system does help some to move forward and so sometimes it may take other resources such as mentors, teachers and peers to give someone that boost to get passed that continuous need for welfare, so that it does not become generational. Making daycare affordable, changing policies in the workforce, that would have more options for parents to work day shifts with an adequate pay and be able to live without the welfare system for long periods of time. The confusing part is why would the system have a low income father pay higher proportions of their income, when it will be almost impossible to pay it and they eventually end up in jail, which is more of a cost to taxpayers. Having fathers in prison punishes the children more than anything and when these fathers are on the outside they tend to spend that time with their children, which is important for the family union. Making things affordable and reasonable can help someone get on the right track, when young African American men don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, they may give up because they feel there is no hope for a good future.
The Subprime Swindle
It is absolutely said that this kind of practices are still occurring in this day and time even with all the laws in place, a greedy and self centered business person finds a way to make more money off the already oppressed people. I recall when this horrific situation occurred I had to go back and look at my mortgage documents, because I recall that when my husband and I wanted to look over the stacks of documents, the other people in the room were frowning and moving back and forth in their sits. We were fine but I wonder about all those people who got "swindled" out of their net worth and if and when they will recover from this mess. It is no different from the film we watched when they would imprison African Americans and then let them out so that they could work off their punishment whether they were innocent or not. These people caught up the subprime loans will have to work the rest of their lives and to have someone come in and sell it after their passing because the debt could never be fully paid off. When the oppressor feels threaten he will feed his children to the lions to keep what he has, nothing is worth losing his privileges that were handed down to him. So if that means keeping the poor in its place, their pockets empty and his fat, he will do what ever it takes and never look back. That's why I think it is so important that we as a people can depend on someone to step in and say "I don't think that is a good idea", looking at other avenues to make ends meet, owning businesses (banks) that will do the humanly deed and not swindle people out of their hard earned monies, that was not handed down to them, that they had to reach up and work for.
What's Love Got To Do With It?
Not sure about this, I would probably not marry if that person did not have a job or did not share in the same goals in life that I have or had. I would and have married for love and if something happened to where my husband lost his job and hit a low point in his life I would not leave him, I would stand right by his side. But I have some understanding for women who want to marry someone they feel could bring them both to the top and have a better financial and stable life for their children. I feel that we as society need to do what is possible to help our African American men advance in life, because so much has been stripped from them beginning with the slave ships leaving Africa. They have had to endure many obstacles in life and now to fall behind the women they protected would be another slap in the face. When society makes it hard for the Black man to succeed it is once again another form of oppression. Some white males fears of the Black man stepping up next to them or even replacing them, is something that some white males of this society is not going accept and let it happen. The education, court and political systems would have to make some drastic changes so that a man can feel equal in this society and we as a community of people can unite to make these changes for the benefit of all people, especially men of color.
Successful women who are childless
Women want success just like their male partners and if children are not in the plans, I do not see anything wrong with that decision. The subject of future off springs is very important but that can come in a form of mentoring, teaching and providing services to the off springs of others and everything will keep moving forward. Though spreading the wealth of success to your off springs is a great way to increase that unity of the African American family there are other forms of sharing success.
Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn
The focusing on educating Black men should be on the list of our societies tasks, we have too many of African American in prison, when they could be on the outside earning a honest living, becoming educated and contributing to the communities of which they came from or moved to. No one can be productive in a cell and not earning a living and being productive in society, it would cost less to educate men in comparison to imprisoned more than half of African American men.
Dark and Lovely, Michelle
Teaching our young girls of color to embrace who they are and that the darkness of their skin is a glorious blessing from God. Women of any color is a beautiful and wonderful blessing, so I just love embracing myself as a woman of color.
Race Wasn't an Issue to Him, Which Was an Issue to Me
It is hard for people to acknowledge wrong doings especially if it points the finger at someone whom that felt had no faults, people do not want to be mad at someone they loved and gave them what they have. If you pretend or block out awful actions, its like it never happened. It may come a time when white people can truly understand where we are coming from with this feelings of despair and feelings of oppression and we also have to come to terms that it may never happen. Either you will love that person and accept the fact that person is who he is and you are who you are and try to meet on common grounds, that it is what it is. They are many times I avoid the truth because I don't like the way it feels inside when I am let down. Some rather not have to carry that burden and some just can't handle the truth about what their ancestors created and the actions of those ancestors is currently still active.
Bring Me Home a Black Girl
I understand the feelings of wanting to pass down African American traditions to our off springs. You do feel more at ease when your family looks like you and you want to increase that unity of the African American culture. My biggest fear of my sons dating someone of another race, I guess the flash backs of what Black men endured in the 60's when it came to dating a white women. But I did not tell them who to date because they are interracial young men, I just said respect a women like you would respect your mother, grandmothers and so forth. Be with someone you can picture yourself with for many years to come through thick and thin and my son's choices have been women of color and I am happy for them. Their choices their lives, I can not pick and choose for them, though I would put my two cents in when needed. But I do understand "bringing home a Black girl" it is a way of keeping our race strong and alive and I agree to a certain extent.
In this article I found that the system that was and is meant to keep African American family union divided is still currently apparent. Slavery was meant to keep the families apart, by selling each member of the family to owners from different parts of the United States, without this system of slavery in place the union of the African American family would be as strong as ever even in this day and time. In order for oppression to occur one would have to keep that threat open. When the people were brought here on slave ships and coming to America, all they had was their religious beliefs and the family because everything else had been stripped from their existence. When the owners of slaves began to allow them to worship within their own comfort of the family and community, the slave owner would still have an "overseer" standing in the distance, never allowing the slaves rather freed or not out of their sight, in fear of the slaves becoming independent and becoming a strong union. Every event that comes in large numbers "Black Coalitions" are a threat to the oppressors. Until there is a change in the system beginning with the education system and political system, this will continue to effect the majority of African American families and intentionally keep the family unity apart. We as people of color have to stand by one another so that we all can prosper from what being America has to offer, we have to be willing to take that risks.
Living in a class apart
This was a really interesting article because if we have racism and prejudices within our communities and in and around our own race, how do we expect others to see us in a different light and give the respect that we deserve. Growing up in the 60's I always felt the difference between light and dark African Americans, being a darker skinned African American woman, I always wondered where we women like me in the magazines,and now so I am delighted when I see a dark skinned women in some of our popular magazines, and it makes me even more proud to be who I am. I feel we have a long way to go, to completely honest I had my own prejudices against light skinned African American women for years, there was an underlining resentment towards them. Though I do not feel that way today, I had to learn to love myself inwardly and outwardly to move past that feeling. It mentioned in the article that slave owners would sometimes put light skinned in the house and live the dark skinned slaves outside, to me that was just another for of oppression to keep the African American families down and separated. To find out that some of African American elite groups feel comfortable enough to donate to organizations such as the NAACP but feel they are too elite to socialize within the group, is a step backwards for all African Americans. One portion of the article talks about how some of the Black elites feel guilty, I feel they should not feel that way, they worked and earned what they have and we as African Americans should not make them feel guilty about what they have. As a 49 year old woman and knowing that these practices are still happening today really makes me know that is a lot of work that needs to be done within our own communities and within ourselves to make that change needed for all less fortunate.
The Impact of Welfare Reform on Black Families
It is unfortunate that people are still suffering in a welfare system that is supposed to help the family and not tear it down, is just another form of oppression. The system is supposed to give a hand up so that person can become self sufficient and independent but it seems it holds more people back, in a hole so deep that some can not seem to climb out of it. There are no proper tools to positively help those in need in the welfare system and its just a band aid that when taken off the wound has not healed. The welfare system does help some to move forward and so sometimes it may take other resources such as mentors, teachers and peers to give someone that boost to get passed that continuous need for welfare, so that it does not become generational. Making daycare affordable, changing policies in the workforce, that would have more options for parents to work day shifts with an adequate pay and be able to live without the welfare system for long periods of time. The confusing part is why would the system have a low income father pay higher proportions of their income, when it will be almost impossible to pay it and they eventually end up in jail, which is more of a cost to taxpayers. Having fathers in prison punishes the children more than anything and when these fathers are on the outside they tend to spend that time with their children, which is important for the family union. Making things affordable and reasonable can help someone get on the right track, when young African American men don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, they may give up because they feel there is no hope for a good future.
The Subprime Swindle
It is absolutely said that this kind of practices are still occurring in this day and time even with all the laws in place, a greedy and self centered business person finds a way to make more money off the already oppressed people. I recall when this horrific situation occurred I had to go back and look at my mortgage documents, because I recall that when my husband and I wanted to look over the stacks of documents, the other people in the room were frowning and moving back and forth in their sits. We were fine but I wonder about all those people who got "swindled" out of their net worth and if and when they will recover from this mess. It is no different from the film we watched when they would imprison African Americans and then let them out so that they could work off their punishment whether they were innocent or not. These people caught up the subprime loans will have to work the rest of their lives and to have someone come in and sell it after their passing because the debt could never be fully paid off. When the oppressor feels threaten he will feed his children to the lions to keep what he has, nothing is worth losing his privileges that were handed down to him. So if that means keeping the poor in its place, their pockets empty and his fat, he will do what ever it takes and never look back. That's why I think it is so important that we as a people can depend on someone to step in and say "I don't think that is a good idea", looking at other avenues to make ends meet, owning businesses (banks) that will do the humanly deed and not swindle people out of their hard earned monies, that was not handed down to them, that they had to reach up and work for.
What's Love Got To Do With It?
Not sure about this, I would probably not marry if that person did not have a job or did not share in the same goals in life that I have or had. I would and have married for love and if something happened to where my husband lost his job and hit a low point in his life I would not leave him, I would stand right by his side. But I have some understanding for women who want to marry someone they feel could bring them both to the top and have a better financial and stable life for their children. I feel that we as society need to do what is possible to help our African American men advance in life, because so much has been stripped from them beginning with the slave ships leaving Africa. They have had to endure many obstacles in life and now to fall behind the women they protected would be another slap in the face. When society makes it hard for the Black man to succeed it is once again another form of oppression. Some white males fears of the Black man stepping up next to them or even replacing them, is something that some white males of this society is not going accept and let it happen. The education, court and political systems would have to make some drastic changes so that a man can feel equal in this society and we as a community of people can unite to make these changes for the benefit of all people, especially men of color.
Successful women who are childless
Women want success just like their male partners and if children are not in the plans, I do not see anything wrong with that decision. The subject of future off springs is very important but that can come in a form of mentoring, teaching and providing services to the off springs of others and everything will keep moving forward. Though spreading the wealth of success to your off springs is a great way to increase that unity of the African American family there are other forms of sharing success.
Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn
The focusing on educating Black men should be on the list of our societies tasks, we have too many of African American in prison, when they could be on the outside earning a honest living, becoming educated and contributing to the communities of which they came from or moved to. No one can be productive in a cell and not earning a living and being productive in society, it would cost less to educate men in comparison to imprisoned more than half of African American men.
Dark and Lovely, Michelle
Teaching our young girls of color to embrace who they are and that the darkness of their skin is a glorious blessing from God. Women of any color is a beautiful and wonderful blessing, so I just love embracing myself as a woman of color.
Race Wasn't an Issue to Him, Which Was an Issue to Me
It is hard for people to acknowledge wrong doings especially if it points the finger at someone whom that felt had no faults, people do not want to be mad at someone they loved and gave them what they have. If you pretend or block out awful actions, its like it never happened. It may come a time when white people can truly understand where we are coming from with this feelings of despair and feelings of oppression and we also have to come to terms that it may never happen. Either you will love that person and accept the fact that person is who he is and you are who you are and try to meet on common grounds, that it is what it is. They are many times I avoid the truth because I don't like the way it feels inside when I am let down. Some rather not have to carry that burden and some just can't handle the truth about what their ancestors created and the actions of those ancestors is currently still active.
Bring Me Home a Black Girl
I understand the feelings of wanting to pass down African American traditions to our off springs. You do feel more at ease when your family looks like you and you want to increase that unity of the African American culture. My biggest fear of my sons dating someone of another race, I guess the flash backs of what Black men endured in the 60's when it came to dating a white women. But I did not tell them who to date because they are interracial young men, I just said respect a women like you would respect your mother, grandmothers and so forth. Be with someone you can picture yourself with for many years to come through thick and thin and my son's choices have been women of color and I am happy for them. Their choices their lives, I can not pick and choose for them, though I would put my two cents in when needed. But I do understand "bringing home a Black girl" it is a way of keeping our race strong and alive and I agree to a certain extent.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Timeline of African American Life/Nguzo Saba Principles
In the early days and slavery era, in 1800 the first African Methodist Episcopal Church paved the way to continue to spiritual life of African Americans, to be able to praise and worship in our own way. As history has stated that when Africans were brought over to America, one of the things that had that no one could take from them was their spiritual beliefs and worshipping to a higher being. Entertainment 1821 was paved through the first black theater company in the U.S. which was founded in in New York, gave African Americans an opportunity to identify with people whom looked and sounded just like they did, knowing that could entertain in a professional manner and get compensated as well, it made African Americans proud enough to pursue their dreams as a professional in the entertainment field. In 1827 the first African American newspaper "Freedom Journal" was published giving African Americans that insight on what was going on in the African American communities and what was going on outside of the communities, it united the African Americans through written communication and being able to be represented in the newspaper among their peers.
Building Democracy 1866-1953 Era, in 1866 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act which was a huge beginning for African Americans to share in some of the rights that Whites had from birth, though those rights never equaled to what the Whites had, it was a beginning of a long battle for equal rights. African Americans did not have much to be proud of because what had been aired about the communities and their people had been negative and that we has African Americans would never achieve anything other than being someones maid or servant. But in 1893 African Americans had another person to be proud of, the first African American physician to successfully to perform open-heart surgery, this lead the path of opening avenues for African Americans to be recognized in the medical field right along side of white doctors and their peers.
Civil Rights Era 1954-1971, 1954 Board of Education paved the way for All African Americans and their children to receive an education, though the education in many African American communities is not the same quality and quantity as other school districts, it is the reason why I am able to receive a higher education as well as my children. In 1963 the march on Washington D.C. brought a sense of unity back into the black communities and a sense of pride for African American men and women. It held together that sense of belonging which had been lost along with the break down of the African American family values, that all dreams are a reality through faith and commitment.
Modern Times Era 1972- Present, in 1972 the Equal Employment Opportunity Act achieved great things for African Americans, it provided a positive path of how we could provide for our families, without the threat of not being hired because the color of our skin and assuring that African Americans could have the same opportunities in the job market like others. And finally we could be all so proud that we are a beautiful people and that our skin color just enhanced our beauty and that we could begin to love ourselves just the way we are. In 1983 Vanessa Williams became the first African American to become Miss America, and though she had fallen from that grace, she committed herself to other avenues and opened up more doors of the entertainment industry for many African American women and many African American women have entered the Miss America pageants and any other contests that once excluded people of color.
Karenga and Karenga Principles: The 2nd principle in self-determination can be related to first African American newspaper it taught how to "speaking our own special cultural truth in the world" showing strength, dignity and determination. The fifth principle can be related to 1911 National Urban League by helping many African Americans find jobs and housing, it rebuilding, developing and defending the African American community and its people.
In the Harvey article many of the principles are evident the section on cultural values and behavioral norms can be related to the frist principle "striving for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race", the handyman syndrome relates to the second principle because it talks about defining ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. The handyman talks about how many of the men felt like failures and feeling personally responsible for not being successful but the ending results were to have the men recognize their strengths and that they are worthy and appreciate who they are and to love the color of their skin.
Building Democracy 1866-1953 Era, in 1866 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act which was a huge beginning for African Americans to share in some of the rights that Whites had from birth, though those rights never equaled to what the Whites had, it was a beginning of a long battle for equal rights. African Americans did not have much to be proud of because what had been aired about the communities and their people had been negative and that we has African Americans would never achieve anything other than being someones maid or servant. But in 1893 African Americans had another person to be proud of, the first African American physician to successfully to perform open-heart surgery, this lead the path of opening avenues for African Americans to be recognized in the medical field right along side of white doctors and their peers.
Civil Rights Era 1954-1971, 1954 Board of Education paved the way for All African Americans and their children to receive an education, though the education in many African American communities is not the same quality and quantity as other school districts, it is the reason why I am able to receive a higher education as well as my children. In 1963 the march on Washington D.C. brought a sense of unity back into the black communities and a sense of pride for African American men and women. It held together that sense of belonging which had been lost along with the break down of the African American family values, that all dreams are a reality through faith and commitment.
Modern Times Era 1972- Present, in 1972 the Equal Employment Opportunity Act achieved great things for African Americans, it provided a positive path of how we could provide for our families, without the threat of not being hired because the color of our skin and assuring that African Americans could have the same opportunities in the job market like others. And finally we could be all so proud that we are a beautiful people and that our skin color just enhanced our beauty and that we could begin to love ourselves just the way we are. In 1983 Vanessa Williams became the first African American to become Miss America, and though she had fallen from that grace, she committed herself to other avenues and opened up more doors of the entertainment industry for many African American women and many African American women have entered the Miss America pageants and any other contests that once excluded people of color.
Karenga and Karenga Principles: The 2nd principle in self-determination can be related to first African American newspaper it taught how to "speaking our own special cultural truth in the world" showing strength, dignity and determination. The fifth principle can be related to 1911 National Urban League by helping many African Americans find jobs and housing, it rebuilding, developing and defending the African American community and its people.
In the Harvey article many of the principles are evident the section on cultural values and behavioral norms can be related to the frist principle "striving for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race", the handyman syndrome relates to the second principle because it talks about defining ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. The handyman talks about how many of the men felt like failures and feeling personally responsible for not being successful but the ending results were to have the men recognize their strengths and that they are worthy and appreciate who they are and to love the color of their skin.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tim Wise
First of all let me say the film was not at all what I had expected it to be, it was so much more interesting and true in many of the ways. To hear it from a privileged white male, it seem to hit home even more, if I had heard it from someone else, it probably would not have hit home as much. What is sad, that it took someone on the outside looking in to open up the eyes of many who refused to recognize the seriousness of the problem in and around America. I am not surprised at all that it is almost as strong today, that people who are privileged are still turning the other cheek and refusing to step up and make a change starting with themselves. I also feel that we as a people of color have just as much change to begin, supporting our minority communities, uplifting each other and encouraging each other, we can not expect for others to do what we have not begun to do ourselves. When we see each other on a majority white privileged university campus, wave, smile and say hello to each other. What will bring us together no one can tear apart and come to realize that it may be this way for many more years but do not lose hope and continue to stand up for equal justice for all. I can not feel bitter anymore and or sad, I have to stand tall and stay strong and mentor those in our communities that they should try any open avenues for an higher education and to stand up for their rights when being discriminated against. The realization is that the privileged may not be willing to risk what they have, even though not earned but given to them, to stand against unfair practices against African Americans and we must keep it moving forward to see that everyone has an equal opportunity, just like the privileged do. When asked to think of privileges that I felt I held, I came up with two, being a woman and receiving a college education and I am still pondering about what other privileges do I have. If that film information had come from anyone else, such as a African American/ and or Latino, the first thing would have been said was aggressive, anger, bitterness and complainer and people would have ignored the entire lecture even some people of color, what they perceive of us, we sometimes perceive ourselves the same way.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sorting People By Race
As I read the readings, watch the film and did the Sorting the Race activity, I am discovered that I was putting labels on people just as much as people were placing on me. I am not sure why but I just feel it is apart of a learned behavior. In the article How white People becam white, I was a little confused on how "just" white people became white, what I took from the article was that maybe how much money you made in the article it says "white men's wages". Something new that I learned was that during the great depression they considered greeks to have African American, Indian and white heritage, so it just goes along with what has been said in history that just some blood of African American in your body, you are considered to be "Black". In the The roots of racial classification" I have always pondered over the fact why are they so many poor people in one of the richest nations and that equality is in the consitution but not followed by our politicians, who claim to be for equal justice. There were two similiarities that slaves were most likely enslaved because the color of their skin and that is how they identified slave property, it is no different of what is happening today, for Newt to say that "Black communities on foodstamps" he just put all African Americans in one pot. I agree with the film when Dr. Ben Carson spoke of taking a childs hand and embracing him or her with the rich history of African Americans can change that childs future by acknowledging all the important inventions in our history was created by his ancestors.
"Is Race for Real?" was an interesting activity of course thats when I realize that I too, was putting people in an category of which I assumed they should be. The three facts that stood out to me were the socities part in divding people by their religion, class and even their language and putting you on a ladder of where they felt you should be. Another fact was that people were enslaved because of looking similiar to another person, like anything not white was considered inferior, heathens and even savages and that were doing African Americans a favor to christianize them and enslave them because they did not know any better, than to be led in chains by someone of "white" skin. The third fact I found interesting was the colorblindness will not end racism, I found some truth in that because we have to identify who is not being fairly treated and so if there was no mention of race we would not have the statistics to show inequality.
"Is Race for Real?" was an interesting activity of course thats when I realize that I too, was putting people in an category of which I assumed they should be. The three facts that stood out to me were the socities part in divding people by their religion, class and even their language and putting you on a ladder of where they felt you should be. Another fact was that people were enslaved because of looking similiar to another person, like anything not white was considered inferior, heathens and even savages and that were doing African Americans a favor to christianize them and enslave them because they did not know any better, than to be led in chains by someone of "white" skin. The third fact I found interesting was the colorblindness will not end racism, I found some truth in that because we have to identify who is not being fairly treated and so if there was no mention of race we would not have the statistics to show inequality.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Bob Herbert-A New Civil Rights Movement
The article by Bob Herbert was interesting and true in many ways, there isn't accessible avenues to the communities with a large drop out rate. Until services provided in the wealthy districts are available to all districts this increased drop out rates among young African American youths will continue to increase. There is a need for more positive role models to step up to help out the youth and maybe a boost of encouragement about setting goals for their future.
The Newt-Ginrich video was not surprising to me, most conservative politicians do not know what goes on in disadvantaged communities and are ignorant to what needs to be done to increase positivity in those communities and for this politician to include all African Americans in one group shows the ignorance of many whom think the same as he does.
The Newt-Ginrich video was not surprising to me, most conservative politicians do not know what goes on in disadvantaged communities and are ignorant to what needs to be done to increase positivity in those communities and for this politician to include all African Americans in one group shows the ignorance of many whom think the same as he does.
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