Reflection: Dynamics Of Racism And Oppression

I have found this class regarding Dynamics Of Racism And Oppression extremely interesting as well as enlightening. Thus far, not only have I learned a great deal about racism and oppression as a whole but have also been able to learn a significant amount in regards to myself. I’ve never taken a class on racism or oppression and have not learned about the topic a whole lot,with that being said, this class has been extremely educating and useful towards my future career. The past few years, it seems as if many including myself have assumed that racism is an issue of the past. This class has allowed me to understand how many various difficulties proceed to transpire for people of color on a daily basis. These issues are not issues of the past, they

continue to affect the lives of many. Even if issues have improved,they are not absent. These factors demonstrate that a lot of work within the country needs to still be done.

Listening to a single story about an individual or group of individuals leads to stereotyping and having certain thoughts about a person or group or people without knowing the entire truth. Once I listened to this video called “The Danger Of A Single Story” and was able to learn what a single story actually meant, I became conscious of times where I have heard a single story. I was able to think of many times that I have seen someone judge off a single story and have been able to think of times maybe I was guilty of stereotyping due to a single story. This video was able to open up many doors and make me realize that a person should not be judged off of a single story because a single story does not tell the whole story. 
 I have found I am now often finding individuals making statements in which they prove they are basing their statements off of a single story. For example, I continue to work at a restaurant a few nights a week and the majority of the workers are Jamaican men. The owner of the restaurant has set up a program where a group of Jamaicans come over to the United States to work at the restaurant from May-December, and then go back to

Jamaica for the winter months. A few weeks ago I overheard a white American female talking to a friend, the white female stated that she would never be able to date a Jamaican man because ALL Jamaican men cheat and are unfaithful. I turned around and asked the girl what was her rationalization for making that assumption about all Jamaican men. The girls' response was she was lead to believe this because two of her friends had dealt with Jamaican men being unfaithful plus she had heard stories from others. I was able to say back to her that maybe she had heard of bad experiences about two Jamaicans, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that are all the same. I also told the girl that I have heard stories about men of all different races and backgrounds to be unfaithful. I also explained to the girl that I had learned from Jamaican friends their culture is a lot different than ours, so maybe she is perceiving them in the wrong way. The girl didn't say much back to me, but I was shocked that I had witnessed a single story with my own ears. 
 Within my personal experience, I have found the average human being to feel uncomfortable talking about any difficulties regarding race or oppression. Most individuals would rather not talk about race or oppression at all than have an uncomfortable conversation. I have began to reminisce about my childhood, and have become aware that there was never much conversation regarding race or oppression while I was growing up. Within my family, we usually didn’t talk about these issues and put them aside. I cannot recall a time that my parents had a serious discussion with me regarding race or oppression. The lack of conversation I had regarding the issue only allowed for me to grow up unaware of all the problems the world was facing due to racism and oppression. I did go to a diverse middle school and high school where I was able to learn that some of these problems existed on my own. I look back and find it amazing that racism and oppression was never an issue discussed being how it continues to be such a major issue in our society today. From a young age in America, we are taught that we shouldn't comment on people’s race, so that results in individuals feeling as if they should never discuss these issues.
I found the 10’c’s article we read by Patti DeRosa and Ulric Johnson to be extremely interesting and practical. The 10 c’s allow for you to think in a common way that everyone can relate to, even though the issues of racism and oppression can feel extremely confusing at times. While reading this article it made me grasp how important it is to find out who you truly are before you try and help other people within this field. I think sometimes it can be difficult to take time to focus on ourselves, but this article made me realize how vital it is to know who you are. This article was useful to me because I feel as if it made me aware of some strengths and weaknesses I possess. I desire to work with teens in the future so reading the 10 c’s and learning how vital it can be when working with teens kept me quite engaged. I liked how the article kept a positive outlook that even if individuals don’t care about racism and oppression right now, if they become aware and educated of these issues they are able to change. The article gave me hope that even if it doesn’t feel like everyone is on board with making a change towards these issues, that can be changed. 
 The courageous conversations group has made me understand that there are ways to talk about problems regarding race or oppression in a civil manner, and come to terms with the fact race and oppression is something that needs to be talked about and not ignored. Ignoring these issues has not helped for all of these years, so why do we continue to ignore it? If we continue to dismiss the effects of race and oppression, it is never going to improve. The courageous conversation group has been extremely helpful throughout the course thus far and has engaged in some difficult yet effective conversations. The courageous conversation group proves that you can be very respectful but also state your true feelings on serious matters.
Within week 2 I also feel like the “Who Am I” worksheet helped me realize who I am especially in regards to race and oppression. I feel this worksheet was helpful because I do not find that often I sit down and think about myself, especially in the way that the “Who Am I” worksheet addressed. I feel that the “Who Am I’’ worksheet made it evident I have to focus on my own needs and goals as a person more frequently. I had a difficult time filling out the “Who Am I” worksheet, mostly because I was in denial that I began to have quite a power profile. This was interesting to me because I never thought of myself as holding a dominant identity, I always thought of myself to the same standard as “everyone else”. Even though I don't think of myself as dominant I compared myself to other categories within the worksheet and realized that I do hold a dominant category in several ways. This worksheet also made me realize how my power profile may affect working with client’s. The worksheet made me realize that I will need to be open to many clients and empathize with clients who may be dominant in a few or no dominant groups at all. I feel comfortable and confident working with clients who may hold different power profiles because I have before, but I find it useful to know this information more in depth in case it needs to be addressed.
I have enjoyed how open this class has been and continues to be about expressing your personal opinions and experiences. I feel as if the honesty within the class and the positivity has allowed for a virtuous atmosphere where everyone can learn in collaboration. I hope to continue learning a great deal about myself and society as a whole.