a news article on tracking

just saw this in the news today

dropping the gifted

wow what did FNED do to me

So I was looking through my files when I came across a file that just had this in it...

230 am friday morning

watching roseanne

guys playing poker

2 black males, 2 white gay male and two white straight males

conversation about how OJ trial, black men liked the verdict, said a black man" can't get a fair shake in this country". gay male responds with have you ever heard of gay bashing. both groups talk about how hard it is, hate crimes, struggles.  they argue SWM says hey guys knock if off, we've all got struggles... they look at him iike he's crazy. How does he have problems with the advantages of being a straight white male. SWM responds with how he is straight white male but he aint living the good life in a mansion. he had to struggle for everything he owns. thought it was interesting that this was the show on the same night we had the SCWAAMP discussion in class.

I don't know why I was up at 2 am, but apparently this class is getting to me. I took notes and totally forgot about it, at least I think I did. I don't know if I blogged on it. but anyways.

What can YOU do

NAME OF AUTHOR and TEXT

Allan Johnson and What Can We Do

AUTHOR'S ARGUMENT

Johnson says in order to end the privileges afforded to those based on whiteness, maleness, etc, we need to stop ignoring the oppressive attitudes and make changes to allow equal opportunities to everyone. In cannot nor will it end until those with the power make every effort to end it.

QUOTE

"Oppression promotes the worst kind of divisiveness because it cuts us off from one another and, by silencing us about the truth, cuts us off from ourselves as well. Not only must we participate in oppression by living in an oppressive society, we also must act as though oppression didn't exist, denying the reality of our own experience and its consequences for people's lives, including our own."

- here he is talking about the effects of oppression and how it hurts. We must remember not to oppress others, and those of us with the power and privilege need to help end oppression by joining in the fight against it.

"An awareness of oppression compels people to speak out, to break the silence that continued oppression depends on."

- When we're aware of the oppression, we can take steps needed to help end it one person at a time.

"For that reason, it's a good idea not to rely on the media for meaningful analysis of social oppression. As large capitalist enterprises, the media have a vested interest in ignoring most of what is known about privilege, especially anything that seriously questions the status quo."

- Here Johnson is talking about media influences and how it biases our opinions. We need to remember not to base our opinions on images that media gives. 

"Make noise, be seen. Stand up, volunteer, speak out, write letters, sign petitions, show up. Every oppressive system feeds on silence. sign petitions, show up. Every oppressive system feeds on silence. Don't collude in silence. Breaking the silence is especially important for dominant groupS, because it undermines the assumption of solidarity that dominance depends on."

MAKE NOISE! Do not stand silently. Dr Bogad, should I be that person who annoys the living crap out of everyone, educating the ignorant masses when they make a horrible statement? I encountered one today, but had no idea how to deal with it.

"Dare to make peoplefeel uncomfortable, beginning with yourself "

I can make myself uncomfortable, I feel bad making someone else. I'm going to have to learn to get over that.

"The more you pay attention to privilege and oppression, the more you'll see opportunities to do something about them. You don't have to mount an expedition to find those opportunities; they're all over the place, beginning in yourself. As I became aware ofhow male privilege encourages me to control conversations, for example, I also realized how easily men dominate group meetings by controlling the agenda and interrupting, without women's objecting to it This pattern is especially striking in groups that are mostly female but in which most of the talking nonetheless comes from a few men. "

I'M PAYING ATTENTION!!

Comments:

Obviously the last article is supposed to tie in all of the articles we've been reading all semester. This book seems redundant and repetitive at the least. I think by now we've all figured it out.. be aware, be educated, take a stand for the underrepresented, educate others and be a part of the solution, not the problem. Even today, just when I think I'm surrounded by worldly peoples in my human sexuality class, there are students in my class who are prejudice against others. And those who were considered second class citizens not too long ago still treat others like second class citizens. It amazes me, that even in the educated liberal atmosphere called Rhode Island College, hate breeds and spills. 

Here's how to make noise: