Group Project

This week my group finally made some headway when it felt we were at a stand still.  It is primarily interesting to us how the administration is so against us (UT students) from visiting the school, especially when it could help promote education in some of their student.  That will be another topic for another day though.  As far as our project goes, we plan on visiting the school to get an idea of how the school is separated and the benefits of the regular LBJ school is much less resourced than the magnet school that is just upstairs.  Also our main goal is to give them idea about what it is like to be in college but primarily what it is like to be a minority in college.  Talking to them we will break down in groups and give them information about what types of resources they have available for them to prepare for college and what types of resources they have available once they get in college.  These programs are especially important when you are a part of a minority group that is a small percentage at a PWI.  Hopefully this discussion will spark a light in some of these kids minds that college is an option and having learned about these resources, hopefully it will make things feel a bit more easier.  Another thing we are hoping for, is that after we meet with the children, that this project can become an annual project, where LBJ can partner with another organization or class on campus that will be willing to do this on a yearly/ semesterly basis.

Hip Hop and the Black Image

The movie Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes was a real eye opener to me.  I am not naïve to negative messages the videos and lyrics that the artist put out into mainstream media but at the same time this is the same music that I find myself dancing to and playing in my iPod.  This does not mean that I agree with the message, it is just something I pay no attention to unless brought up in discussion.  For the African American culture, it will be very hard to find a solution to help with the negative impact hip hop has on girl’s sexual health.  As a black community, we have sadly adopted the idea that these images are acceptable.  Parents are unaware of the images that are being portrayed and when they are aware they can do little to promote a positive image.  With little help at home, it is almost impossible to really monitor what is being portrayed over the television to their children when they are not home.   Also children today are heavily influenced by the ones around them.  If these girls are spending 5 days out of the week with other peers that are heavily influenced by these images, it is more than likely that it will still be showcased at some point.  

Boys of Baraka & Acting White

It was interesting to see while watching the film how different people’s lives are even though we live in a country that has one government.  You would think that education would be education and it would be the same for everybody in every state but sadly this is not the case.  Although my education system was not the best, I feel privileged that it was adequate enough to supply me with enough knowledge to continue my education at one of the top tier institutions in Texas.  It was interesting to see how dependent the families were on their school system and the future of their children.  The resources were low but in such a bad neighborhood, it was great yet sad to see that the only positive influences they have are in a education system that is essentially failing them. 

The factors that effect the achievement gap are very different between blacks and whites but in examining the article it appeared that blacks were negatively reflected throughout.  In most school systems there is rarely a case where blacks are the minority of the school. This is only the case if the institution is in a predominately black neighborhood.  Also, considering this is the case, it is very rare to see a school dominated by black teachers.  This can have many negative effects on a black student.  Where whites are in classrooms with several of their peers that have similar demographic commonalities, Blacks are less inclined to feel comfortable because there are very few students that resemble them and also there is no person of “power” that looks like them that they can confide in. 

Coming from a biracial family of a white mother, I grew up definitely on the border line of “acting white.” It was not because my mother was half white and my dad a quarter but because I did not “behave” as other blacks did.  It was also easier for me to pointed out as acting white because my skin was much fairer than most.  When people characterized me as acting white, I had to really understand their idea of what white was.  It appeared that because I pronunciated my words and surrounded myself with all types of ethnicities as opposed to grouping myself in a clan of all blacks that I was pretending to be something I was not.  Also it was said because I chose to wear “white” brand name clothes like American Eagle, Abercrombie, and Express.  I would have never thought that my preference in clothing would strip me of my ethnicity. 

"Affirmative Action"... Really?

              I have no idea where to begin in response to this “Affirmative Action” article.  When reading it I found myself responding to him in such a way that was angry, irritated and astonished that a person that is technically one of my peers could be so ignorant to the real issue at hand.   He contradicts himself in so many different areas, that I almost have to consider this as an early Aprils fool’s joke.

                My first thought on this issue of Affirmative Action at the University of Texas is…What Affirmative action? Seriously… With only 12% blacks making up the Texas population, I find it very interesting to believe that affirmative action is really benefiting any black individual getting into U.T., especially when we (blacks) aren’t even making up 5% of the university.  I guess since Mr. McGarvey was so busy voicing his frustrations that he forgot to account for the other 95% that is being “plagued” by affirmative action.   

                I truly believe that he does not fully understand the purpose of Affirmative Action.  As an African American student accepted into the University of Texas, I do find this entire article to be offensive and degrading.  One thing he not aware of is that a very large majority, if not all of it due to the transfer or the athlete students, are in this institution for the mere fact that we graduated at the top 10% of our class and in recent cases top 8%.  So in reality, that 4% of students that he is putting into that circle of “reverse racism” is less than half of the U.T black population because as we all are aware, athletes must only have a 2.5 gpa and make a 1200 on the SAT to be accepted on a full scholarship.  This is the rule for black and white athletes before somebody tries to imply that affirmative action is dictating the athletes that make up our schools as well. 

                He tries to make the point about using socioeconomic equality as a method to determine who is accepted and receives scholarships.  This point would be great if he wasn’t trying to use it in a way to put down blacks.  If he really knew what he was talking about, he would only understand that using socioeconomic equality would only increase the amount of minority students at U.T.  Race definitely is a criterion in this factor because as we know African Americans make up the most percent of families with low income.  When he states, “ For example, who needs a scholarship more: a black child from a family of doctors and lawyers or a white child living in a slum with a single parent working as a janitor? Financial data does a much better job of predicting financial need than does the color of one’s skin.”  Chances are that a student that comes from a successful family will be in the top 10% of their class or attending a more prominent institution like Yale, Harvard or Emory.  I think universally we can agree that there are far much less black students with a background like that compared to white counterparts. 

                Clearly Affirmative action is only a problem to those who aren’t black because they aren’t included.   The norm of this country reflects the ideals of primarily one group (whites).  That one group has remained in power for centuries and anything that does not involve and benefit them as well is viewed as unacceptable in terms of societies needs.  Until the norm reflects more than just one cultural standard, affirmative action is needed and is not harming any other race while in use.  

Letter for Change

           I am writing this to express my concern for my children.  That when they read this, if they do not listen to what I say when I am around, that they will have a better understanding of what it means to be black in the United States of America.  A country that immigrants run to in search of equality and freedom but in reality is a brewing pot of inequalities and privileges created for races to be unofficially superior over these races we identify as “minorities.” As it is today, people are naïve to this ideal of white privilege.  Either they wish to acknowledge because they themselves are afraid to admit to this unethical structure of society or they are ignorant to the issue and wish to remain blind, neither aggravating nor benefiting the issue. Hopefully their generation has inspirational activist like Time Wise and Peggy McIntosh that are confident enough in their stance to go against the privileged race to speak for us who would most often find our-selves voiceless on these issues.  White privilege is an ongoing problem that resembles the controversy surrounding the original ideals for the United States, being the American Creed vs. the American Dilemma.  Without addressing the struggle directly, it will be impossible to propose any solutions that will be effective in ensuring that blacks can live out their traditional principals and live up to the expectations of all those oppressed before them. 

            Much like Peggy McIntosh and her thoughts in her article Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege.”  My children have a understanding of their history and the history of the races needs to be brought out into the light.  If they were more willing to the history around them, they might have grasped why it was so easy whites to have this privilege with no second thought to it.  For years other races have been placed under them while they created the criteria for how to become white.  If only they had read “The Common Elements of Oppression” maybe they would see how the black race is not capable of becoming the dominant race until they gain economic power and begin to work together as an entire race.  “In order for these institutions to be controlled by a single group of people, there must be economic power.”    These children but realize that white privilege allows the white race to accomplish, gain, and receive “treats” socially and economically within society.  They are “more qualified for jobs”, not viewed as a “treat” to police and are not judged due to pre-conceived notions of what whites should be.   I guess my children should be happy that they can participate in privileges like Affirmative action and have a greater eligibility for welfare.  Who wouldn’t want those benefits right?  Why is it so difficult for the African American race to be viewed as superior force when they only make up 13% of the United States population? Is it really possible for us to take over every institution completely?

            Maybe if we allowed ourselves to use the Afrocentric and Empowerment theories , the African American race could stop sitting idly by while they reinforce the acceptability of white privilege.  African Americans need to see themselves as competent, valuable as individuals and members of the white race.  They are just as smart, ambitious, and social as whites and it’s time they realize that the only thing that is determining where they stand socially and economically is the color of their skin.  There is no reason blacks should feel as if they can’t reach a spot in society because of economic or social factors.  So you have to use government assistance to get ahead in live…isn’t that what the government expects you to do anyways.  We need these children of our future generation to adapt the Nguzo Saba principals, & particularly focus on collective work and responsibility, purpose and especially faith. Although blacks are an oppressed race, they somehow have always been able to look within themselves as a whole to find something great about them as a community and build rituals that positively demonstrate their ability to step over adversity just a little for the next generation to carry on the race. 

            I am speaking directly to the future generation now.  Rhetorically expressing my desire for them to take these principals and build on them.  Continue to further your education, so that you may gain access to these high institutions and open the doors for others of your race to follow after.  Join forces with your community to ensure stability within before you attempt to tackle the outside.  Lastly, getting more people to acknowledge and think about white privilege will maybe lead them to re-evaluate their situation and maybe make a conscious effort to adjust this system in small various ways.  The needs of the black race are great, but the efforts of an educated, driven, and united race, with the goal to destroy white privilege can be much greater.

            

Black Family and LGBT Community

This weeks discussion was particularly interesting to me because I had to really open myself up to information i've been taught to automatically steer away from.  Most African Americans that grow up in the church are taught to steer away from homosexuality because it is an abomination against God.  We are taught early on that when man was created, woman was created to be his partner.  Man was not created to be with man and vise versa for women and for this women this is why society in a way deems day marriage as unconstitutional.  It was amazing after hearing the guest speakers speak in such a personalized manner, how easy it was for me to be open to different homosexual relationships and while I do consider them to be a sin because of my religious teaching, I now am beginning the idealize a society that acknowledges same sex couples and allows them to benefit from the same constitutional rights that opposite sex couple have, that being marriage.  My reason for allowing for this right is based on the fact that the Unites States is a melting pot of different races, religious beliefs and institutions.  African Americans have sought and fought for equal rights as a race through various movements and in a way there fight for equality is no different from homosexuals.  Honestly, who are we to deny a person of making a committing relationship with another person because they are the same gender.  Love is love, it has no face. It is feeling you share for a person based on your compatibility, personality, qualities and overall feeling when your around that person and quite frankly same sex marriage is no threat to society.  A homosexual marriage is no different than a homosexual couple that lives together and is in a serious committed relationship.  The only thing that is different is a piece of paper that solidifies it.  While I do still believe homosexuality is a sin, plenty of people sin on a daily basis and I am not here to stop nor judge anybody for how they feel or who they feel they should be with.
As far as homosexuals and the black family and the community, I believe it is something that we need to start addressing and stop over looking it as if it doesn't exist.  In the end all it's doing is separating the black community even more and preventing us from uniting to better our selves as a whole.

Challenges Between Black Men and Women

Chapman Article:
I feel like the first solution would be to strengthen the black family but most importantly the black males in the family.  Encouraging them to succeed and have more educational goals as opposed to goals that entail making into a professional sport, would benefit the community and bring the ratio of men and women that are educated closer together.  Secondly, providing more positive images in the media would help demolish some of the negative stereotypes we have circulating amongst the community.  It would help black women be respected for more than their bodies and allow men the opportunity to show that they are than their brute strength and that they are capable of bearing children and taking responsibility.  Lastly,  I feel that if when dating men and women really took things slow and planned for a life that this could benefit the black relationship positively.  This would also give them the opportunity to really get to know one another and build their relationship before having children out of wedlock and beginning a marriage in an already unstable environment

A Counseling Perspective

Stereotypes about black men and women have put these two at odds, negatively impacting the black family.  It has made them incompatible because they automatically assume the worse of each other.  The 3 areas of Issues and Approaches addressed were enhancing effective communication, confronting negative stereotypes and processing grief and loss.  All of these will help strengthen the black family because these are all issues that affect them greatly.

Anti-Intimacy Beliefs

1)I’m not good enough to be loved

            Many times people feel as if they can not find a partner because there is something wrong with them.  This is the same thing that slave owners would do with slaves that they owned.  They would dehumanize them, constantly trying to devalue them and make them feel as if they were nobody, essentially making their psyche weak.  Many slaves did not feel or see love and it’s sad to say that this same psyche, because of the destruction of the black family, has caused several blacks today to continue thinking this way. 

2.) No matter what I do, it won’t make a difference

            Slaves were given no rights and were only told that they were good to work doing physical labor.  They were made to live this way through violence and verbal threats, which made them fear if they stepped out of place nothing good would come of it.  They ultimately believed that they had no control over what they could do in life and were made to believe that they could not alter their living situation even if they tried. 

Being a Man about it

Men defined manhood as holding responsibility, Being able to provide, autonomy, and maintaining spirituality.  I noted the two emerging themes in the article to be responsibility and manhood.  It was very interesting that they did not mention sexuality as criteria.  I immediately assumed men felt that their sexual conquers would have something to do with how they identified reaching manhood.