In class we are talking about Peggy McIntosh's article,
"White Privilege," and a short film called
"A Girl Like Me" by Kiri Davis. One of the things we are discussing is the extent to which racism still exists in the U.S.
Read about the Jena 6, and read
one blogger's reaction to the Jena 6 story. What do you think Peggy McIntosh or Kiri Davis would say about the Jena 6?
8 comments:
I was baffled to know that type of racism is still alive and well and that it is being supported by the judicial system. I can only assume what this is putting their families through and how even if they are released they will have the social stigma of having been incarcerated. Furthermore, the one student that was on the football team is most likely missing valueable opurtunities for college scouts to watch him play, and possibly for scholarships. It really would ruin a life, and for them to be so young. I am not saying that they shouldn't have been repremanded for fighting, but generally when someone is underage they only get community service or probation of sorts. All things considered, the way things are done in Jena need to be seriously reevaluated.
A girl like me certainly made my brain whirl 360s today. In all honesty I had no idea that it is considered more socially acceptable for an African-American woman to be lighter. It opened my eyes to exactly how powerful social influence is. After watching the movie, I was extremely disheartened. I just wanted to reach through and say to them...NO! Accept your culture, embrace your features! I find it ironic how that among young girls today it is more socially acceptable to become a victim of ultra-violet radiation in order to be beautiful. The skin stigmas apply to all of us. Women of all colors, races, ethnicities etc are beautiful because of their background. If we could recognize this fully, the stigmas would go away. Like Olay says..."love the skin you're in!"
I don't know even what to say. It was so difficult to hear of Jena's situation but more difficult that we don't learn from the past. This is still recurring in many towns and the problem is that the wider public doesn't get to see it on the news so we could say "this is unjust let's do something" but what would we do anyway? People are afraid to speak out because it's easier to look away or stand there with our arms crossed and look at the person next to us and ask "I thought you were going to say something".
So what was the gain with retaliation, nothing! It doesn't work when you try and get even. What is harder? To peacefully communicate with a person you can't see eye to eye with, or spending time in jail for 22 years.
i found the "white privilege" reading and the short film very eye opening from both sides. Sad to hear those young girls think of them selves that way. the children with the dolls was unbelievable. but again our society puts so many white dolls and things out there that this is the message being sent to our children. and for the other article as I read I saw so much truth it is it was sad. As for the jena 6.....i am at a lose for words. would i be one to be the first to say something, i can say no. if i were to live in that same town i would think i would be afraid of what may happen. is that a good thing, no it is not but it is truthful. yes the first boys should have been punished more severely and if they would have would the other incident have happened. we never no. maybe just maybe we can learn from this. said to say unlikely but maybe.
In my Biology class last semester, I learn that our entire human race's genetic makeup is 99.9% identical! Only .1% of our genetic makeup is different! That .1% is what makes us unique. Is that really enough of a difference to make someone hate another? Or are we so angry that we are not different enough? There is that power trip again.
It was really hard to watch " A Girl Like Me." I think the hardest part to accept was when the little girl showed which doll looked like her. I feel like everyone, no matter what your background is, feels as if they aren't good enough. African Americans think they need to be "lighter" and on the other end of the spectrum white people think they need to be "darker." My only question is why? Maybe if everyone would just stop caring about what other people think so much they could actually get to know themselves. Oh, and maybe even like it? No matter what you do or say you're never going to be good enough for everyone. So why don't you just be good enough for yourself. Break the "RULES" a little bit and stop giving whoever thinks they're in charge the power to do so.
wow i am really suprised that this is the root to the jena6 i heard plenty about it but now i think i fully understand the whole situation.......i think it is highly ridiculous that such intesified acts of racism still exist in this life time its is just so sad and very intimidating that not every where i might go in the united states would welcome me with open arms.......as far as it goes for mychal bell he should be prayed for in all home across the U.S. because he needs it with the kind of racist jury he is facing....
Its wild to think that even the youngest of children understand the differences in race. I think its also wild that within black culture, there are so many differences in whats acceptable and whats not. Bleaching is one of those things that i hope we look back on and realize how bad it was and that the differences in people isw what makes them unique. In the future we will all look back eventually and wonder how we could hate each other over something as little as skin color. I mean there are so many bigger reasons for us to hate each other...lol...skin shouldnt be one of them. With different skin color you can enjoy the same things, vote for the same president, eat at the same restaurants. Skin color is such a small thing yet me make it bigger then what it is.
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