Race Unit Reflection

Before we began this race unit, my view of race in America was quite different. We had briefly discussed how race was a social construct and had no genetic basis. Armed with this knowledge, my first thoughts on race were confused. I wasn’t sure why America was holding on to this false concept and allowing it to damage our citizens. It seemed like this made up concept should have melted away years ago. After learning about how race was constructed and why it is so pervasive in American society, my views about race radically changed. I was able to see how generations of policies against African Americans and other minorities had caused a gaping expanse between them and white Americans. I learned how race was constructed and reinforced by bringing

Learning about the distribution of wealth and the way white Americans are treated as superior changed the way I view race. This unit has helped me accept that I do have white privilege, but that I can use that privilege to be an ally. I have learned that we all grew up in a racist society, and the fact that I have biases is ok, but that what I need to do is check those biases and correct my way of thinking. It was disturbing for me to read the violent, turbulent history of Race in America, but it furthered my understanding of how we got to now. This class was essential for me to learn the history of race with the backdrop of America. Being able to learn about race in context with the history of America helped me to be able to understand our collective history together and why things happened the way they did. It has helped me understand where we are coming from and how we need to dismantle the system that gives unfair privileges based on skin color. This unit has shown me why there is such a wealth gap between White Americans and Black Americans. I feel like I can understand the history of all sides of my family much better now that I see race through the lens of past