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 :).
Saturday, March 31, 2012
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.
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