Pilar Nelson - Post 2

Venus Hottentot - Post 2
I was really upset when viewing that video. These France basically took advantage of this young woman that was gullible and native and made her life a living nightmare. Then towards the end they had a happy song playing, like everything was okay and as if Sara Barrtman was finally was going to get some justice or fairness. And even if that was true, she dead now and one doesn't wait until a person's death to treat them right. I do not want to offend anyone but I really wanted to punch the wall. I felt like the could have a least sent her body back to South African when she died and it took them until 2002 to that. And to be honest we really do not know if her remains got to South Africa. It just really made me upset and I pretty sure I was not the only one that felt that way. Again I apolgize if I offend anyone.

Pilar Nelson - Post 1

I am African American. I cannot remember the first time I was awareof the race and ethnicity issues. I kind of feel like I always knew. Growing up me and my family never really talk about these issues. It was just something we personally deaedl with and accepted as just life. My views on these issues definitely change overtime, it is something that I no longer keep quite about but I speak out against hoping to make change throughout the world. One experience of racism that I been through, was when I was applying to a job in a mall back home. I was confident that I would get the job and when I did not I wonder why? I ask a friend of mine who work there why she thought I did not get hired? And she told me that she did not want to say anything, but she overheard the manager say that he does not hire black people because they cause too many problems. I remember being upset and never speaking or doing anything about it. If I could go back I would had spoke out or act out against it some type of way.

Andrea burns post 2

This blog entry goes more into the story of my "interracial relationship." For the record, I hate those terms. People are people and should date whomever makes them happy. Unfortunatly, not everyone sees it the same way. As I mentioned in my last post, I come from a town that is predominatly white and a family that is racist. As I also mentioned, I did not follow along with these beliefs, shown through my relationship with someone who was black. Just to mention, I did not intentionally do this to prove a point. I really liked him and could care less what color he had been. I was with this boy my middle school years and the start of my high school career. Obviously at this age, we were not going to stay together. We were like fourteen. Our relationship was extremely juvenile and never going to end in marriage. However, this made no difference to my parents. We were forced to keep things a secret. If he wanted to call me, he had to have a friend do it for him since his voice was so deep. We could only see each other inside of school and at school functions. One day, we decided to take a risk and walk home from school together with some of our friends holding hands. Very bad decision. My father ended up driving by, causing damage to my family's relationship with me that is still being felt today. It began a big ordeal. I never was in so much trouble in my life. They drove me to and from school to ensure that I was not walking with him. It was almost summer vacation so my parents grounded me for the entire summer. I was forbidden to use the phone or the computer or go pretty much anywhere to keep me from contacting him. My father did not speak to me for over a month. All this occured due to my parents being unhappy with a boy because he was black. That was all they could see. My parents to this day still don't trust me because of this instance. This upsets me that they can't see past anything but skin color. For the record, I also hate the phrase, "Once you go black, you never go back." I can say that I have dated boys of other ethnicites since that point. However, as an extremely pale white girl, I can also say that I am attracted to boys who are darker colored. I look like a ghost so I like having some contrast. I don't go out of my way to pick them however. Whatever color they are, it's what is on the inside that matters. It kills me that my parents cannot see that. It kills me that if I decide to marry someone with an ethnicity they don't approve of, they will exile me from their life. They won't come to my wedding or meet their grandchildren. That is horrible fact. Color shouldn't matter. Love should be enough.

andrea burns post 1

My personal ethnic and racial heritage is a bit of a mystery to me. Everytime I've ever asked, the answer I've gotten is, "Oh you're just a bit of everything." Not exactly the most helpful response. From what I have officially gathered from my family is that I am part Irish, part French, and part Czechoslovakian. I know for a fact that my grandfather's parents both came directly from Czechoslovakia to the United States. Other than that, my heritage is pretty much up in the air. This may frustrate some people, not knowing where they originated from. For the sake of doing this assignment and others like it, its annoyed me as well. For the majority of time however not knowing does not really phase me. I do not identify myself as a certain race or background. I identify myself as a person and that should be enough. I've always known that my family has negative feelings towards people of certain backgrounds, making me aware of the issues of ethnicity and race the majority of my life. Comments and jokes my family has made makes it evident of their issues with people who look different, acting as though we're better than them since we have white skinned. I have always disagreed with this notion as they are fully well aware. As I've grown up, my views have not changed. I still feel that everyone is equal regardless of race, ethnicity, or color. A person's actions and lifestyle are not defined by their outward appearance.
I have witnessed an act of racism in my life, in a way experienced it although it was not fully directed towards me. When I was in middle school and the start of high school, I was in a relationship with someone who was black. Seeing as I went to a school that was almost entirely white, this stood out quite a bit. Apparently it bothered some people at the school. My locker at school was always left unlocked. One day I go to my locker and find that someone graffitied the inside. While the markings contain words I cannot use on here, I feel you can figure out what the author was trying to say. "Tilden is a ...... you nasty..... " To this day I can remember it, even though it occurred six years ago. I had to look at that everyday at school until I graduated, a constant reminder of people's hatred.

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Baartman and Beyonce's "Freakum Dress"

Hi everyone,

When I teach about Sara Baartman I frequently show students this Beyonce music video. I think many comparisons can be drawn between Baartman and the way Beyonce is portrayed in this music video. The question is, does Beyonce challenge problematic stereotypes about black women, or does the video end up reinforcing them? Just another example to think about in our consideration of Baartman...

Hottentot by Saycon

Danielle Wlodarek, Post 2

I've just been doing some more research on Venus Hottentot.There was more than one, two, maybe more, that were displayed in Europe. Makes you wonder why we only hear about the one. Also, only after Gould wrote The Hottentot Venus in the '80s did anyone really care to search for her stored remains. It seems like once the "story" of it all disappeared for a little while. I hadn't heard about it at all before class, that's why I'm enjoying class so much-I'm learning about things I would've had NO idea about before. There is a pretty cool song called Hottentot by Saycon. The video is a little irrelevant but if you listen to the lyrics it's a pretty cool concept based on what we've learned and read. Take a few to listen and enjoy, I'm posting it on a separate blog entry because I can't figure out how to just embed it on this one!

The Venus Hottentot. (3)

This poem makes it evident that black womanhood and white womanhood was viewed differently. During the 18-19^th century white womanhood was valued, protected and kept very private. Yet black woman’s bodies were constantly exposed, prodded, violated and experimented on. How does this sorted past of non-valued womanhood for woman of color reflected in today’s society? I feel that The Venus Hottentot effects today in ways such as Body image issues which all woman of every race feels pressured to fit some "popular standard of beauty". But specifically woman who may be a little more "bottom heavy" then other woman are by society made to feel more so subconscious about it. Then again this ideal is changing due to woman such as Beyonce who coined the term "Bootylicious" and rapper Nikki Minaj who is the epitome of it lol, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez. All show that self acceptance and loving your curves is a sexy thing. I mean booty injections and implants are cosmetic surgical procedures woman are having now a days. Just to be a little more voluptuous. I just wish that Sarrah Barrtman's life was allot different. That she could have been more valued as a human being instead of being exploited and not have been disrespected as a woman. Her story should be taught more to all woman about issues body image. I believe if its shown too all woman it will help them better understand that no one woman is all that different from another. Even if we are of a different race. This would make us as female less judgmental of each others physical bodies. I think woman are way harder on each other then men are against woman.

Good and Bad Hair - Straight & Nappy

This is a scene from spike lee's movie school daze. Which is about sterotypes within' black college sororities. This song shows how serious the words used in describing black hair are.

India.Arie - I Am Not My Hair ft. Akon

I am not my hair lyrics

[Akon: Verse 1]

Konvict
Konvict Music uh huh

See I can kinda recall a lil ways back
Small tryin to ball always been black
And my hair I tried it all I even went flat
Had a gummy curled on top and all that crap (o oh)
Just tryin to be appreciated
Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies
Never hit the barber shop real quick
Had a mini lil twist and it drove her crazy (crazy)
Then I couldnt get no job
Cuz corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks
Then I thought about my dogs on the block
Kinda understand why they chose to steal and rob
Was it the hair that got me this far?
All these girls these cribs these cars?
I hate to say it but it seem so flawed
Success didnt come til I cut it all off

[India.Arie: Verse 1]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen and I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and I went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went on and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY,

[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

[India.Arie: Verse 2]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
It's time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If it's not what's on your head
It's what's underneath and say HEY,

[Chorus]

[Akon: Verse 2]
Who cares if you don't like that
With nothin to lose postin with the wave cap
And the cops wanna harass cuz I got waves
Ain't see nothin like that in all my days (o oh)
And you gotta change all this feelings
They be judging one another by their appearance
Yes India, i feel ya girl
Now go 'head talk to the rest of the world cuz,


[Bridge]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oooh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity,
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

[India.Arie: Verse 3]
bosom Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY,

David Kleis (II)

I feel that the Venus Hottentot brings to light many issues that are still relevant to today's society. We are constantly exploiting people. We have access to 24 hour news coverage all the time in which we can criticize everyone. Facebook is the biggest culprit of this in our society. We have access to millions people's photos in which we can judge and form stereotypes. I feel that this makes stereotyping more socially acceptable. Everyone judged the Venus Hottentot at the freak show that she was enslaved to because she had unnatural physical features . Facebook allows for people to be paraded around criticized if they are overweight, holding a beer can, the awkward random faces, how much cleavage they're showing , and so on. People need to chill out and stop being so critical all the time.

"Good hair means curls and waves. Bad hair means you look like a slave"-India Arie (2)

“I am not my hair I am not this skin I am not your expectations’ (no). I am not my hair I am not this skin. I am a soul that lives within’” –India Arie

I can understand how for allot of people that aren't within the black community it’s very easy for them to think and say "they are over reacting" "there are being too sensitive" But the reason hair is such a "sensitive topic" concerning the words being used to describe black hair as well, are important for these reasons: Self hatred and Colorism. It’s when light skin black and dark skin blacks are made to feel superior or inferior based on who either more closely resembles people of European descent or who more closely resembles our African dependence. (Usually light skin blacks are the ones to feel superior because they have light eyes, long fine hair. The only time the tables are turned is when they are in a predominantly black community with darker skin black and they are made to feel "less authentically black" because they have more European features this mostly happens when they are longing to identify with their surroundings. And vice versa for biracial black person whose environment was predominately white. It is human nature to want to fit in with your surroundings, most especially your family.) This Ideology came about before slavery but manifested during slavery. Many of slave masters were sleeping with African slave woman and the result of this was fairer skin blacks and they were regarded as "house niggas" the ones who were dressed the best, ate the best and didn't have to work in the field. The darker skin slaves were regarded by them usually as "field niggas" this mutual distrust for one another turned into hatred. This was formulated because of the divide the Southern society and plantation owners put in place between the two groups. This rift can still be seen today. So when issues of who's hair is like what. Its boils down to whose hair is good and who's is bad. Behind these discussions I hear the essence of “who’s better then who” And as Don Imus in 2007 learned the word “Nappy” is not an ideal word that should be used in describing black hair. The history of Colorism still lingers today within our black communities. From brown bag parties to light skin vs. Dark skin parties. Smh so the hair discussion gets “Hairy” as I digress. please watch my related links post.

Terica Post 3: Beyond Venus

The venus hottentot inspired a conversation between me and my friend outside of class. They were upset by the story and seemed offended. They said to me that there was no way I could watch that and not be upset. Yet I was not upset, or at least not for the same reasons they were. People seem to make things more about race than they really are. I often point out to that person if it wasn’t blacks, it would have been someone else. Slavery started way before Africans were captured. Just knowing things like helps me think less of racial issues when talking about such a topic.

Another thing that is important to remember is we still exploit people of all races and ethnicities. It is human nature to look for the differences within each other. When someone seems extremely out of the norm often they are exploited. Society justifies this exploitation by labeling it curiosity or saying that there is something wrong with the anomaly.  When you think about it in that terms and remember the venus hottenttot is not the only one to be exploited; you would expect such foolishness to happen in a society at that time.

Over all this was a tragic thing to happen to a person. I feel sorry that this ever happened. Yet I feel that we haven’t learned our lesson. To look at ourselves as a society and understand the things we’ve done and why, in order to prevent it from happening to someone else in the future.

Post 2, The Words That We Can't Say

I was still thinking about how in class we talked about, certain words, aren't able to be said by certain people. Though, I do understand that some see it as a form of comradery, or possibly even as an an identity piece, but I don't understand it. The use of the "N-Word" is the equivalence of Kyke for me. I would never even consider calling another Jewish person a Kyke because of how the word came to be and what it implies. So I guess, besides stating how I feel about the topic, I am also posing the question of, what makes it appropriate to use terms that would normally be considered a slur?

Alaysia- Assignment 2

Nappy. Hair.
What can I say about Nappy Hair other than the fact that one should never go to a person who has kinky hair (most likely african decent) and call it nappy.
Growing up, I thought that nappy hair was never good. It was just thick curly hair that was hard to handle. "Don't try to tame it, you might brake a comb!" kind of hair.
I've spent so many years thinking that nappy hair is just bad hair. When in essence, it's just natural hair. I learned to be proud of it's because it's my heritage, all the way down to the roots. But that doesn't mean that I don't have my ways about taming it. I use a relaxer everyonce in a while not because I want my hair to flow like a caucasian's, but because it's easier to handle, especially on my own. Many like to call it the "creamy crack" because once you try it, you're addicted.

I recommend watching this documentary that Chris Rock made called "Good Hair." It's very good and explains a lot on how the black person's hair works. Very funny/entertaining but also the truth.

http://http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/good-hair-ft-chris-rock-hd-official-trailer/e8f3b32695b9e185240ae8f3b32695b9e185240a-471398089232?q=good+hair+chris+rock+trailer&FORM=VIRE1

Kim Krenzer, Post #2

Something has really stuck with me since Tuesday. The conversation we had about how we indentify ourselves and how society identifies us got me thinking.

We are all victim to unconscious bias from society expectations. Someone says they're one thing, but we see something else. And so they're that other thing. But do we really believe it? Or are we just conditioned? Or is it something we just don't understand? And where do we all fit in? I wonder what people think of me as. How they classify me. How they perceive my life and my struggles. What they assume I'm like and how I view other people.

And then I think about how I'm probably luckier than most in how people view me, because they can't necessarily tell that I'm gay. And then I think about people who are biracial and people who are bisexual who are ostracized and are pushed out of their own communities and forced to "pass" by in other communities. And it just really frosts my cookies that this is the case sometimes.

Alaysia- Assignment 1

I am of African decent but also a small percentage of Cherokee. I would identify myself as "just me." I don't feel the need to categorize myself as black black girl or black white girl...etc. But others felt the need to. I remember growing up in a neighborhood where the majority of the neighbors were black, and then I would go to a surburban school where majority of the students where white. My mom placed me in the urban suburban so I could get a better education. So when I was around the white kids, they all saw me as "black" but when I went home to my neighborhood, all the kids said I spoke like a white person. I grew up with parents who felt the need to prove themselves to the "white man," meaning the white people. My family members would always comment on how there weren't enough black people or not enough black people in commercials, so I've been aware of the issues with ethnicity and race all my life.

As I grew up, I've always ha d a competitive attitude towards things. Not specifically in race, even though it applies, but in everything else. I did and still do feel the need to "represent" and prove something, so I always strive to be better than everyone else. I didn't necessarily agree or disagree. I just took whatever words that my parents spoke of and applied it to me, and twisted it in a way to make it my own so that it would work for me. My views on race have definitely changed over time. I won't lie and say that sometimes I don't look at the world as black and white, because I do. The only reason for this is because old habits die hard, especially when you hear the same stuff every.

When I was younger, I always thought that if you were white, you were better. Life would be easier and better and you have more opportunities. I had so many dreams about being this that and the other but when it came down to it, a white girl was need for the part. Then m sister told me how she was Lucy in Charlie Brown and that made me think that if she could do that then I could play any part I wanted to. Then I met my God parents through church who happened to be white. They proved me wrong and changed my view about white people. But even after being enlightened by my family, every once in a while I'll walk into a restaurant or store and all eyes would be on me as if I have eight heads. Eyes so bright as if it's their first time seeing snow. After all the steps I've taking forward, those looks brought me five steps back. It's as if they've never seen a black person up so close. I have so many friends who have told me they were made fun of because of the color of their skin. Even my parents, since they grew up in times where being prejudice was just an everyday thing. They've told me that white people would say things like "you're dirty, your skin is like dirt....etc."

But on that note, race is always going to play in factors of life. Even if we don't mean for it to or notice. I'm going to keep working on myself so that it doesn't bother me. Easier said than done right?

Meaghan Rowland Post #2

The movie "The Life and Times of Sara Baartman" really opened my eyes to scientific racism and exhibition of various people based on appearance. Today, rather than freak shows and circus acts it is much more common to see people being exhibited on TV based on their differences from "normal" society. TLC and the Discovery Channel are two of the biggest TV culprits of this. The other day I watched a show on the One Ton Teen. There was an hour long show on a 19 year old boy who weighed over 1,000 pounds. It was sad to see this boy being exhibited because he was a substantial amount larger than the general population. No part of his life was kept private on this show. Everything was shown from his hospital visits, his uncountable number of health problems and even every aspect of his relationship with his mom who would not let him do a thing by himself. This is not the only show out there. Just that day there was a marathon completely based on weighed with the One Ton Mom, Dad, Man and Teen. Obviously, with this many specials on this one topic this is what the viewers were into watching. Many other shows exist of people with physical ailments, different values, traditions even psychiatric differences. Although it is hundreds of years later from the unfair exhibition of Sara Baartman this unfortunate entertainment still exists.

Terica Post 2: The N word and seperation

The separations between races go deeper than the words we use. People get caught up in the logistics but you can’t use the word without knowing the real meaning and emotion behind it. I have a problem with people saying the N because they don’t know the real definition. Everyone assumes it just means black but the real definition of the word is an ignorant person. Now whites use to call blacks this because they were technical ignorant. They didn’t know how to read or write. They weren’t given any education because whites feared they would rise up against them.  

 The N word can be used against anybody. Anyone who displays ignorance can be called the N word; not only blacks but whites, Spanish, and Asian. Yet the word is still used in reference to blacks. Therefore someone is being racist when they use it in that context. On the other hand, people still know it’s not right to call a Spanish person the S word or a Asian person the C word. These words are derogatory and should not be said because you don’t understand the full extent of what you’re saying.

Also, I would like to note that people besides blacks say there aren’t certain words you cannot say. I remember being told by a white guy I couldn’t say the word “dude”. It is not only black people causing separation. We may have taken back the word but we did not create it. Plus, not every black person uses the N word. In fact it is still a big debate within the black community whether or not the word should be used. Some people are offended by the use of the word, even by blacks. I understand it causes separation but please try to understand why it does.

Terica Post 1

 I am African American but I identify myself as just American. It annoys me that everywhere else but America, I am considered to be American. Yet here, I’m an African American. All those people whose ancestor traveled from Europe are just called American. Why can’t I have the same privilege? So I guess you can say from the beginning, I was aware of issues of ethnicity and race. Growing up in New York City, there was a lot of diversity. The diversity draws people attention to differences in others, even if it isn’t to be racist. I’ve always been told, this is what white people do, this is what Spanish people do, this is what Asian people do, and this what we do.

                The events that spark my awareness were the shopping experiences. Almost every supermarket/corner store around me was owned by someone Spanish person. The stores were usually low priced but not the best quality. The owners and employees spoke English but they were almost all Spanish. They would switch their language when they didn’t want you to hear what they were saying. I learned the hair supplies and discount stores were owned by Asians. Your bags were checked as soon as you came in the door and someone was always “working” in the aisle you would be walking in. However, in the white supermarket, you were pretty much left to shop on your own. Not many people spying on you, although you might get the one or two. For the most part the supermarket is too crowded to do so. Yet, the problem with this supermarket was, the prices were too high to buy anything. For example, $28 for balsamic vinegar at food emporium (it must be the best in the world).

                I can’t count the things I’ve been told about different races, good or bad. I think the most prevalent was white people are crazy, Asians only like white people and other Asians, and Spanish people can’t be trusted. To be honest, when I was a kid, I didn’t think much of it but as I got older I realized it’s not too far from the truth. I realized white people do a lot of things that are not normal in my culture.  For example, wearing flops and shorts in the snow. I have met a lot of Asians who talk about their parents disapproving of them having friends of certain races and dating them. In fact, I heard recurring for Asian women that their family wanted them to marry a white man over anything else.  If not a white man then an Asian man. Other races, such as black men, were unacceptable. I watched one of my friends turn down a guy she liked freshmen year because he was black and her family wouldn’t approve. As for Spanish people, well I have had many of double crossing instances with them. However, I realize these things can happen with anyone, and I just might be paying more attention to one race because of the stereotype.

                I have experience many experiences of racism and even caused some of my own without knowing. The most annoying experiences are ones that involve my music. I listen to a lot of Goth and Asian music. It shocks a lot of people and usually leads to stereotypical jokes and quizzes about the artist I listen to. Sometimes I get the blunt, “your more white than black”. I get these remarks from all races and it makes me feel as though it’s impossible to be myself.

Kim Krenzer, Post #1

When I was in the 3rd grade, I had to do a presentation about my ethnic heritage. So my parents told me that I was German and French on my Dad's side and entirely Polish on my Mom's side. and that was that. I haven't necessarily forged into my family history to find out what my ancestors did. A few years later, I found out my Mom was, like, .5% Lithuanian. Which may or may not explain how easily I tan during the summer. I crisp like bacon, it's wild. I digress. My heritage is just something that I'm told I'm a part of. It's not really something that I've taken the time to really learn about or get into.

My family is predominantly white. When I was younger, I attended Catholic schools that were basically 99% white. However, my high school had a strong sense of diversity and had a healthy mix of different races. Also, my oldest sister has a best friend, Lindsay, who is biracial. And she's been there ever since before I could remember. She has been such a huge part of my life that I call her my sister. She refers to me as her baby sister. And when we tell people this, the reaction is palpable confusion. I think our relationship has been a huge influence on my views of race. I certainly believe that all diversity should be celebrated and acknowledged. But in the end, we're all just people trying to get by in today's world. And I love Lindsay as if she were actually my sister.

I am a firm believer in equality for everybody. As a woman, I have been faced with blatant sexism. As an open lesbian, I have been faced with prejudice. I have many friends of different races and sexual orientations who have also experienced some form of racism, sexism or homophobia. And I don't believe that any of us should be subjected to hatred for things that we cannot control. I believe that we should celebrate our differences, but at the same time realize that the human race connects us all. And maybe that's too much to ask. Maybe it's unrealistic. But, when we start thinking of those that are different than us as human beings, it might start changing things.

Ashley Allen Post 2

A few days after last week's discussion of "Recitatic" I ran into a situation that seemed to connect to some of the points that were made during class. It seemed that Toni Morrison was trying to teach the lesson that a person's race should not be a significant factor in placing a judgment on others. The other day I was at a friends house with a group of people when one person began a story. It seemed that this person did not think the same way as Morrison because mid story he stopped to add in the race of the men he had been talking about. After his story I began to think if the race of those men had been relevant or information that was necessary to understand the story, and it was not. I think it's great that so many of us already understand that it is important to judge someone by what they are on the inside rather than the color of their skin. Hopefully other people, like the one I heard the story from, will one day understand this as well.
I thought this was also a good example of the idea talked about in chapter 1, that many feel the need to put everyone into categories. I think it is a subconscious habit that many people have. I'll admit I catch myself placing people into categories, but it is a habit I want to shake. I don't believe we should try and put people into categories because everyone we meet will not fall into one certain category.
Ashley Allen, Post 2

Erin Goldberg Post #1

I'll start by being frank: I have no idea what my complete ethnic heritage is. It's not that I was adopted or that my family records got lost somewhere along the line. No, the reason I don't know my full ethnic heritage is, is because my father thinks it's funny to give me a new family story every time I ask him. For a few years he used to tell me that he was half German and half Russian, making me a quarter each. Then he decided our family came from Lithuania. Now he says that he says that his full heritage is Russian. I've given up on asking him. My mom has always been consistent with her answer ("You're a quarter French Canadian, 12.5% Irish, and 12.5% Scottish on my side"). So for me, I've always just gone with the reliable answer of telling people I'm an ethnic mutt. And that's fine with me, because I don't identify strongly with any part of my ethnicity. I suppose that in the legal sense, I would be considered white or Caucasian. Translucent might be a bit more accurate, and I can't get a tan to save my life (although I burn quite magnificently).

In terms of my awareness of race and how I was brought up on issues concerning race, I never had anything particularly unique occur to me. My parents are divorced and I have a pretty diverse family in terms of color, sexuality, and ethnicity. I have three gay uncles, and one whose partner is African American. I'm sure at some point someone in my life had a talk with me about race, but to be honest I don't remember and it really didn't matter. People are people, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality.

I will say though, that I grew up in one of the most racially and diversity lacking communities. I live in Williamsville NY, which is a suburb of Buffalo. It is mostly filled with WASP's, with the occasional Catholic thrown in the mix. However, I can say that my graduating class had maybe 5% ethnic minorities. I also acknowledge that most of these kids felt pressured to fit into "white culture" constantly and there wasn't much room at my school for diversity. However, to my knowledge, there was no obvious display of racism. But there was never much effort made to teach ethnic or racial diversity.

My views on race and ethnicity have certainly changed as I have grown. While before I used to just believe that ethnic tolerance was important for the sake of being important. However, now I know the deep and lasting impact that racism can have (along with homophobia and sexism). I think a large part of this has to do with my work in the Center for Multicultural Affairs. It has definitely changed me for the better.

Marcus Anderson Post 3 The Venus Hottentot

I thought that he video that was watch was awesome in describing the struggles that Sarah Baarttman went through in her life. I myself was not aware of the Venus Hottentot, until I saw the footage that we had watched on her. Although I was not suprised about how she became a spectacle to the white audiences of her time. Her struggles are the same ones that we still as people face today. Just because the she was "different" in her physical features, made her some kind of different species, when the truth was is that she was just a person. I though it was very intersting how the scientist and people, were so interested in what she had underneath her garments, that she used to cover up, rather than what she knew intellectually. When we don't understand each other for our similarities and differences, then that's when conflict can come and cause havoc. I think that in todays times, people have gained a little more understanding about different races and cultures, but not to where we "should" be in this day and age. We still have some work to do. One more little interesting thing that I observed is how in our society a " Venus Hottentot" women is looked at by some as a good thing. Now im comming from a male perspective here but people in society now a days may like a women with curves to her such as the Venus Hottentot had. My reason for pointing that out is to show how a society who once had no understanding and appreciation for the different physical appearence of a women, now might actually appreciate and like it. I just think it's very iteresting, how as a society those old ways are being overturned as time progresses.

Blog #1

I've always identified myself as a White female. As far as my ethnic heritage goes my parents have always told me "you're a little bit of everything." My family and I don't practice any traditions based on our ethnic background. I have always been interested in tracing my ancerstory to find out more about my family's background.
I would have to say the first time I really started to become aware of issues of ethnicity and race was when I was ten or eleven, after September, 11th. After that event was the first time I really noticed so many remarks and judgements made on someone based soley on their ethnic background.
Growing up my parents along with the majority of my family always taught me to be respectful of others and keep an open mind when it came to ethnicity and race. My grandfather, however does not always have that same respect. At times I will hear him make comments here and there on others from a different race, but I just tend to ignore those comments. To this day I agree with the ways my parents taught me. I beleive it's important to realize that not everyone is just like you, but that's what makes life interesting and you need to be respectful of those differences.

Ashley Allen, Post 1

The Venus Hottentot

I wished we had had more time to discuss this poem and the documentary in class today. I think this is one of those horror stories in world history that isn't discussed as much as it should be. Even if we subtracted the fact that Saartjie was an African woman from the equation, her life was an extremely tragic tale of greed, total apathy, and evil, whether she was Black, White, Asian, Latina, or any other ethnicity. The fact that she was an African woman places her amongst the millions of African men, women, and children who suffered at the expense of the same sort of ideas through the Atlantic slave trade (a number Saartjie could arguably be placed amongst). I thought Saartjie's story connected to our article we read for Tuesday in that she was proof that in Africa as a continent exists different peoples, nations, and ancestries. I think that during the slave trade and even today we often consider "African-American" or "Black" to be an umbrella term, while White peoples' ancestries are considered. For instance, I'm a White girl, but I am also Polish, Hungarian, and German. African-Americans may have ancestries that include Ibo, Yoruba, and Fulani (as named in the article). Backers, supporters, and investors of the slave trade attempted to wash all captives of their tribal and national affiliations in order to further deprive them of their humanity. They thought that erasing one's past erases their humanness. Saartjie proves that just as Ukranian people have different features from say a French person, the Khoi Khoi people had distinct features from other peoples in Africa. It is deplorable that this was used as justification for using her in freak shows, but the fact is, even from the racist men who conned her into going to Europe saw that the Khoi Khoi were a distinct people of Africa.

I really liked the part of the poem that was a tribute to the genius that was Josephine Baker. These two women are very interesting to compare and contrast. Where Saartjie's exotic beauty was used against her and considered "freakish," about one hundred years later in Paris, people celebrated Baker's performances and her beauty as a woman of color. However when she came to America, she was shunned by White audiences and seen as a performer of savage erotica. I think the juxtaposition of the two women is a testament to how this country seems to have lagged behind other nations in "taboo" subjects such as sexuality and ethnicity. People have used words such as "sophisticated" and "powerful" in describing Baker. These same words could and should have been and now be used to describe Saartjie. As the poem states, she was intelligent, capable of speaking at least three languages, she was well-traveled (though perhaps not by her own accord), and she was aware of issues that most European people of the time could not begin to fathom. It is a terrible shame that her voice has been lost in her story as a completely capable person whom I am sure would have had a lot to say.

This poem and the story that goes with it have a lot to teach us. It's good that we have been able to come into contact with it and discuss it. I think it has been one of those stories the White world has been hoping to sweep under the rug to forever be forgotten, but it happened, and we must learn from it and honor Saartjie's memory.

Brittany Clinkscales, 1

My ethnic background is a blend with no distinct winner. My father’s side is a mix of Italian heritage and southern culture while I would define my mother’s background as “general American” with vague ties to Germany and England. I am Caucasian. The traditions of my family are not tied to any one set of cultural traditions. If asked, I would most likely answer that I’m Italian-American even though we don’t maintain our “Italianism.” The most accurate way to describe my background would be American with vague cultural ties. For instance, while few people in my extended family speak fluent Italian, we maintain a strong sense of family that I have come to associate with Italian culture. Our gatherings are centered on our extended families, and we always make way too much food (including a minimum of 5 pasta dishes)!

I was exposed to the issues of ethnicity and race at a young age. Before moving to the suburbs I lived and went to school in the city. I remember my classes as a hodge-podge of culture and ethnicity. The fact that we were different from each other was not a problem. I remember participating in various cultural events; we celebrated Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and other activities without tension. In class and in my home life I was taught that people were not all the same. Some children had two parents while others lived in a single parent household. While I hunted for Easter eggs and opened gifts from Santa, other children celebrated events and holidays that were different, and unique. I feel like I was lucky growing up; I was not harassed for my background and I was taught to accept others. In some ways this had made me sheltered to the harsher experiences of my peers. I have never been harassed because of my skin color, my religion, or any other characteristic of my ethnicity.

As I’ve grown up I’ve become more aware of the myriad of experiences people have had. My studies have allowed me to see the influence of racial identity on a person’s existence and the strength of the activist communities. I’ve witnessed firsthand the frustration of social stratification, and I can see all too well how racial prejudice could make success nearly impossible for some. The issues of race and ethnicity are still pressing in U.S. society but I’m hopeful our generation will make greater strides toward equality.

Meaghan Rowland Post 1

My personal ethnic and racial heritage is pretty simple considering I am fifty percent Swedish and fifty percent Scottish. My maternal grandma and paternal grandpa were both 100% Swedish. My maternal grandpa and paternal grandma were both 100% Scottish. It was interesting to find that both sides of my family were a split of the same two heritages. I first became aware of race and ethnicity when I was five when my cousins who lived in LA came to visit. When they came with their dad/my uncle, I was confused why they didn't look like us. Granted my cousin Chandel and I could be twins if not for skin color. Their mom was black and their dad was white. We lived in a farming community with very little diversity so when my friends came over and saw my cousins they were put back and didn't know how to respond. My parents and uncle sat down with my cousins and me to explain why we looked different and how we could be treated differently especially in Kennedy. I was always taught to judge not based on looks but on how people act. No matter what race or ethnic background judge more on if someone is inconsiderate and rude or polite and friendly. I agree with this however you can't base the entire judgement solely based on their personality. If someone has a difficult back story that you don't know about you shouldn't hold it against them. Witnessing racism with my cousins was difficult growing up. They came with me to my grandma's house a few years later and my grandpa wouldn't even talk to them because they were black. In return my cousins were not as polite as they should have been to my grandma even though she was welcoming and tried to be nice to them. They were still hurt and felt discriminated by my grandpa so they were taking it out on others that were there. It was sad to see that even though all of these people were a part of my life and my family they were not accepting of one another.

TEA PARTY RACISM: What The Media Won't Show You About Teabagger Racism

Jordan Nicholson: Socialist, Communist, Marxist, Baby-Killing, Poor Sympathizer.

This class is meant to be about Ethnicity and Race, the study of our culture and other cultures and how race and ethnicity effects daily life. I am a liberal. The idea that "liberal" used to be considered a dirty word didn't exactly register with me until recently. With the election of Barack Obama and a sweeping liberal majority, we were meant to believe that our country was headed toward a new era of progressivism and prosperity. Instead, the factions of the far-right that promote dangerous and antiquated ideals have taken over our national dialogue, and hijacked the rhetoric that once was a promotion of peace. I believe that when it comes to race in this country, we have made tremendous strides. However, the election of Barack Obama has proved that we still have a very, very long way to go. Glenn Beck has claimed that the President is "racist," despite the fact that he was raised by his white mother, his white grandparents and spent most of his time in predominately white schools. Rush Limbaugh has offered suggestions of his "militant-blackness," and Sarah Palin publicly supported several candidates in the mid-term elections who don't even believe President Obama is an American citizen (but was rather a citizen of Kenya). The TEA Party has taken this to new extremes. These bands of misinformed or uninformed "patriots" hold rallies and shouting matches meant to convert all of their listeners to the far-right, which is pro-life, pro-God, pro-gun, anti-government, and blatantly inflammatory.

I will never forget where I was on the night of then-Senator Obama's election as our nation's first black President. Covering Democratic headquarters for a local radio station, I was moved to tears by the embrace of an 85-year-old black woman, who had spent her youth and early-adulthood in the South. When it was announced that Barack Obama had won the election, we all jumped up, threw our papers, cracked champagne and congratulated each other. All except Mrs. Taylor took part in these festivities. She was sitting in a chair, crying and was visibly shaken. I asked her what was wrong, and she looked at me and said, "Child, nothing is wrong. This is the happiest moment of my life. Most people say the birth of their child is their happiest day, but I hated myself on that day. I brought my child into a world that hated her before she could speak a word or write her letters. She's almost 50-years-old, and now my grandchildren and her grandchildren will get to grow up knowing they can be President too. I can't expect you to know what that feels like, baby, but just so you know why I'm crying." She gave me a hug and asked her husband, who had been a bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama, to share with me his experiences from the Civil Rights era.

As a radio journalist that evening, it was euphoria. My top-of-the-hour report at eleven o'clock fell right as the announcement was being made, and I got to make it live from the county headquarters. "At eleven o'clock, eastern standard time, America has broken a barrier that has transcended our history. With expected gains on the West Coast, Senator Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America. For the first time in our 232 years as a nation, we have called upon a black man to lead us further into a century that now seems so ripe with promise." My finest moment as a broadcaster.

Nevertheless, in 2011 I'm reminded of the struggles that Republicans went through in the South during reconstruction. In the South, you were expected to be what would come to be called a "Dixiecrat," or a Southern Democrat. Today, liberals are being chastised not by reasonable, moderate political centrists, but by the far-right loons who recently spat on legendary civil rights leader and Georgia Congressman John Lewis. I'm called "baby-killer," "Socialist," "Communist," "Marxist," "Fascist," and everything in-between. Despite the fact that these accusations are completely contradictory, they all have to do with one factor. I support the black guy in the White House. While this is an unfair assessment of many Tea Partiers, I feel as though the reason I've been shouted down at debates and yelled at over the phone is because this group, at its core, is inherently racist. To this, I say "fine!"

I have gay friends, I have transsexual friends, I have bisexual friends, I have Chinese friends, I have Mexican friends, and I have a black President...and I couldn't be happier about that. Those who believe the rich should get richer and the poor should get poorer should go to neighborhoods I've visited, or talk to the children of families that don't have much. If the desire for equality makes me a liberal, than I'm certainly proud to call myself a liberal.

"If by a 'Liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a 'Liberal.'" -John F. Kennedy

Post Your Event Announcements Here

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to mention that if you are part of any groups/organizations on campus that are putting on events related to our course to feel free to post advertisements/announcements to the blog for everyone to see.

See you in class,
Jeff

Marcus Anderson Post 2

I thought that our discussions last class were awesome. After the discussion, I went home and I analyzed some of the key points that were discussed within out discussion. I've concluded that it is very critical that we as people analyze all issues especially when it come to race and ethnicity.This class is by far, one of my favorite classes that I have taken at Fredonia, and I mean that with all seriousness. I enjoy the fact how our class contains so many students with different perspectives when it comes to race and ethnicity, and that's awesome. I would have to agree with Shauna that in this class, I don't feel that anyone should feel that they have to walk on "egg shells" when discussing race and ethnicity issues. I feel that the purpose of this class and the blog is for us as people to become educated and confront ourselves about issues and our own personal beliefs. I think it would be pointless for anyone to hold back their beliefs on any issue that we discuss within the class. If we all held back our feelings, there would be no need for this course at all because there would be no opportunity for growth. Like I said before, I love the perspective from the person from the city, country, small town, suburbs and so on. I believe that because we all come from different walks of life, it brings great discussion to the table like we have been having, and I hope it continues every time we gather. No matter how much we agree or disagree with each other about any issues within the class, there's good news, we have the guidance of Professor Jeff, and Each Other to figure out how to confront and correct the issues of race and ethnicity! We will all be better people, if not already by the end of this course. I feel that in our class and through this blog, we are really "giving" ourselves to each other. I'm sure that by reading each others post, half the things that we are seeing, we never would have suspected this person to have went through that situation and so on.. So, this should all be a lesson for us all and that's "not to judge a book by its cover, open it up and it might have a little more to offer". I want us all in this class to discuss our perspectives on these real life issues. I would rather someone tell me the 100 truth, rather than make up a lie just to not be "different" from the class. If I think that they sky is orange, I would say, hey class, my own personal feeling is that they sky is orange and that's just how I see it. That does not make me right or wrong for stating my personal beliefs, but I now just gave my honest opinion and now as a class we have a "foundation" to build off. I hope as we deal and discuss some of the issues that are uncomfortable to discuss, we will be brave enough to lay the "foundation(s)" so as a class we can build from there. As it was stated on the 1st day of class, our class is a safe haven, so lets talk truthfully and deal with the real life issues and perspectives that deal with race and ethnicity. By us getting "real" in our discussions, we will continue to grow, and we can correct and educate the world too starting in our classroom.

Marcus Anderson (Post 2)

Post 2

I was really excited about the conversations we had last class, and some thing were brought up that I really would like to expand my thoughts on:

The first topic I wanted to discuss was this idea of opposites. For example black and white. I think a lot of people brought up a good point; that our society focuses on categorizing individuals into one group or another. You are either white or black. With the issue of race, I think it was clear with examples students gave in class, that people still consider an individual to be "black" if they have black heritage. Why can't there be gray areas in our society? Kim gave a great example with bisexuals. Our society automatically places them with the gay community. Another example that I thought of was the issue of sex. Male or Female. A feminist named Anne Fausto-Sterling proposed that instead of the the original two categories, that we create 5 categories of sex; that way, people who are born intersex don't have to make such drastic decisions to call themselves male or female. It gives a "rainbow" effect, like someone has said in class. I believe this example should be used when discussing race as well. People shouldn't have to label themselves as just black or white.

Another topic that I found really interesting was how people talk differently to people of the same ethnicity/race than they do to people who have a different ethnicity/race. I understand that it is a sense of comfortability. For example, I feel comfortable enough to talk about certain things with other females than I would with males (including my boyfriend). But I think that causes two issues. One it creates a gap between different ethnicity/races. Also, I think it might make students in the class room feel uncomfortable on what they can and cannot say. We are obviously in a safe zone in our class where we can talk about ethnic/racial issues. Which I think is fantastic. But I think it can make things hard when we feel like we have to walk on egg shells so that we don't offend another race/ethnicity. I believe it's a tough situation, because we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable in the classroom. But at the same token, isn't this class supposed to discuss difficult topics that should push us out of our comfort zone??

Jen Werfelman - Round 1 - Mitt Schlag!

Hi everyone. So I guess the main thing on everyones mind is "What the hell. Why do we need to do this open forum writing? I don't want everyone reading what I have to say, why would anyone care about that sort of thing." I don't mind that everyone reads my stuff, I just don't think I'm that interesting.

I suppose I should start at the beginning. For as long as I can remember I'm German, mostly. My father's side is ALL German, nothing else. My uncles used to try to teach German to my sister and I but we only were able to pick up a few words here and there. "Mitt Schlag" (with whipped cream (literally "with beaten" but colloquial)) and "Verstehen" (a rather abrupt command for "understand?") became the extent of German we could understand at that point. My grandmother Catherine (Arnold) Werfelman(my father's mother) would tell us about how on her side of the family her grandparents spoke almost no English and that when she was growing up that she and her 4 siblings were entirely unable to speak with their grandparents because they were never really exposed to the language. And I suppose in those days, the German population of NYC had pretty much headed out west and the New York Germans were in South Brooklyn (Sheepshead Bay area). My grandmothers family stayed in Jamaica, Queens until her parents died (1962 and 1965 respectively)

My grandfather Ronny Werfelman(my fathers father) died in 1976. I never met him (obviously) but from what I understand, when his grandparents arrived in America (1888) and moved to South Brooklyn, they did all they could to get their kids into good schools and did what they could to learn English and assimilate. They had moved around the city a little as had their kids and by the time my grandfather was born, his parents had too, had relocated to Jamaica, Queens. My great grandmother (Martha Werfelman(by marriage)) spoke and kept German traditions. She died when I was 8 and all I remember was that her apartment smelled like sauerkraut and pork when ever we went over there. She also cooked enough food for ten extra people but I think that was because she was 95 years old and bored.

I was later sent to German school because my babysitters kids were going and my parents, being the frugal people they are, decided that German school was cheaper than the babysitter and seeing as she was already going there she might as well drop us off too. So my sister and I started German language classes. It worked out in my favor, I took my German language Regent exam the same year I took my French one for public school. I took the same exam in 2 languages... unfair advantage you say? I think not... I got the same score on the exams. A happy 84. Just a point below what I needed to bypass my SUNY language requirement. >.< Whatever... I'm over it now. We also have attended The Steuben Day Parade in NYC every year since I was in middle school.

And after all of this I think that basically it boils down to this: I identify with the German people to the extent that I speak their language at the level of a 4 year old. I can also cook traditional recipes with out the recipe card in front of me. Impressive right? Yeah...whatever. I don't live in Jamaica, Queens either.

Post 1-Who am I

I have always enjoyed learning about my heritage for many reasons. I suppose I should begin by saying that I am a mutt. I am Polish, Hungarian, German, and I have ancestors from a former German territory called Alsace-Lorraine. Which also makes me Alsace-Lorrainian or something. There's also a story in my family that my Great-Grandpa Archie used to say we were Irish so he could celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But that's another story. I mostly identify with the Polish part of my heritage. I've visited the town of Lena, Wisconsin (current population:500) and I've seen the farmhouse and big white barn that were built on the land where my Great-Grandma Vicky and her 13 brothers and sisters grew up. Their father spoke only Polish--something that my Grandma has said terrified her as a kid. In that house, my Great-Grandma shared an attic for a bedroom and she told us how the snow would drift in on their faces in the winter. They would make Polish sausage from scratch, and we still have and use the grinder and sausage-stuffer that her mother used. I think I identify myself mostly as Polish because that is the side of the family I know most about, like how my Great-Grandmother's job was to cut the heads off of chickens and pluck them for the family to eat--something that proves she had a much stronger stomach than I do.

I honestly can't remember the exact moment when I became aware of issues of ethnicity and race. I grew up in a tiny farming community on Lake Ontario called Kendall. I think there was only one Black kid that went to our school, but I can't remember thinking he was strange or different. I just knew him by his name. The town I lived in was virtually all White. I suppose when I moved from that town to a larger suburban town with a much larger suburban school, I began to at least notice the ways kids of different color interacted, or didn't. I remember in school the White kids stuck with the White kids and the Black kids stuck with the Black kids. I'm not saying it's the right thing, it was just the way it was there. I'm hoping future generations will erase the lines in school lunch rooms and actually get to know each other for what's beneath the surface, even though in high school, the surface is for the most part all anybody sees.

Even though I grew up in that town, I can't remember being taught anything negative about racial issues; of course, that could be because there was no diversity to speak of anyhow. My parents always taught me to really know someone by what is beneath the surface. My views have not changed; however, I think I have become much more aware of what other views there are. I remember seeing the Schoolhouse Rock video in 7th grade talking about the Melting Pot. I guess now I realize that that Melting Pot meant that America was to be not a diverse nation, but one that attempted to purify and stomp out so many cultures for the sake of promoting the "approved" culture and way of life. I've learned about slavery, the Eugenics Movement, and scientific racism and seen the horrors that negligence, ignorance, and hate can produce, and I think I've learned that we cannot ignore the problems or pretend they aren't there. We can't pretend we are progressing when we're not because we are blinded by our own proclamations of progress. I can't say that I have directly witnessed any instances of racism, but I have tried to educate myself on the topic of racism because it shouldn't just be something people of color try to overcome, but something we as a human race need to work toward eradicating. I think we first have to admit that great injustice and struggle exist and then begin the process of change.

David Kleis (1)

I am a Caucasian with ties to Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Ireland. I would identify myself as just another "American" living inside a country that lacks an authentic cultural heritage. I tend to celebrate life rather than trying to celebrate any ethnic holidays, like St. Patricks day and what not. I feel that it's disrespectful considering these holidays have all been "Americanized" with parades, beer tents, and Hallmark cards. My first encounter with the issues of ethnicity and race came about when learning about American history. The slaughter of Natives, the enslavement of blacks, and the containment of Japanese during WWII caught my attention. Growing up, I wasn't really concerned with ethnicity and race. My school had a very low number of minorities and there wasn't a lot discussion about the topic. I have come to accept people and embrace their intricacies. I'm very interested in Jazz, Indo Jazz, and Bossa Nova. This has led me to explore early African American, Indian, and Brazilian culture in order to understand their music. In my own experiences, I have not encountered any notable instances of racism.

Who I Think I Am (Post 1)

My background is a mix bag of different things. I was raised in a household that was split. My father for example is an Ashkenazic Jew, which is rooted in Poland, Russia, and Germany. My mother is a Methodist with a background in Germany and Scotland. Right off the get-go my family has had traditional differences that we made work, by combining all the traditions. I personally consider my self Jewish in the most liberal of ways, though Judaism is fairly liberal as is.
Fortunately/unfortuantely I was able to remain ignorant of raicial or ethnic issues until Middle School. I say fortunate because I feel children are being exposed to these issues earlier and earlier. The reason I say unfortunate though is because I learned these issues first hand. For some reason once middle school started being Jewish was not an accepted religion. I had to face people throwing slurs at me on a daily basis, but it was truly evident once being pushed down the stairs for being Jewish.
Growing up when I was little all I really learned was the Civil Rights Movement, and that was during school. During middle school we covered the Holocaust in my Hebrew School, which was after my bouts with discrimination. This topic caused me to take my first steps into becoming a Social Studies major. For the most part though, I agreed with everything I was told, but that was probably because I was never told anything overtly bad about any race.
My view has never really changed. I has always viewed race as both important, and not important. I feel you shouldn't judge people for their race/ethnicity, but I feel it is important because that is what makes life interesting and exciting.
As I said before, I have experienced discrimination on different levels, from simple name calling, to acts of violence. My biggest instance was when I got into a series of fights over people making fun of my ethnicity. I wonder up with the worst punishment of five days of out of school suspension, one of them got a day of out of school and the other got a day of inschool suspension.
That's my background though. I'd be happy to answer any other questions to any of this.

Who Am I

My whole life I have identified myself as being a young African American male. My ethnicity/racial heritage is African American. I became aware of issues of ethnicity and race at a very young age. When I was young, I always knew that I was "different" from the rest of the kids that I grew up with. From preschool to the 12th grade, I was one of about 7 African American students that were in my school district. The school district I attended was a suburban school district, with the majority of the kids being white. In high school, my senior class was a class of 500. One of my buddies and I were the only African Americans out of the 500 students. Growing up through middle school and high school, There was no diversity in my schools growing up. Being African American in an ethnic majority environment kind of made me "different" in the eyes of the kids that were in my schools. If I had to kind of give a visual about how it was for me, if anyone has watched the television show "Everybody Hates Chris" that's how I can best summarize things for the moment. There were many things that I were taught by my parents about race, growing up. I can remember them telling me at a very young age, at the time that growing up was going to be difficult for me because of me being African American. My parents also told me to never let anyone degrade me or make me feel less than because I was African American. They also throughout my life gave me the right upbringing to rise above any negativity from society as a whole. These two principles I took to heart and I still do today. My family was the main outlet that gave me the insights about race and ethnicity at a young age. I didn't quite understand some of the things that they were telling me at the time, but as I grew up I started to see everything that my parents and family had told me about unfold right in front of my very own eyes. I agreed with what my parents told me before I actually experienced any form of racism because I trusted that they would not steer me wrong about it. As I grew up I began to experience many situations that would test the knowledge that was given to me. My views on ethnicity and race as a whole have changed greatly through my life experiences. I used to think that if any person who is a minority was always the "inferior" in society today. Through my life experiences i have concluded that I was wrong on every level. I believe that no race or ethnicity is "inferiors" in our society. In this day and age, there are peoples of many different races and ethnicity that shape our society politically, socially, and economically. Determination is the key to success in life no matter who you are. I believe that all races and people are the same. I think that as a society we lack the interest and respect for other peoples cultures on all levels. When respect and appreciation is not evident in a society, that's when the feeling of inferiority creeps in and can cause problems within a society. I believe that all people are the same no matter what ethnicity or race one might be; It's how us in society find those "differences" and try to create divisions among each other. As humans we all have emotions, struggles, obstacles, differences, similarities, goals and dreams. With those things in common, we all just need to appreciate each others races. I started to experience racism in middle school when I was about 11. The people I called "my friends" were the main people who would call me derogatory names because I was black. All of my "friends" at the time were white. I became an everyday event at lunch between the boys to see who could come up with the funniest "black jokes" to try and get me mad. I would talk to my teachers, principle, and others about the situations that I was experiencing at a young age. There was action taken, but this continued until high school. Growing up, my parents taught me how to be a strong individual and how to rise above ignorance. With them as my guides in my life and my own personal beliefs, I was able to overcome the race issues that I had to deal with in school. By high school, I seperated myself from those that I called "friends" because I was able to see things for what they were. Not once did I ever comment back or make racial jokes back, I just "brushed it off". In high school, out of those 500 kids, I was friends with every single one of them. I made a vow to myself that I would not be like one of my "friends" in middle school and try and bring someone down to try and make myself cool for a group of people. With that vow I can honestly say by my senior year I had no enemies within my whole entire class of 500 students. Some kids I knew personally, and some just passing in the halls and saying "hey" to every morning. By the time I graduated high school, I was voted on numerous awards given by my class of 500, best smile, best personality, best musician, and prom king. What I took from all my experiences is that every time somone tries to knock me down, I will get up and fight two times harder. The negativity that I experienced only made me better and wiser in the end. Us as people, we are the same. If we all had the same skin or not skin at all, would we be the same people that we are today? Would our thoughts and conception of ourselves be different?

Marcus Anderson (Post 1)

Danielle Wlodarek, Post 1

Though not both of my parents are entirely, my sister and I consider ourselves to be Polish. We don't take part in any other ethnic traditions around the holidays. We've both been raised to embrace the Polish culture, as were my cousins on my dads side. The holidays, the slang talk, it all reflects a Polish culture for as long as I remember even though my mother isn't entirely Polish.
Racially I guess I've just considered myself to be white, Caucasian. Neither of my parents are anything but, so neither am I. The majority of the people who I live near or in my town are white, it wasn't until I moved out of Mayville that I ever was exposed to different races in great depth.
I always knew there were people out and about who looked differently than I did. I learned from my teachers at school, just like everyone does, about segregation and the struggle we've all gone through to be equals. My parents got more in to depth, shared with me what my teachers might not have. My dad was a corrections officer at the time, he spoke with experience. He always used to tell me it didn't matter what color anyone I might date was, as long as they didn't have a record he could trace. He just didn't like me having any boys around, he wasn't picky! My mom agreed. She really taught me a lot about the rest of the world when I was growing up. She had a way of conveying messages, she made things I hadn't experienced understandable. She was honest with me, she told me how wonderfully diverse this world was in places outside of Mayville. She always did (and still does) hope that I make my way into an area that isn't as simple as home. I didn't necessarily agree at that point, I had no experience with it. But I did understand.
Of course learning and hearing things from parents, peers, teachers, isn't nearly as impacting as experiencing them for yourself. My views on race have expanded over time, not really changed. But i never got to experience anyone different until after high school. I got recruited to play soccer at a junior college in Olean. Olean is where I first really experienced any diversity. Olean is where I learned some of the most important lessons in my life thus far. Olean was so wonderfully different from Mayville. People from all sorts of walks of lives seem to function together there with ease.
It was in Olean that I met Miguel Lantigua, a guy who changed my life. He was Spanish, Dominican. He moved to Olean from East New York, Brooklyn. We came from totally different paths but somehow were SO similar to each other. Meeting him solidified it for me, it didn't matter what race or ethnicity someone was. We dated for the majority of the time that I lived in Olean, I visited Brooklyn (something I never thought I'd do), I met friends of his and family. Another solidifier was when one of my closest friends, Aaron Moe, passed away. He was an Olean friend too, he even rode five hours away with me so I could watch a game I had gotten kicked out of playing in! But when he passed away last year I realized that loss means loss, it didn't matter that he wasn't white. I still lost one of my best friends.
I never dealt with racism either until Olean, Oleans downfall and beauty is it's diversity. Some people just don't understand that it doesn't matter what race or ethnicity people are. I used to wait at certain restaurants for a good 20 minutes to be seated when I'd go out to eat with Miguel. I work in a restaurant, have for years, and know there wasn't reason to be waiting that long. People used to just stare at us sometimes, like it was unthinkable that we'd be paired together. It's sad to see something like that actually take place. It's worse to be a part of it. It gave me only a glimpse of what some people may go through, it's discouraging to say the least.

How I understand it all. (1)

My personal ethnic and racial heritage is African American, Now I have met many blacks whom choose to only Identify as being black. simply because they were not born in Africa nor have any direct ties to Africa. ex my best friend is Nigerian her father is from Nigeria and her mother is black (her roots like most blacks comes from the south then travel north) so she is considered technically African American. This divide has happened during slavery after first generation slaves from African had American born black children they weren't considered African. But I consider myself as such because the blood of those African slaves are my dependence and although many other black people due to race relations and attitudes between American blacks and Africans as well Caribbean Blacks some choose to only Identify as Black Americans Not African Americans. A petty tiff if you ask me. But if you wanna get technical aren't we all African Americans seeing as thought all humans descended from Africa? I first became aware of issues concerning race during early childhood. I came from a household of strong morals and I think as children my parents tried not to really discuss certain serious matter in front of us. But I was always aware that I was black and I felt no kinda way about it. I didn't feel bad nor did I know enough to be Proud I was a kid. And I think children are innocent allowing them to be most colorblind like but like human nature when people are angry we become hateful so I remember growing up in a project housing in Buffalo new York and once children were upset with one another the name calling was bar none. Polish, Italian, purtorician, black and other would just dig into each other. Especially the other black children against each other oh the hate would just be vicious often resulting in the parents making the two children fight. lol insults like "African booty scratchier" "Tar baby" "Nappy head" As for the Lighter skin blacks "Light bright" "White" etc etc. But as I got older And discussed race from school to home I began to understand where the hate came from the self hate both external and internal. Now my mothers family are from the south. she grew up part her life down south with her grandmother then the majority of her life in New york city. But both her and her side of the family see race differently based on many traumatic experiences living in the south during the 1950's majority of them for this reason alone migrated to New York. Now many have sense retired and gone back but when ever we discuss race it comes more so from a ambiguous place depending on the story they are telling. Sometimes they sound happy they were able to stand up to a white person but then there are other stories where they were also put in positions where they had to be submissive to a white person due to fear. But my family overall is a mixed bag because my father who is fairly light skin (he's gotten darker over the years due to drinking) his family is from comes from Midwest all migrated to new york state (Buffalo NY or New york city) and his family is filled with American Indians, blacks, light skinned blacks who look white and actual white people. My mom always said his family was "Color struck" meaning they wanted only light skin blacks or whites in their family. My mother is dark skin. I always felt loved and accepted by the side of my dads family I have known all my life. My grandfather has been married to My grandmother Joan who is Jewish since a lil after I was born. After the death of my biological grandmother whom I never met. I love my Grandmother Joan dearly. When we are out in public for family affairs she is accepted. We all love her. And she love us.

My family all across the board had educated me on being proud to be black not being apologetic for my culture Accepting myself for who Iam. My Nana (my moms mother) has always been militant, honory and above all she seeks respect. Now at times I feel she may overreacts, but I think its the time she has lived in and on top of that coming from the south. She has let it be know that she doesn't prefer us to interracial date specifically the men in our family. This is her preference My older sister and I also feel the same. I do not consider this racist because My feelings on this matter aren't based in hate at all.(subject for another blog perhaps) But my family has always tried to insteal in us to not be ashamed or be made to feel inferior because we are black but to understand that there are people that want you to feel less then both black and white but to not be discourage because thought our faith all things are possible. But my father on the other hand who has had several white family member as well as white friends "Drinking buddies" I can remember him having a hard time at a job or having lost out on a job opportunity and getting drunk making reference to "The white man" I would always think well what white man specifically is making you loose several jobs? but as I got older I began to read up on issues of race both in high school and college. I had watched Alex Haley's Roots the entire made for TV saga several times in my life so I understand the pressure the Black man feels. But I also learned that you cant make excuses for your shortcoming and balm it on race. It all stems back from the painful traumatic past of slavery and allot of race relations do here in America anyhow. I think my parents did a great job teaching us about race relations. Especially in comparison to other blacks I know. Where their parent told them that you cant do this or that because your black. My parents have never drawn those kinds of racial lines for me. My mother or father never did not allow me to listen to certain types of music. Or wear my hair a certain way or speak a certain way they always encouraged me to not be hateful. I as a child had white friends and Spanish friends. And although we prefer the men in our family not to date white woman we have done nothing to stop them from doing so. Both my brother and Nephew have been in interracial relationships (Chinese and Italian)in which my family respects. (We all actually like the girls) But my mother would now prefer these woman to be christian lol. Has my views on race and ethnicity changed overtime yes. I have gained a deeper understanding on how things have gotten to where they are. Both I and my family as a whole have our preferences and feelings towards certain situations but overall our preferences aren't steeped in hatred which make them justifiable. And I always say this "You have a right to feel any way you want to feel. You may not be justified. But you still have that right" look at me quoting myself. lol What prompted these changes was the diversity that has always surrounded me. My family and living in Buffalo New York and frequent visits to NYC. I have always wanted to know more and how to prevent myself from becoming as ignorant as others I have have encounted. I was always intrested in how they have come to think and act this way. What where some of thier exsperiance?

Yes I have both experienced and witnessed instances of racism. I have seen people I associate with whom are very outspoken and fun. Who can stand up to anybody in the hood mainly because its a familiar setting but then I have also seen then put into a different setting and sen them act inferior to a white person who is blatantly disrespecting them. And it hurts to see a strong person belittled all because they have no pride in themselves they weren't taught to have no pride. Somehow the often times unspoken lesson of black=inferiority was taught to them. The same way the unspoken lesson of white=superiority is taught to others. Either way both lessons are lies. I have been discriminated against based on little things such as how I wear my hair. I have worn cornrows (braids going back in a rows) and have been talked too and treated as if I'm unintelligent or I guess the person assumed I'm "ghetto"versus in a long straight weave.(these are the things that make black people more so aware of race then others. Because its not just our skin its internal as well as external) I have learned the more aspects of race and ethnicity you study I have began to realize its not so black and white. Also that everything is cause and effect so racism and hatred from within and without can be cured through knowledge of people. People learning about other people. I'm glad to say I grew up with a Jewish Grandmother who has fed me matzo with cheese and fish and who has also eaten neck bones and greens with me. I'm happy to say that I my parents played berry white as well as hall n oats in my house. I'm more then happy to say my mom has sported a Afro most her life but has also worn a weave. I'm proud to say I speak intelligently but also speak fluent Ebonics depending on the crowd I'm with. I have lived in both the hood, the projects and suburbs. I feel like all of these things have made me a better person. the people I have met, some in consider friends, family foes I'm glad to have experience them all. I took away from all those situations and each of those living conditions what I needed and left behind the other things that aren't as productive to my life. *James brown voice* "I'm black and I'm proud."