For our AMCS Day of Action project I made ribbons to pass out on the actual day to
promote diversity and support AMCS on campus. I, along with Amy, Lisa, and Elyse,
bought the spray paint, the shirts, and other materials and decorated all the shirts
for the class to wear on the Day of Action. On the Day of Action I was handing out
ribbons and candy and telling students and staff that passed by to support diversity
and AMCS.
I believe that we got our message through to students because we gave out
around 200 ribbons to fellow students and staff for them to wear and support
diversity and AMCS, and people actually put them on and contributed to our cause.
Many people stopped at our booth where they saw facts and information and we
talked to them about AMCS and what our goals were. It is important for AMCS to be
exposed to the students so that they are more aware of what the major is about. By
doing our day of action we just took a step forward in getting awareness out to the
school population and promoting multiculturalism.
The newsletter is a second step in promoting AMCS to the school and helping the AMCS
majors to see what opportunities are out there for them. Listing possible careers
and internships really provides assistance to students who may not know what to do
with their major. For the newsletter I was responsible for the Careers/Internships
portion and I provided a list of internships that were available with the contact
information so that the students would have all the necessary information to start
getting involved.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Project RACE
Project RACE
1. What is the goal of this organization?
Project RACE advocates for multiracial children and adults through education, community awareness and legislation. Their main goal is for a multiracial classification on all school, employment, state, federal, local, census and medical forms when it asks for race.
“Multiracial people should have the option of recognizing all of their heritage. ‘Multiracial’ is important so that children have an identity, a correct terminology for who they are. ‘Other’ means different, a label that no person should bear. Also, without proper racial and ethnic classifications, multiracial people are "invisible" in the health care system.”
2. Who is behind this website?
Project RACE was founded by Susan Graham and Chris Ashe as a non-profit corporation in the fall of 1991. It is a national and all volunteer organization supported by individual donations and contributions, membership fees are not required.
3. What are its projects?
*Teen Project RACE organization- for young adolescents and children to get involved and help promote diversity in their communities.
*Project RACE drafted and is supporting a bill in California for K-12 students to be able to identify themselves as biracial or multiracial on school forms in the state.
*Organize Bone Marrow Donation Drives- along with other community projects- helps community and promotes multiracialism.
*Has updates on legislation having to do with multiracial categories- keeps current news posted and other information about getting involved in projects, what is going on in legislation, and how people can support the multiracial category advocacy.
4. Accomplishments:
*Progressive legislation for a multiracial classification has been passed in Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Maryland.
*Project RACE has persuaded districts (such as Fairfax County, Virginia) and states (North Carolina and Florida) around the country to utilize the classification.
*The ACT Scholastic Test added the multiracial classification in May 1995.
*In June of 1993, Project RACE representatives testified before the Congressional Subcommittee on Census and Population.
*Project RACE represented the multiracial community at a meeting of federal government agencies at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington.
*Project RACE continues to work with the Office of Management and Budget, Census Bureau and members of Congress. Federal legislation was introduced on February 25, 1997.
*Project RACE Executive Director Susan Graham and Project RACE member Nathan Douglas testified before the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology on July 25, 1997.
5. Do the goals, projects, mission statement reflect a particular position? Project RACE is advocating for the rights of multiracial/ biracial people in the census, schools, health care. Multiracial people have to be represented equally as everybody else.
Relates to themes discussed in class
Open and closed families:
Project RACE is working on creating a set multiracial category so that the closed families will see that it is not a disgrace to be racially mixed- that it is accepted. It will allow for multiracialism to become an actual/legal part of society and not continue to be seen as different or not belonging.
Visual cartography:
It can be said that we are living in a monoracial cartography because society continue to only identify one race. If people are biracial or multiracial they are identified by their appearance or placed in the race that is inferior. Project RACE and organizations are trying to make society into a multiracial cartography. By informing the public and getting awareness out, multiracialism is being promoted and hopefully getting closer to a multiracial cartography.
Monoracial logic:
Open up the world of multiracialism, we are not in a monoracial society anymore, change is occurring and by having a multiracial category and promoting diversity, people will have to become aware. Project RACE is constantly promoting and is involved in making sure that multiracial and biracial identity is represented.
Tripping the color line:
The color line is still present and will continue to be as long as people are still patrolling it. Multiracial couples have crossed the color line and have been faced with discrimination. People of multiracial identities are not being adequately represented and Project RACE is trying to make multiracialism a legal category. The color line has to disappear and having a category for multiracial is a big step towards it.
Class or caste systems:
There will always be a class system, but project RACE and other organizations are fighting so that the system is not based on race.
Multiracial category advocacy:
Project RACE is a multiracial category advocate. They are involved in legislation to make sure that multiracialism is being represented. Promoting to the community and society is a great way to make sure that diversity is being exposed.
Bill of rights for multiracial people:
Multiracial/biracial people should not have to choose on side of their identity. They have the right to identify however they want without being judged by their racial groups. They should not have to prove that they are enough of one race or the other. Project RACE is fighting for these rights and is doing it with their members and the support form their community and society.
Project RACE is a great organization that is really involved in the society and government. They are fighting for the rights of multiracial people and is the voice for many of them. It is up to them and us to make sure that their progress continues so that changes happen in our society that will benefit all.
1. What is the goal of this organization?
Project RACE advocates for multiracial children and adults through education, community awareness and legislation. Their main goal is for a multiracial classification on all school, employment, state, federal, local, census and medical forms when it asks for race.
“Multiracial people should have the option of recognizing all of their heritage. ‘Multiracial’ is important so that children have an identity, a correct terminology for who they are. ‘Other’ means different, a label that no person should bear. Also, without proper racial and ethnic classifications, multiracial people are "invisible" in the health care system.”
2. Who is behind this website?
Project RACE was founded by Susan Graham and Chris Ashe as a non-profit corporation in the fall of 1991. It is a national and all volunteer organization supported by individual donations and contributions, membership fees are not required.
3. What are its projects?
*Teen Project RACE organization- for young adolescents and children to get involved and help promote diversity in their communities.
*Project RACE drafted and is supporting a bill in California for K-12 students to be able to identify themselves as biracial or multiracial on school forms in the state.
*Organize Bone Marrow Donation Drives- along with other community projects- helps community and promotes multiracialism.
*Has updates on legislation having to do with multiracial categories- keeps current news posted and other information about getting involved in projects, what is going on in legislation, and how people can support the multiracial category advocacy.
4. Accomplishments:
*Progressive legislation for a multiracial classification has been passed in Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Maryland.
*Project RACE has persuaded districts (such as Fairfax County, Virginia) and states (North Carolina and Florida) around the country to utilize the classification.
*The ACT Scholastic Test added the multiracial classification in May 1995.
*In June of 1993, Project RACE representatives testified before the Congressional Subcommittee on Census and Population.
*Project RACE represented the multiracial community at a meeting of federal government agencies at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington.
*Project RACE continues to work with the Office of Management and Budget, Census Bureau and members of Congress. Federal legislation was introduced on February 25, 1997.
*Project RACE Executive Director Susan Graham and Project RACE member Nathan Douglas testified before the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology on July 25, 1997.
5. Do the goals, projects, mission statement reflect a particular position? Project RACE is advocating for the rights of multiracial/ biracial people in the census, schools, health care. Multiracial people have to be represented equally as everybody else.
Relates to themes discussed in class
Open and closed families:
Project RACE is working on creating a set multiracial category so that the closed families will see that it is not a disgrace to be racially mixed- that it is accepted. It will allow for multiracialism to become an actual/legal part of society and not continue to be seen as different or not belonging.
Visual cartography:
It can be said that we are living in a monoracial cartography because society continue to only identify one race. If people are biracial or multiracial they are identified by their appearance or placed in the race that is inferior. Project RACE and organizations are trying to make society into a multiracial cartography. By informing the public and getting awareness out, multiracialism is being promoted and hopefully getting closer to a multiracial cartography.
Monoracial logic:
Open up the world of multiracialism, we are not in a monoracial society anymore, change is occurring and by having a multiracial category and promoting diversity, people will have to become aware. Project RACE is constantly promoting and is involved in making sure that multiracial and biracial identity is represented.
Tripping the color line:
The color line is still present and will continue to be as long as people are still patrolling it. Multiracial couples have crossed the color line and have been faced with discrimination. People of multiracial identities are not being adequately represented and Project RACE is trying to make multiracialism a legal category. The color line has to disappear and having a category for multiracial is a big step towards it.
Class or caste systems:
There will always be a class system, but project RACE and other organizations are fighting so that the system is not based on race.
Multiracial category advocacy:
Project RACE is a multiracial category advocate. They are involved in legislation to make sure that multiracialism is being represented. Promoting to the community and society is a great way to make sure that diversity is being exposed.
Bill of rights for multiracial people:
Multiracial/biracial people should not have to choose on side of their identity. They have the right to identify however they want without being judged by their racial groups. They should not have to prove that they are enough of one race or the other. Project RACE is fighting for these rights and is doing it with their members and the support form their community and society.
Project RACE is a great organization that is really involved in the society and government. They are fighting for the rights of multiracial people and is the voice for many of them. It is up to them and us to make sure that their progress continues so that changes happen in our society that will benefit all.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Half and Half
All three stories from Half and Half are autobiographical, about the authors definitions of themselves based on familial connections. Although the authors had completely different ethnicities, childhoods, and experiences as adults, we see a common theme among the readings: searching for an identity within your family. I liked how despite the vast differences among the authors, the commonality is in being multiethnic, an identity that we have been exploring throughout the semester. Much of the shared experience of multiracial individuals is of a quest for belonging, particularly within one’s own family.
Lisa See’s story “The Funeral Banquet” revolved around the preparations for her grandmother’s funeral. What was particularly interesting about this story was that Stella See was a white woman whose identity was wrapped up in her Chinese American family. While making the funeral arrangements, Lisa and her family negotiate how “traditionally Chinese” it should be, and Lisa asserts that to honor her grandmother it should be a Chinese funeral. Lisa and her father argue about the degree of tradition which should be present for the ceremony. Despite Stella’s “given” race, the author credits her grandmother for teaching her Chinese customs. “She had become Chinese not through her heritage or her blood but through her being” (127). Ultimately See’s story isn’t one of confusion or turmoil but of acceptance and love. Having grown up with exposure to more than one culture, she views her mixed family as something to cherish. This reading is a commemorative piece to her grandmother, who she thanks for giving her the strength to know “what people are whether they look the part or not” (138).
Philippe Wamba’s “A Middle Passage” details his experiences not as an African American, but as both African and American. The son of a black mother from Chicago and a father from Zaire, Wamba spent his childhood in more than one continent, a part of more than one culture. “It can be difficult to define yourself when those around you are so eager to do it for you” (152). He chronicles his acquaintances’ interpretations of him; Americans seeing him as African and Africans seeing him as American. Although he felt connected with friends and relatives based on “blackness” he was aware of distinct differences stemming from his dual heritage. Both sides of his family were loving and inclusive, but there were immense cultural variations which became evident to him even in his childhood. Wamba’s message seemed to be that identity isn’t about where you come from, but who you are. Rather than examining his heritage using a family tree, Wamba suggests “a tumbleweed is an even more fitting analogy, since it helps to capture the sense of movement, migration, and mixing that has characterized and shaped my life” (169). In his adulthood he stops looking for definition from his family, but decides to create his own.
Nina Mehta’s “From Here to Poland” is about her multiraciality, but more specifically, her relationship with her grandmother. Although she has spent part of her childhood in India, Mehta’s primary language is English. In order to communicate with her grandmother (who doesn’t speak English) Mehta relies on her relatives to act as interpreters. Despite the language barrier, she feels a closeness with her grandmother. I would consider speaking different languages to be a significant obstacle in developing a personal relationship, but that appears to be not necessarily true. Mehta appreciates the “physical”relationship she has with her paternal grandmother, regardless of the fact that it is non-verbal. She finds comfort in the familiarity of her grandmother’s presence. “My grandmother has always been an unremarkably ordinary part of the surroundings” (218). The author spends much of the story discussing her powerful desire to know more about her grandmother, and therefore her own familial history. Unlike Wamba, Mehta feels her identity is deeply entwined with her ancestors. Part of this philosophy may stem from her grandmothers religious beliefs of Karma and reincarnation. She conducts a series of interviews with her grandmother, which all require a relative to act as translator. Despite these attempts at intimacy, ultimately Mehta is entirely comfortable with the multiple languages in her family. “Sometimes more than being alone I like to sit in a room with familiar people who are speaking a language I don’t know, and be ignored” (239).
I felt able to relate to all these stories in one way or another. I think it is pretty typical for people to take interest in their ancestry. I know that within my family, we’ve gone to great lengths to preserve a few particular traditions. I am only one/sixteenth Sweedish yet I know more about the Sweedish part of my family than any else. In order to learn her grandmother’s recipe for cardamom bread, my grandmother weighed the contents of her grandma’s hands (my great great grandmother didn’t use measuring utencils). My mother has tried to keep an extensive written record of our family’s history, and during my grandmother’s decline into Alzheimers, the two of us interviewed her about her childhood and recollections of her parents. So I understand the search for connection with people who seem so far away (spatially or generationally). And while family is an important body through which we learn much about the world, I appreciate Wamba’s belief that you must define yourself.
Lisa See’s story “The Funeral Banquet” revolved around the preparations for her grandmother’s funeral. What was particularly interesting about this story was that Stella See was a white woman whose identity was wrapped up in her Chinese American family. While making the funeral arrangements, Lisa and her family negotiate how “traditionally Chinese” it should be, and Lisa asserts that to honor her grandmother it should be a Chinese funeral. Lisa and her father argue about the degree of tradition which should be present for the ceremony. Despite Stella’s “given” race, the author credits her grandmother for teaching her Chinese customs. “She had become Chinese not through her heritage or her blood but through her being” (127). Ultimately See’s story isn’t one of confusion or turmoil but of acceptance and love. Having grown up with exposure to more than one culture, she views her mixed family as something to cherish. This reading is a commemorative piece to her grandmother, who she thanks for giving her the strength to know “what people are whether they look the part or not” (138).
Philippe Wamba’s “A Middle Passage” details his experiences not as an African American, but as both African and American. The son of a black mother from Chicago and a father from Zaire, Wamba spent his childhood in more than one continent, a part of more than one culture. “It can be difficult to define yourself when those around you are so eager to do it for you” (152). He chronicles his acquaintances’ interpretations of him; Americans seeing him as African and Africans seeing him as American. Although he felt connected with friends and relatives based on “blackness” he was aware of distinct differences stemming from his dual heritage. Both sides of his family were loving and inclusive, but there were immense cultural variations which became evident to him even in his childhood. Wamba’s message seemed to be that identity isn’t about where you come from, but who you are. Rather than examining his heritage using a family tree, Wamba suggests “a tumbleweed is an even more fitting analogy, since it helps to capture the sense of movement, migration, and mixing that has characterized and shaped my life” (169). In his adulthood he stops looking for definition from his family, but decides to create his own.
Nina Mehta’s “From Here to Poland” is about her multiraciality, but more specifically, her relationship with her grandmother. Although she has spent part of her childhood in India, Mehta’s primary language is English. In order to communicate with her grandmother (who doesn’t speak English) Mehta relies on her relatives to act as interpreters. Despite the language barrier, she feels a closeness with her grandmother. I would consider speaking different languages to be a significant obstacle in developing a personal relationship, but that appears to be not necessarily true. Mehta appreciates the “physical”relationship she has with her paternal grandmother, regardless of the fact that it is non-verbal. She finds comfort in the familiarity of her grandmother’s presence. “My grandmother has always been an unremarkably ordinary part of the surroundings” (218). The author spends much of the story discussing her powerful desire to know more about her grandmother, and therefore her own familial history. Unlike Wamba, Mehta feels her identity is deeply entwined with her ancestors. Part of this philosophy may stem from her grandmothers religious beliefs of Karma and reincarnation. She conducts a series of interviews with her grandmother, which all require a relative to act as translator. Despite these attempts at intimacy, ultimately Mehta is entirely comfortable with the multiple languages in her family. “Sometimes more than being alone I like to sit in a room with familiar people who are speaking a language I don’t know, and be ignored” (239).
I felt able to relate to all these stories in one way or another. I think it is pretty typical for people to take interest in their ancestry. I know that within my family, we’ve gone to great lengths to preserve a few particular traditions. I am only one/sixteenth Sweedish yet I know more about the Sweedish part of my family than any else. In order to learn her grandmother’s recipe for cardamom bread, my grandmother weighed the contents of her grandma’s hands (my great great grandmother didn’t use measuring utencils). My mother has tried to keep an extensive written record of our family’s history, and during my grandmother’s decline into Alzheimers, the two of us interviewed her about her childhood and recollections of her parents. So I understand the search for connection with people who seem so far away (spatially or generationally). And while family is an important body through which we learn much about the world, I appreciate Wamba’s belief that you must define yourself.
Half and Half
“The Funeral Banquet” by Lisa See
Each family has their own cultures and traditions that they continue to keep alive and passing down to their children. Lisa’s grandmother was no exception. She passed down the strong Chinese traditions and, even though she was Caucasian, she was Chinese. It is impressive to see someone immerse themselves completely into a new culture. They are faced with many struggles from both racial sides.
Stella Copeland faced border patrolling when she decided to become Chinese. The Chinese community would have a hard time accepting a white women into their family because of the racisms that is still present. The white community would be angry that she would rather be Chinese than be white.
In a society in which being “Americanized” provides greater opportunities, Stella challenged it because she decided to become unamericanized. And by becoming “more “Chinese” than most Chinese” (Lisa Lee, 126) she got the respect from her family.
It was interesting to see that at the funeral they were having problems deciding what to do because Stella was not a traditional Chinese woman. Multiracial families go through all these decisions and doubts on how to do things because they do belong to two worlds. It is difficult to go against traditional norms when there is more than one culture to go by.
All families have members who are open to multiracial marriages, but then there are also those who are more conservative and do not want interracial mixes in their family. Lisa even says that in her family there were people who did not approve of interracial marriages and would even joke about the prejudice that was present. Such as when Gilbert died and his daughter and her Caucasian fiance joked that he chose to die rather than go to their wedding. (Lisa See, 129)
Biracial/multiracial families have to stand up for themselves and fight oppression. They should not be controlled by border patrollers and should be praised for crossing the border line. Lisa Lee and her grandmother did not let racism separate their family and Lisa continues to hold her cultural identities with strength
“A Middle Passage“ by Philippe Wamba
Philippe was born in America and lives in Tanzania and it is very interesting to see the order patrolling that occurs when he goes to visit his family. In America he is treated differently because he comes from Africa. African Americans easily fall into stereotypes and start treating him like a child. The cultural difference is so great that even if they look alike, they are different. With his family in Congo, he is the American brother and was connected to America than to Tanzania. Philippe was not entirely American, yet he was given that title because he was born there.
Being form a multiracial family, Philippe has trouble defining his identity when people label him different things.
Philippe was happy that he was called Phil and even said that he would be mortified if his friends found out his African name. It is sad to say but fitting in in cost of your culture happens a lot. People do not want to be labeled as outsiders will hide, rather than take pride in their cultural identities.
I think that it is very important that they parents encourage both cultures to be used with the children. I like that Philippe’s parents cooked meals that represented their culutre and kept trading off.
It was funny when his dad and uncle went to buy a goat to serve at a party and the Americans thought they were selling it as a pet. Different cultures have different traditions, being Mexican-my family does eat goat and Philippe’s story reminds me of hope each culture has different ideas.
Philippe had to choose between his American and African culture once he moved to Tanzania and in order to fit in he had to become more African. Philippe does not belong to just one or cultures, but he is more. He does not feel he has to state his identity, he does not want to be labeled and want to show that he is made up of many places. He does not have to choose one over the other but he can be all, he chose to be free. Being multiracial is something to be proud of, not something that needs to be hidden.
“From Here to Poland” by Nina Mehta
Nina Mehta started talking about how her parents defied the color line, her mother being American and her father Indian. As it is usual with interracial couples, the parents were not please with the marriage and would even disown their children if the interracial relationship continued.
Nina is American and Indian, but she only speaks English. She can barely communicate with her grandmother and I think that it would have been better for Nina if she had been taught the Indian languages. Nina would have been able to identify more with her other culture rather than feeling like she only had “half and understanding.” (Nina Mehta, 219)
It was interesting to see that even if she did not communicate with the grandmother, she still liked having approval from her, like sitting on the jute mats and didn’t use utensils to eat.
When she moved to New Jersey, she was faced with discrimination because she was biracial. At ten years old she faced prejudice from a young boys because of her biracialism. The community had border patrolling and did not accepts people of color because few African American families that lived there never stayed long.
Nina wondered why she was so different, the confusion and anger she felt was only worsened because of the racism she was confronted with. She even wanted to change her name to claim a different ethnicity.
Having her grandmother present, Nina was able to get the side of the culture that she was not completely a part of and that she even did not want to be a part of. Nina was able to get more attached to both her cultures and learn from them. Her grandmother was the connection to the culture that her parents did not immerse her in, which is the problem with being multiracial--with what culture does one identify with the most and is it ones decision or is it influenced by the greater society?
Each family has their own cultures and traditions that they continue to keep alive and passing down to their children. Lisa’s grandmother was no exception. She passed down the strong Chinese traditions and, even though she was Caucasian, she was Chinese. It is impressive to see someone immerse themselves completely into a new culture. They are faced with many struggles from both racial sides.
Stella Copeland faced border patrolling when she decided to become Chinese. The Chinese community would have a hard time accepting a white women into their family because of the racisms that is still present. The white community would be angry that she would rather be Chinese than be white.
In a society in which being “Americanized” provides greater opportunities, Stella challenged it because she decided to become unamericanized. And by becoming “more “Chinese” than most Chinese” (Lisa Lee, 126) she got the respect from her family.
It was interesting to see that at the funeral they were having problems deciding what to do because Stella was not a traditional Chinese woman. Multiracial families go through all these decisions and doubts on how to do things because they do belong to two worlds. It is difficult to go against traditional norms when there is more than one culture to go by.
All families have members who are open to multiracial marriages, but then there are also those who are more conservative and do not want interracial mixes in their family. Lisa even says that in her family there were people who did not approve of interracial marriages and would even joke about the prejudice that was present. Such as when Gilbert died and his daughter and her Caucasian fiance joked that he chose to die rather than go to their wedding. (Lisa See, 129)
Biracial/multiracial families have to stand up for themselves and fight oppression. They should not be controlled by border patrollers and should be praised for crossing the border line. Lisa Lee and her grandmother did not let racism separate their family and Lisa continues to hold her cultural identities with strength
“A Middle Passage“ by Philippe Wamba
Philippe was born in America and lives in Tanzania and it is very interesting to see the order patrolling that occurs when he goes to visit his family. In America he is treated differently because he comes from Africa. African Americans easily fall into stereotypes and start treating him like a child. The cultural difference is so great that even if they look alike, they are different. With his family in Congo, he is the American brother and was connected to America than to Tanzania. Philippe was not entirely American, yet he was given that title because he was born there.
Being form a multiracial family, Philippe has trouble defining his identity when people label him different things.
Philippe was happy that he was called Phil and even said that he would be mortified if his friends found out his African name. It is sad to say but fitting in in cost of your culture happens a lot. People do not want to be labeled as outsiders will hide, rather than take pride in their cultural identities.
I think that it is very important that they parents encourage both cultures to be used with the children. I like that Philippe’s parents cooked meals that represented their culutre and kept trading off.
It was funny when his dad and uncle went to buy a goat to serve at a party and the Americans thought they were selling it as a pet. Different cultures have different traditions, being Mexican-my family does eat goat and Philippe’s story reminds me of hope each culture has different ideas.
Philippe had to choose between his American and African culture once he moved to Tanzania and in order to fit in he had to become more African. Philippe does not belong to just one or cultures, but he is more. He does not feel he has to state his identity, he does not want to be labeled and want to show that he is made up of many places. He does not have to choose one over the other but he can be all, he chose to be free. Being multiracial is something to be proud of, not something that needs to be hidden.
“From Here to Poland” by Nina Mehta
Nina Mehta started talking about how her parents defied the color line, her mother being American and her father Indian. As it is usual with interracial couples, the parents were not please with the marriage and would even disown their children if the interracial relationship continued.
Nina is American and Indian, but she only speaks English. She can barely communicate with her grandmother and I think that it would have been better for Nina if she had been taught the Indian languages. Nina would have been able to identify more with her other culture rather than feeling like she only had “half and understanding.” (Nina Mehta, 219)
It was interesting to see that even if she did not communicate with the grandmother, she still liked having approval from her, like sitting on the jute mats and didn’t use utensils to eat.
When she moved to New Jersey, she was faced with discrimination because she was biracial. At ten years old she faced prejudice from a young boys because of her biracialism. The community had border patrolling and did not accepts people of color because few African American families that lived there never stayed long.
Nina wondered why she was so different, the confusion and anger she felt was only worsened because of the racism she was confronted with. She even wanted to change her name to claim a different ethnicity.
Having her grandmother present, Nina was able to get the side of the culture that she was not completely a part of and that she even did not want to be a part of. Nina was able to get more attached to both her cultures and learn from them. Her grandmother was the connection to the culture that her parents did not immerse her in, which is the problem with being multiracial--with what culture does one identify with the most and is it ones decision or is it influenced by the greater society?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tripping on the Color Line Ch. 2-3
Chapter 2:
"Loving our neighbor implies sticking with our own," (Dalmage, pg.71) is a great quote that portrays how the American society lives. It is sad to say but we do live in distrust and disinterest of people who are not members of the in group. Neighborhoods are racially segregated and continue to be this way. Why is this so? Shouldn't we be living in a society that values all ethnicities and promotes unification, instead of promoting segregation? The housing market has been and will continue being the primary factor in maintaining the color line. The housing industry has not only strengthened the white advantage but also provides more power to racial disparities in the community.
If neighborhoods are racially segregated, the question then becomes what happens to multiracial families? If a multiracial family moves into a white community, then the whites flee and the neighborhood starts to be redlined. As more whites flee, more multiracial or African Americans families move in, which leads to a racially segregated neighborhood once again. The invasion succession model demonstrates that there will not be a racially mixed neighborhood because of the racism that is present. Why would the land be devalued just because an African American owns it? It is hard to believe that racial stereotypes are still very strong in society today. Who is to say that whites are more valuable than people of ethnic backgrounds? They need to realize that they have the same rights, yet they still continue to treat each other differently, it’s not just whites that continue the segregation, but also the people of ethnic backgrounds who discriminate back. People still continue the border patrolling of their neighborhoods and this helps maintain the color line.
One quote that I thought was interest was, "Whites who live in wealthier communities...can afford, at least on the surface, to accept a few blacks in the area." (Dalmage, pg. 76) It is ridiculous to know that white people think that they are doing African Americans a favor in letting them move into their neighborhoods. However, it is not just the people living in the neighborhoods who help maintain the color line, the government, banks, insurers, and others of the housing industry are to blame too because they try to keep the neighborhoods segregated by denying help to racial minorities.
Multiracial families have it even tougher. Where do they fit in, in white or black communities? Multiracial families have a more difficult time with border patrolling because they belong to both sides. If they live in one area they have to prove that they are "black enough" or "white enough," like many of the people mentioned in the book. Finding racially mixed areas that are stable and will not have the "white flight" later on is difficult to find. Living in a mixed area is better for multiracial families because they do not have to worry about borderism and the color line as much, even though they still will have problems.
There needs to be changes in the housing industry or else society is going to be ruled by the color line. The question that needs to be asked after reading this chapter is what can be done to stop it?
Chapter 3:
Comparing the Rorschach test to how we identify/classify people because of their appearance goes hand in hand. I never thought about it that way but it makes complete sense. We do not know what the ink stain really is, we just guess by what it appears like, we do the same thing with people. We see their skin color, their hair, their clothes, how they talk--we do not know how they identify but we go through stereotypes to guess who they are.
The more I think about how we categorize people, I realize that is a normal thing for us. The Critical Race Theory is always at play in society, racism is deeply engrained in us legally, culturally, and psychologically. Even if it is passive racism, it still affects us. It is hard to fight racism that we do not even know we are enforcing. We have come to view it as everyday life and we have to be aware of it in order to try to stop it.
The need to stick people in certain boxes (Dalmage, pg. 107) reinforces the color line and even asserts more white power. The need to have an "us" and "them" is just a way to segregate people. Multiracial families are constantly reminded of the color line and they have to get used to it because it will continue, even though it is unfair and they shouldn't have to deal with it. It must be tiring for a mother or father when they are not accepted as their children's parents because they are a multiracial family. Their appearance does not fit together so people do not place them in the same box.
"You told us all along that we had to call ourselves black because of this so-called one drop. Now that we don't have to anymore, we choose to. Because black is beautiful. Because black is not a burden, but a privilege." (Dalmage, pg. 112) Being proud of your racial background is very important. African Americans are proud of who they are and exert their pride to others and do not want to hide because of all the oppression they faced, they want to show that they are still standing tall. Multiracial people are proud of being black and want people to know them for who they are. "Their desire for a connection to blackness runs contrary to the racist thinking of many whites, who firmly believe that all people of color wish for whiteness." (Dalmage, pg. 115) I agree with this because people know that being white gives you certain privileges, but even if you can pass for white and you choose to be multiracial, that pride contradicts the common misconception that white is better. However, not all people choose to assert their race. Some do it for business reasons in which being part of a multiracial family would interfere, so there are times in which race does influence life decisions.
Everybody should be educated about race because they are faced with it every day. How do we expect people to be aware of the racism that occurs in society if they do not understand what is happening. Educating in private is important so that the person does not feel attacked and so the person really listens to what is happening and learns from it. Also, informing people of race differences is helpful, such as introducing that your family is multiracial before they meet them so that people do not have certain expectations. Humor is also a good tool to use when talking about race. People need to be educated about multiracialism in society, and not matter which way they learn, it is important that they become aware of the multiracial society that we live in and hopefully the racial cartography becomes a multiracial cartography.
"The ways in which individuals think about race and their own racial identity influences their responses and interactions with others."
(Dalmage, pg. 129) People need to be open to multiracialism and be accepting so that race will stop being such a big factor in social inequalities and for the color line to start vanishing.
"Loving our neighbor implies sticking with our own," (Dalmage, pg.71) is a great quote that portrays how the American society lives. It is sad to say but we do live in distrust and disinterest of people who are not members of the in group. Neighborhoods are racially segregated and continue to be this way. Why is this so? Shouldn't we be living in a society that values all ethnicities and promotes unification, instead of promoting segregation? The housing market has been and will continue being the primary factor in maintaining the color line. The housing industry has not only strengthened the white advantage but also provides more power to racial disparities in the community.
If neighborhoods are racially segregated, the question then becomes what happens to multiracial families? If a multiracial family moves into a white community, then the whites flee and the neighborhood starts to be redlined. As more whites flee, more multiracial or African Americans families move in, which leads to a racially segregated neighborhood once again. The invasion succession model demonstrates that there will not be a racially mixed neighborhood because of the racism that is present. Why would the land be devalued just because an African American owns it? It is hard to believe that racial stereotypes are still very strong in society today. Who is to say that whites are more valuable than people of ethnic backgrounds? They need to realize that they have the same rights, yet they still continue to treat each other differently, it’s not just whites that continue the segregation, but also the people of ethnic backgrounds who discriminate back. People still continue the border patrolling of their neighborhoods and this helps maintain the color line.
One quote that I thought was interest was, "Whites who live in wealthier communities...can afford, at least on the surface, to accept a few blacks in the area." (Dalmage, pg. 76) It is ridiculous to know that white people think that they are doing African Americans a favor in letting them move into their neighborhoods. However, it is not just the people living in the neighborhoods who help maintain the color line, the government, banks, insurers, and others of the housing industry are to blame too because they try to keep the neighborhoods segregated by denying help to racial minorities.
Multiracial families have it even tougher. Where do they fit in, in white or black communities? Multiracial families have a more difficult time with border patrolling because they belong to both sides. If they live in one area they have to prove that they are "black enough" or "white enough," like many of the people mentioned in the book. Finding racially mixed areas that are stable and will not have the "white flight" later on is difficult to find. Living in a mixed area is better for multiracial families because they do not have to worry about borderism and the color line as much, even though they still will have problems.
There needs to be changes in the housing industry or else society is going to be ruled by the color line. The question that needs to be asked after reading this chapter is what can be done to stop it?
Chapter 3:
Comparing the Rorschach test to how we identify/classify people because of their appearance goes hand in hand. I never thought about it that way but it makes complete sense. We do not know what the ink stain really is, we just guess by what it appears like, we do the same thing with people. We see their skin color, their hair, their clothes, how they talk--we do not know how they identify but we go through stereotypes to guess who they are.
The more I think about how we categorize people, I realize that is a normal thing for us. The Critical Race Theory is always at play in society, racism is deeply engrained in us legally, culturally, and psychologically. Even if it is passive racism, it still affects us. It is hard to fight racism that we do not even know we are enforcing. We have come to view it as everyday life and we have to be aware of it in order to try to stop it.
The need to stick people in certain boxes (Dalmage, pg. 107) reinforces the color line and even asserts more white power. The need to have an "us" and "them" is just a way to segregate people. Multiracial families are constantly reminded of the color line and they have to get used to it because it will continue, even though it is unfair and they shouldn't have to deal with it. It must be tiring for a mother or father when they are not accepted as their children's parents because they are a multiracial family. Their appearance does not fit together so people do not place them in the same box.
"You told us all along that we had to call ourselves black because of this so-called one drop. Now that we don't have to anymore, we choose to. Because black is beautiful. Because black is not a burden, but a privilege." (Dalmage, pg. 112) Being proud of your racial background is very important. African Americans are proud of who they are and exert their pride to others and do not want to hide because of all the oppression they faced, they want to show that they are still standing tall. Multiracial people are proud of being black and want people to know them for who they are. "Their desire for a connection to blackness runs contrary to the racist thinking of many whites, who firmly believe that all people of color wish for whiteness." (Dalmage, pg. 115) I agree with this because people know that being white gives you certain privileges, but even if you can pass for white and you choose to be multiracial, that pride contradicts the common misconception that white is better. However, not all people choose to assert their race. Some do it for business reasons in which being part of a multiracial family would interfere, so there are times in which race does influence life decisions.
Everybody should be educated about race because they are faced with it every day. How do we expect people to be aware of the racism that occurs in society if they do not understand what is happening. Educating in private is important so that the person does not feel attacked and so the person really listens to what is happening and learns from it. Also, informing people of race differences is helpful, such as introducing that your family is multiracial before they meet them so that people do not have certain expectations. Humor is also a good tool to use when talking about race. People need to be educated about multiracialism in society, and not matter which way they learn, it is important that they become aware of the multiracial society that we live in and hopefully the racial cartography becomes a multiracial cartography.
"The ways in which individuals think about race and their own racial identity influences their responses and interactions with others."
(Dalmage, pg. 129) People need to be open to multiracialism and be accepting so that race will stop being such a big factor in social inequalities and for the color line to start vanishing.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tripping on the Color Line Ch. 1
The color line is a set boundary that cannot be crossed. If people do cross it they are faced with discrimination and rejection from their own people; they have become traitors, just like the examples from Half and Half. The racial borders are set up by the races and the most prominent border is created by whites and blacks. When the borders are crossed, race becomes a main topic in the individuals and families conversations.
Society today wants to pretend that everybody is equal and that racism is a thing of the past. Having multiracial couples is "symbolic proof that race no longer matters in society"(Dalmage, pg. 33). However, this belief is completely wrong, because multiracial couples are still faced with discrimination today and will continue to be discriminated for a while unless drastic changes occur.
One question I asked myself while reading the chapter is why the borders are so engraved in U.S. society and how categorizing people is seen as a natural part of human interactions. Having racial borders "give each person a sense of ourselves in the world; they help us know where we fit, what our status is, and who our people are (Dalmage, pg. 35). I agree that borders tell people where they belong but it does not tell people who they are. I know that it is not possible right now, but people should not be limited and told where and with who they can be with. America is supposed to be about freedome, not restrictions.
The color line is institutionalized and internalized in every person and society. Black slaves and the white owners helped create the color line. It was not just whites who wanted to keep blacks away to preserve their white power, but it was also the blacks who wanted to keep the whites away to perserve their cultural identity (Delmage, pg. 37). Both races are vital parts in keeping the color line so intact.
It is true that whites have always put blacks down and made them feel like they were inferior, however I do agree that the oppression is not completely the whites fault, but also the blacks becuase they start believing the whites and internalize the borders that keep them down(Delmage, pg. 40). Multiracial couples have to deal with the consequences of crossing the borders and accept that they are being discriminated against because of the institutionalized and internalized racial borders.
Border patrolling occurs within their own race where they try to maintian people inside thier own race. Whites patrol other whites to try to maintian the white superiority, while blacks patrol other blacks and minorities to make sure they do not cross over. when people do get involved in a multiracial relationship they are looked down upon by thier families and communities. It is horrible that one's own family doesn't want you anymore and that they think you betrayed them and are making a huge mistake. And even when families later accept the minority partner, they are not really accepting the person, they are just making him/her an exception; an excuse.
When I think of oppressed women, I immediately picture women of color, but while reading I realized that white women are oppressed as well. Even though they are white and do have some privilege, they have great pressure becuase they are the ones that need to keep the white race pure. White women are seen as equipment,not as individuals and if they are with a black man- they are worthless. I thought it was so unreasonable and senseless when Julie went on a date with a white man and he told her he didnt understand why she slept with a black man if she was "such a pretty and intelligent woman" (Delmage, pg. 46) It is ridiculous to think that one needs to be stupid and ugly to be with a black man. I really couldnt believe he said it as if it was logical.
So I really liked the response June makes when asked if she adopted her children and she says, "No, I slept with a black man," (Delmage, pg. 48). This shows that people know the racial border is ridiculous and that it needs to be taken down.
One part that I just couldn't beleive was when the pastor was removed from a church because he interacted with blacks (Delmage, pg. 54). It is just outrageous how religion is being used to keep racism alive, shouldnt it be the other way in which God wants everyone to be equal with not hate or discrimination. This just goes to show tha , at least to me, some religious people are just ignorant.
With black border patrolling, blacks patrol thier own people. if a black person crosses the border, than they are dissapproved by their community, especially if they get involved with a white person. I do not agree with the fact that blacks discriminate their own people just becuase they cross the racial border. I would think that they have been oppressed enought that they would not want to place even more oppression on thier own people. Blacks do not like the whites because they have oppressed and discriminated them, yet they are doing the same to someone of their own race. In the book it says that many reject black men with white women or vice versa because it is seen as a rejection of black female beauty or black men seen as not good enough (education and job). I do not agree with this because the people who get involved with other races are not rejecting their race, becuase that would be rejecting themselves and thier family, but it all comes down to who they fall in love with.
I do not think that people would endure all the discrimination if the love was not there. Especially the white partner who had always been privileged and never faced with discrimination. However, rebound racism makes sure that the white partner recieves some of the racism the black partner experiences, even if it is not intended for the white partner. And blacks would not endure the intensified racism, especially black males, if they did not have a strong love to help them get through it.
Interacial couples have a hard time saving their relationships because of the prejudice and obstacles that they go through after they cross the racial boundaries. It is horrible that the color line is responsible for so many interracial couples to be broken apart becuase of the discrimination. Borderism has to stop because it is totally unfair for people to be told where they belong, and it is up to both races, not just one, to start blurring the color line.
Society today wants to pretend that everybody is equal and that racism is a thing of the past. Having multiracial couples is "symbolic proof that race no longer matters in society"(Dalmage, pg. 33). However, this belief is completely wrong, because multiracial couples are still faced with discrimination today and will continue to be discriminated for a while unless drastic changes occur.
One question I asked myself while reading the chapter is why the borders are so engraved in U.S. society and how categorizing people is seen as a natural part of human interactions. Having racial borders "give each person a sense of ourselves in the world; they help us know where we fit, what our status is, and who our people are (Dalmage, pg. 35). I agree that borders tell people where they belong but it does not tell people who they are. I know that it is not possible right now, but people should not be limited and told where and with who they can be with. America is supposed to be about freedome, not restrictions.
The color line is institutionalized and internalized in every person and society. Black slaves and the white owners helped create the color line. It was not just whites who wanted to keep blacks away to preserve their white power, but it was also the blacks who wanted to keep the whites away to perserve their cultural identity (Delmage, pg. 37). Both races are vital parts in keeping the color line so intact.
It is true that whites have always put blacks down and made them feel like they were inferior, however I do agree that the oppression is not completely the whites fault, but also the blacks becuase they start believing the whites and internalize the borders that keep them down(Delmage, pg. 40). Multiracial couples have to deal with the consequences of crossing the borders and accept that they are being discriminated against because of the institutionalized and internalized racial borders.
Border patrolling occurs within their own race where they try to maintian people inside thier own race. Whites patrol other whites to try to maintian the white superiority, while blacks patrol other blacks and minorities to make sure they do not cross over. when people do get involved in a multiracial relationship they are looked down upon by thier families and communities. It is horrible that one's own family doesn't want you anymore and that they think you betrayed them and are making a huge mistake. And even when families later accept the minority partner, they are not really accepting the person, they are just making him/her an exception; an excuse.
When I think of oppressed women, I immediately picture women of color, but while reading I realized that white women are oppressed as well. Even though they are white and do have some privilege, they have great pressure becuase they are the ones that need to keep the white race pure. White women are seen as equipment,not as individuals and if they are with a black man- they are worthless. I thought it was so unreasonable and senseless when Julie went on a date with a white man and he told her he didnt understand why she slept with a black man if she was "such a pretty and intelligent woman" (Delmage, pg. 46) It is ridiculous to think that one needs to be stupid and ugly to be with a black man. I really couldnt believe he said it as if it was logical.
So I really liked the response June makes when asked if she adopted her children and she says, "No, I slept with a black man," (Delmage, pg. 48). This shows that people know the racial border is ridiculous and that it needs to be taken down.
One part that I just couldn't beleive was when the pastor was removed from a church because he interacted with blacks (Delmage, pg. 54). It is just outrageous how religion is being used to keep racism alive, shouldnt it be the other way in which God wants everyone to be equal with not hate or discrimination. This just goes to show tha , at least to me, some religious people are just ignorant.
With black border patrolling, blacks patrol thier own people. if a black person crosses the border, than they are dissapproved by their community, especially if they get involved with a white person. I do not agree with the fact that blacks discriminate their own people just becuase they cross the racial border. I would think that they have been oppressed enought that they would not want to place even more oppression on thier own people. Blacks do not like the whites because they have oppressed and discriminated them, yet they are doing the same to someone of their own race. In the book it says that many reject black men with white women or vice versa because it is seen as a rejection of black female beauty or black men seen as not good enough (education and job). I do not agree with this because the people who get involved with other races are not rejecting their race, becuase that would be rejecting themselves and thier family, but it all comes down to who they fall in love with.
I do not think that people would endure all the discrimination if the love was not there. Especially the white partner who had always been privileged and never faced with discrimination. However, rebound racism makes sure that the white partner recieves some of the racism the black partner experiences, even if it is not intended for the white partner. And blacks would not endure the intensified racism, especially black males, if they did not have a strong love to help them get through it.
Interacial couples have a hard time saving their relationships because of the prejudice and obstacles that they go through after they cross the racial boundaries. It is horrible that the color line is responsible for so many interracial couples to be broken apart becuase of the discrimination. Borderism has to stop because it is totally unfair for people to be told where they belong, and it is up to both races, not just one, to start blurring the color line.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Film Response: Mississippi Masala
"Mississippi Masala" is a very good movie that demonstrates the challenges two people faces when trying to be together just because of their racial identities. Both were told to stick to their own race and were seen as traitors for crossing the boundaries. Meena and Demetrius had to endure their families disapproval in order to be together.
Meena and her parents lived in Uganda but were forced to leave after a General took power. They lived in several places and ended up in Mississippi. Meena and her parents were Indian in their traditions and culture, yet born in Uganda, her parents--especially her father-- identified as African. I found it interesting that the family had such strong cultural ties to India, yet they had never lived there. I would think that since they lived in Uganda so long, that they would have incorporated some of the African culture into thier own.In Mississippi, Meena and her family associates with other Indians and they expect Meena to marry within her race. However, when her parents find out that Meena is involved with Demetrius, an African American, they are disappointed.
Meena has dishonored the family and her parents forbid her from being with Demetruis. Demitrius loses his clients after they find out he was involved with an Indian. I thought that it was unfair for the families to judge them and discriminate because they were living in Mississippi where all races, other than white, was inferior. The minority races should be supporting each other, instead they enforce the segregation.
What I found interesting was the fathers dissapproval of Demetrius becuase he was African American. The father identifed as African and insisted that Uganda was his home, yet he discriminated against African Americans. I liked when Demetrius gave him a rude awakening when he told him that he had beome Americanized and saw African Americans as inferior, when he had seen Africa as his home. This brought up how the view of Africans and African Americans is so different. African Americans are seen as infereior because of their social standing within America and how they have had to deal with the ongoing discrimination.
The film demonstrated the transnational relations within these families. The various connections Meena and her family had with different nations. One part that really stood out to me was how Meena's father realized that he was being racially prejudice against Demetrius, just as he had once been in Uganda and had fought and disapproved of.
Meena and her parents lived in Uganda but were forced to leave after a General took power. They lived in several places and ended up in Mississippi. Meena and her parents were Indian in their traditions and culture, yet born in Uganda, her parents--especially her father-- identified as African. I found it interesting that the family had such strong cultural ties to India, yet they had never lived there. I would think that since they lived in Uganda so long, that they would have incorporated some of the African culture into thier own.In Mississippi, Meena and her family associates with other Indians and they expect Meena to marry within her race. However, when her parents find out that Meena is involved with Demetrius, an African American, they are disappointed.
Meena has dishonored the family and her parents forbid her from being with Demetruis. Demitrius loses his clients after they find out he was involved with an Indian. I thought that it was unfair for the families to judge them and discriminate because they were living in Mississippi where all races, other than white, was inferior. The minority races should be supporting each other, instead they enforce the segregation.
What I found interesting was the fathers dissapproval of Demetrius becuase he was African American. The father identifed as African and insisted that Uganda was his home, yet he discriminated against African Americans. I liked when Demetrius gave him a rude awakening when he told him that he had beome Americanized and saw African Americans as inferior, when he had seen Africa as his home. This brought up how the view of Africans and African Americans is so different. African Americans are seen as infereior because of their social standing within America and how they have had to deal with the ongoing discrimination.
The film demonstrated the transnational relations within these families. The various connections Meena and her family had with different nations. One part that really stood out to me was how Meena's father realized that he was being racially prejudice against Demetrius, just as he had once been in Uganda and had fought and disapproved of.
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