THURSDAY Thursdays are good days, as Friday and the weekend are right around the corner; before you know it, they will be there. Unfortunately, Thursdays still are a decent amount of time away from Saturday bliss. Thursdays metaphorically represent my 10-13 year-old self, a time of disgust and mental mind state change. I was ten years old when I began cheerleading for my school basketball team and competing in karate, as well as continuing competitive gymnastics. Being good at sports was a part of my identity. I was known for it and I lived by them. I was proud of myself and my ability to do whichever sports I desired. From doing sports I was able to develop new friends, as I had begun to realize that many of the “friends” I had in school doubled as bullies. At some point between sixth and eighth grade I was accused of being a lesbian. This is prominent in my memory as I was horrible confused and offended by such an accusation, even more so than being called racist for a situation that did not warrant such a response. Unlike racism, I was fully aware …show more content…
I imagine that subconsciously I was also excited about not having the belief that I was a lesbian carry over to high school. Additionally, my body was finally starting to mature in a way that represented my attitude. I remember that in middle school I was more interested in adult conversations between the teachers and my friend’s parents than I was with hanging out with people my own age. At school dances I would dance for a song or two, but the I would retreat to talking to adults for some time. I loved the wisdom and maturity of adults and longed for the days I would be one. Actually, my whole life seems to show the pattern of looking forward to whatever step is next in my life, even during the lowest point in my life I remain optimistic about the future despite a current pessimistic outlook on
Race has been an issue in North America for many years. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva discusses the new racism in his book, Racism without Racists. Bonilla-Silva classifies the new racial discrimination as color blind racism. Color blind racism is then structured under four frames (26). Color blind racism is believed to have lead to the segregation of the white race from other minorities called white habitus. Color blind racism and white habitus has affected many people, whom don’t even realize that they are, have been or will be affected.
Racism is not a factor of the heart, according to Tommie Shelby in “Is Racism in the ‘Heart’?” He writes “the ‘heart’ does not have to be involved in order for an action or institution to be racist” (483). Instead, Shelby argues that racism is based on the effect of a person’s actions on deepening racist institutions or promulgating the oppression of a particular group of people based on their race. The individual intention of a person or the “purity” or his or her heart does not take precedence over the effect of his or her actions. Shelby’s argument is constructed as follows: Individual beliefs can be true or false but not inherently immoral. Therefore, it is not appropriate to morally condemn someone for holding a particular belief. However, when the particular belief leads to “race-based hatred...actions...or institutions” that is when it becomes appropriate to hold the individual with the belief morally culpable for racism.
James Weldon Johnson 's book, The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, describes the journey throughout the early and midlife of a man who bore both Negro and white blood. He 's ethnicity wise African American but is able to "pass" in American Society as white due to his fair skin. This book examines the question of race and provides insight on what it really meant to fake an identity as a man in a culture that recognized nothing but color. In The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man, the protagonist, who is also the narrator, is never named. In the beginning of the book he announces that he 's about to reveal "the great secret of [his] life" in hopes to analyze his motives for doing it and to also be relieved of this burden (pg. 1). He
"...the effect is a tendency toward lighter complexions, especially among the more active elements in the race. Some might claim that this is a tacit admission of colored people among themselves of their own inferiority judged by the color line. I do not think so. What I have termed an inconsistency is, after all, most natural; it is, in fact, a tendency in accordance with what might be called an economic necessity. So far as racial differences go, the United States puts a greater premium on color, or better, lack of color, than upon anything else in the world."
In the documentary "Bully", Kelby, a 16 year old girl from Oklahoma, was bullied for being gay. Many people are bullied and many for the reason of being gay. The problem came about when Kelby admitted to being gay. Since she lives in a small Christian town the news spread like a wildfire throughout the town and Kelby and her family were prejudiced about it. The bullying was so bad even the teachers were doing it. One teacher even excluded her from both the boys and girls list during the attendants roll call and called her name, excluded from the two other genders, afterwards.
Queens is one of the most diverse boroughs in New York. There is just about every ethnicity living in it. Growing up in Queens I adapted to the diverse environment at a very young age. Living in a diverse environment impacted my way of thinking and the way I act towards others.
Regardless of one’s particular journey, we all deal with varying magnitudes of difficulties. This aspect is not only a part of everyday life, but it is also a fundamental one. Every person deals with their own sorrows and from these we are able to learn from them. By overcoming adversities, people create better lives for themselves and can have a new beginning. All of this is portrayed in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand and James Weldon’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Beginning off with the passage from Quicksand, Larsen is able to develop this theme by using the characters. An example of this is seen when Helga struggles with “inherent aloneness” that she is experiencing as she’s on the boat to leave America, where she didn’t feel as though she fit in, and return back to Denmark: “Leaning against the railing, Helga stared into the approaching night,
In James Weldon Johnson’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, the unnamed narrator must choose between living his life passing as a white man or embracing one of color. Growing up, the protagonist and his peers believe he is white. He then comes across a point during school in which the principal makes him rethink his color. Thus begins the main problem the narrator faces throughout the story; keeping the white identity allows him to live a normal life, whereas the option exists to potentially sacrifice it all and live his life as a colored man. The protagonist oscillates through his racial identity as white or black based upon the racial discrimination and violence that he witnesses, and ultimately chooses to pass as white due to these
Signs of Racism by Rajiv Kapur Signs of Racism offers a glimpse into what racism means today. Historically, racism was more prevalent, more obvious, but actually less disparaging to the victim than it is today. You see, SoR underlines the fundamental reasoning that quiet, subtle jabs with racist remarks are more pestilent. The subjugated can overcome overt oppression because none 'can respect his oppressor.'
Racism in the United States made it very tough on multiple races. It was hard for people that weren’t white to live out there dreams or to make a living. Racism had an affect politically and in society. There were three races that dealt with racism. These races were African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. When people hear the world racism they immediately think African Americans and slavery. Although blacks probably had it a lot worse then most races there were still some other races that were not treated equally. Racism has always been around and it is still around today. It is something that will never go away. After the Civil War, racism in the south rose higher than it ever had before.
My perception of our world is that racism exists everywhere, even in the land of liberty, America. I am aware of the fact that there is racism against not only blacks, but also whites, Asians, along with people from all other ethnicities. I believe racism is deplorable in any form. Therefore I do my best not to be racist in any way.
Discursive Essay on Racism Racism has existed for centuries, but during the last two hundred years hatred toward ethnic minorities or even majorities has fluctuated. Racism occurs all over the world, can happen to anyone and will always exist. There are three different forms of racism, open racism, violent racism and secret racism all express forms of hatred towards ethnic groups. These forms of racism, although different, all have the same main purpose, to promote hate towards ethnic groups. Open racism expresses freedom of racial thought and speech.
Kolbert, Crothers, Bundick, Wells, Buzgon, Berbary and Senko (2015) explore bullying of LBGTQ youth from teachers' perspectives. It is acknowledged that bullying is a concern for many children and teens, but as an LBGTQ youth, the odds increase dramatically. It is crucial to get educators' perspectives according to Kolbert et al. (2015) because school environments are shaped by adults. A multitude of LBGTQ students report bullying to educators and do not see action, which creates a fear of confiding. A shocking fact in the article is how uncomfortable most teachers are dealing with LBGTQ based bullying, due to the fear of losing their jobs or reactions of the parents. Teachers also feel unequipped to deal with LBGTQ subjects and lack training. This article will provide evidence for LBGTQ bullying in school systems within the theme of LBGTQ youth being viewed as other. It examines how teachers see conflict and how students feel approaching authority with
Wait. Be still. Don't go over the line. Don't let go. Wait for it. "BANG!" My reactions were precise as I sprung out of the blocks. The sun was beating down on my back as my feet clawed at the blistering, red turf. With every step I took, my toes sunk into the squishy, foul smelling surface, as my lungs grasped for air. Everything felt the way it should as I plunged toward my destination. I clutched the baton in my sweaty palms, promising myself not to let go. My long legs moved me as fast as I could go as I hugged the corner of the line like a little girl hugging her favorite teddy bear. The steps were just like I had practiced. As I came closer to my final steps, my stomach started twisting and my heart beat began to rise. The different colors of arrows started to pass under my feet, and I knew it was time.
Throughout my early childhood and high school years, I was heavily marginalized. I have known that I am transgender since the age of three, a fact that my mom struggled to accept. We always had differing opinions on how I should dress, act and cut my hair. This used to stand as a big wall between us, but we have both greatly progressed since then. As a child in elementary school, and later again as a freshman in high school, my classmates always had something negative to say about me. Students at my school have purposely misgendered me publicly, had me banned from using multi-stall restrooms, and performed more basic acts of antagonism. Even some teachers have acted in similar fashion. This kind of behavior used to affect me very easily, however