Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Week 2 Linguistic Constructions of Race and Racism

Discussion Prompt #1: What Did You Experience?

 

[What Did You Experience? This may be difficult, but reflect on and share the emotions that you experienced while engaging with the content in this part of Week 2 of the course.]

Annoyance (as a White person confronted with this problem in the first place); Incredulity (that we as the Human Family haven’t grown past this as yet), Anger (that I feel by the implicit/explicit accusations); Guilt (that ‘my people’ have long been complicit regarding this segment of history); Shame (that I’m implicated in this by all this solely by the fact that I’m White); Curiosity (regarding what BIPoC people are thinking and feeling); Fear (regarding the individual and collective responses of BIPoC persons); Embarrassment (that other White folks would tell me this is all BS, and I’m ‘foolish’ [euphemistically speaking] for pursuing it). Wow! The reactions and emotions can flow—and do.

Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Week 1 Historical Constructions of Race and Racism
Discussion Prompt #3: Toxic Masculinity in Your Community

[Toxic Masculinity in Your Community Reflect on the ways that toxic/hypermasculinity creates societal problems in your town, city, country, school, etc. Pick one location and discuss.]

Week 1 Discussion Prompt #3: Toxic Masculinity in Your Community

As an older retired person, I haven’t observed much in the way of toxic masculinity directly, though I resonate with the material I’ve reviewed thus far in this course. However, when in junior high and high school many years ago, bullying was often used to ‘encourage’ guys to comply with masculine expectations of what being a strong and dominant male personality should be. Levels of Power were established by the resulting pecking order of young males: the jocks, the wannabes, the geeks, the band kids, the smokers, the ‘re-tards.’ In my experience, it was the sports-playing extrovert—to my mind often undisciplined, loud and obnoxious—who was found acceptable in the halls, on the field of sport, and out about town. And this included, unfortunately in my view, a significant number of young women who bought into that poison. Incredulity and Jealousy much?

I admit my perspective may be biased and exceptionally skewed, but I hated the bullying with a passion and still do. I was hurt by it and bear the scars still. I can see readily how some many people were—and are—attracted to Mr Trump and his minions of sycophantic charlatans and scoundrels. That’s what’s happening, isn’t it? This continuing poison? 

Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Week 1 Discussion Prompt #2

[Unknown Histories Now that you have completed “After the Land Settles", reflect on what you learned. Did you discover histories that were previously unknown to you?​ Is there anything else that you'd like to share with your peers?]

Week 1 Discussion Prompt #2: Unknown Histories

I’d heard of The Birth of a Nation, but until I began this course had never seen it. I assumed it was the realization of straightforward documented material until I got into the second part (Reconstruction) and really began to question what I was watching. The positioning and behavior of the two principal families, the pro-Union Stonemans, and the pro-Confederate Camerons both caught me a little off guard—especially as we got into the segments regarding the time of the Carpetbaggers and the inception of what came to be the Ku Klux Klan. “What In the World Is This?” I asked myself. I came to realize that this film—though exceptionally well done and thoroughly engaging—was nothing less than divisive and hateful racist drivel, jingoism, and pro-Klan propaganda. Gah! I did some further research (OK, I goggled it.) and confirmed that this was generally considered so from moderates to progressives to liberals—including some noteworthy historians and even respected film critics I’ve followed for some time.

I neither feel nor accept much in the way of personal guilt, but I’ve been thinking about ancestral guilt—regarding a number of similar constructs—for several years now. And here too I must consider a spiritual component tempered by Jewish/Christian influences. By taking this my third course I show that I’m obviously interested and remain open to learned instruction, persuasive writings, and thoughtful and engaging discussions and debate. On Facebook several months back, I attempted to join a racial relations support group and voiced pretty much the same opinions. I was immediately scolded and told sternly something like, “There is no conversation. There is no debate. You must hold as basic truths all we tell you, or you’re of no use to us or yourself.” [Posted by one of the administrators I believe.] Yeah . . . No . . . That kind of angry and hateful BS goes nowhere with me fast. [See how quickly I bristle? Something to work on . . . ]

What did Sean O’Neal say in his introductory remarks? “We present this challenging material with empathy, peace, and love.” That’s what will get my attention. That’s what will convince me to be an ally and an anti-racist.

From my FB post of earlier today . . .

Today's Literary Perusal: 1) Re-Reading a published essay from an old friend; 2) A bit more CRT Law; and 3) Some Nicholas Evans [The Divide]. UpComing: Continuing entries into my Blog; plus a new online Racial Theory course out of Johns Hopkins. Reading & LifeLong Learning: This is my Kung Fu, and it is Strong . . . 😐 

Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Week 1 Discussion Prompt #1

[Oppressive Structures Reflect on and discuss the ways in which communities in your country suffer under oppressive structures that have historically conditioned conceptions of race, such [as] Settler Colonialism in the United States.]

 Week 1 Discussion Prompt #1: Oppressive Structures

During a previous on-line course through Coursera [Racial and Cultural Diversity in Life and History, The University of Illinois], I invested a good bit of time looking into the American Indians of the West; or Native Americans, if you will; or the US Indigenous Peoples, if you prefer; or the term I’ve come to appreciate that is often used in Canada: The First Nations Peoples. I centered my research and thinking for a required paper on these folks.

I’ve been attentive to the Vids in Week 1 and have been able to fill in some gaps since then regarding Settler Colonialism. I’ve also reached for my battered copy of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee for another read-through. I’ll probably watch Dances with Wolves again as well. But I can’t help but continue to focus particularly on the Cheyenne (Northern and Southern); the various Sioux Nations—especially the Lakota and Ogallala; the Arapaho; and more locally to Southern Colorado, the Utes.

The systematic subjugation of entire native nations by continuing federal, territorial, state and private means of harassment; warfare to the point of genocide; relocation; land-grabbing; allocation of greatly reduced lands—in territory, in water and life-sustaining animals, in various desirable plants and trees, in natural beauty and general appeal— those lands generously called reservations—is nothing short of criminal. Add to that the extensive lying and manipulative subterfuge at all levels of government to the advantage of migrating white settlers, trappers, and miners; plus the continuing mismanagement and neglect of these peoples up to and including today. Such a travesty of ethical and honorable behavior and justice is shameful and cringeworthy. And I believe we as White people are correct to ascribe to a sense of ancestral guilt and responsibility. The whole business makes me ashamed and angry. 

Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Week 1 Discussion Prompt A

[Introduce Yourself! Thank you and welcome to the course! Please use this discussion to introduce yourself to your fellow learners. Reveal a little something about whom you are, what you do, what you like to do, or what you wish you could be doing. This is not one of the standard surveys; you know the one that asks for race/ethnicity, gender, and so on. Disclose what you feel is the best way to self-identify. Discuss what brought you to this course, or why you feel the ensuing work and self-engagement you are about to take on is important to you.]

Discussion Prompt: Introduce Yourself!

The British Isles and Northern France. Then on to Canada, eventually moving down to the Southern US and subsequently to the American West. White. Nothing extra. Nothing that even begins to bring me by genetics or natural disposition into a more inclusive branch of our humanity—or so my Ancestry profile informs me. I’m OK with being white. Despite my own complicated plate of challenges and difficulties, it’s worked for me all my life. And yet I care about current perceptions and realities regarding Racism. I care about its origins in our great but seriously flawed country, about white ancestral complicity in the historical context, and about my responsibilities as a citizen of the 21^st Century.

I’m now retired—both as a public-school music teacher and as a guest services representative at a Christian conference center. My interests include music, reading, climate science, religion, astronomy, and writing. I’m an aficionado of Bach and Brahms and Mozart and many of the Renaissance composers and Arnold Schoenberg and Philip Glass; but I’m also a fan of Queen, The Beatles, ABBA, The Statler Brothers, and Aerosmith; and again, a devotee of Leo Tolstoy and Jane Austen and Cicero and Clive Cussler and the Brontë Sisters and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When younger I would hike and camp and canoe and crawl through caves and participate in ropes course activities—not so much of that anymore. But I remain a lifelong student.

This is my third Coursera on-line course based on racial theory and praxis. And I’m looking forward to the continuing enlightenment; the stimulating and practical conversation; and the encouragement and prompting necessary to actively pursue racial and social justice in this time and place. In her article, ‘Settler Colonialism, Race, and Decolonization,’ Dr. Natalie Avalos remarks, “. . . that this isn’t about guilt. Rather, this is a reckoning.” Welp, I gotta say I feel a bit of the guilt; and it’s past time for a substantive reckoning.

My sister (the university academician) insists I’m a Liberal. I’m not convinced about that, but I do know this pursuit is important to me. Very.

Anti-Racism II

CU Boulder

Introductory Blog Draft to Anti-Racism II

I’m currently engaged in my third on-line college level course focused on Anti-Racism. Being a white guy, I’ve been feeling the pinch of critical thought regarding People of Color and the North American Indigenous Peoples (I like the Canadian appellative, First Nations) these past few years. Though I don’t feel a lot of personal guilt, the learned discussion and angry individual and corporate responses to alleged injustices over the past several hundred years can’t help but have gained my attention. After all, I’m supposed to be a good guy . . . right?

I believe there is a social construct that includes ancestral awareness and generational responsibility. Therefore, though I don’t think I’ve made any substantive contribution to the current climate of “racial” unrest, I do think I need to recognize that my white ancestors did, and that I must not only accept the historicity of these difficulties but do what I can—both by intellectual accent and active participation—to assuage the damage done and address what social justice requires.

To this purpose, I thought I’d post over the next few weeks the various short pieces required of me by the design of the course . . .