Social Justice Project

Article—Gay Bashing

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gay-bashing-attacks-rise-city-article-1.1430370

            This article is an example of injustice based on orientation, which is something that no one can control. I feel that gay-bashing attacks are very unjust because it is never right to beat up someone just because they go against your personal beliefs. This makes me think about all the times I have heard the word ‘gay’ used as an insult and how unfair it is that people will hurt others (physically and emotionally) over something that they don’t even have a choice in.

Observing the Neighborhood

In our neighborhood I have noticed:

·         Most of the babysitters are black women, the kids are white

·         Most of the delivery guys for restaurants are Hispanic men, the owners are white

·         Most of the homeless people are black

·         There are a lot of homeless people

·         There are some kids with very racist attitudes

·         People assume that every white kid in Park Slope has lots of money

            Just as a phobia is an irrational fear, racism is an irrational hatred. It can be subtle or overt, obvious or hidden, and it can be directed towards any race. In observing my neighborhood, I noticed several examples of racism/classism (which sometimes go hand in hand). One thing that was interesting was seeing how these different examples relate. For example, because the vast majority of nannies are black and Caribbean women, kids are learning from a very young age that the role of a black person in their community is to be some kind of servant. This also contributes to my fifth point that many kids are racist and disrespectful towards black people, especially grown-ups which is not good because children should be taught to respect their elders, no matter what color. This attitude is why people from outside the neighborhood believe that every white (or white-looking) kid from Park Slope has a lot of money. Although people don’t usually associate racism with bias towards white people, this issue does come up, especially when race and class are working together. Of course, racism towards people of color is a much bigger problem than what some white people might experience. We need to put an end to this because it adversely affects not only the people that are being stigmatized, but the offenders as well.

Interview—Rachel Odo (mom)

Q: What do you think is good about our world in terms of social justice and equality?

A: There have been a lot of changes over time working towards bringing equality to everyone, and attempts by people of every age to bring our world together despite the fact that there has been injustice in every era. There have always been people aware of it and working to fix it.

Q: What do you believe is unfair about the world?

A: Distribution of wealth and class differences lend unfair advantages and disadvantages to different groups of people. These often fall along racial or gender lines and systems are set up to keep those who have power in their positions of power, and those who are poor stay in a state of poverty. However, there are always parts of society working to fix this.

I agree with many points that were made in this interview. I have been noticing lately how unfairly power is wielded to keep underprivileged people in poverty and keep money in a few circles of rich politicians and celebrities. I respect those working towards social justice and I recognize that some people have been fighting for human rights their whole lives. Adding on to what she said about advantages/disadvantages falling along racial/gender lines, other bias is directed towards orientation, and controversial opinions such as pro-life vs. pro-choice. I also agree that there are parts of society as a whole who really believe that we can fix these social justice issues, and we have been taking steps in the right direction.

News Clip

http://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs_this_morning/video/CxTDgCpOlE6Ldp2MKsx8eRc87vsafxFI/labor-of-love-activist-dolores-huerta-still-fighting-for-change/

            In this clip from CBS, Michelle Miller talks about and interviews Dolores Huerta, a Hispanic activist for workers’ rights who was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights era. Huerta did not get the lasting recognition that she deserved probably because of bias against Hispanics and women in general. It is hard for me to put myself in her shoes, but if I were her I would probably feel proud of everything I have done and grateful that somebody finally recognized my efforts. I would also feel weary, probably, because of all the injustices I had suffered. Dolores Huerta is a brave person to fight for her rights when all the odds were against her. It is amazing that she is still doing it, and empowering other women to do the same.

Interview--Doctor Franklin Odo

Q: So what is the basis of your ethnic studies program?

A: Ethnic studies began in 1968 when people were led by students and younger faculty (which I was a part of). In that period, there was a tremendous amount of anti-war (Vietnam) activity but also a lot of racial unrest, mostly directed towards African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. So, the question that all of us were asking was, “What is happening to our country?” We didn’t understand, but we knew it had a lot to do with racism. We saw that the attitude towards Southeast Asians was that their lives were not worth anything and killing them was okay. American military leaders had no restraint when it came to dropping bombs on villages or shooting women and children because they felt that it was no big deal. This was the same attitude that most white people had towards anyone of color. Now we were wondering, “How can we stop this?” Education is supposed to provide answers to questions like these, but history courses did not discuss our country’s racial background and was taught from a white person’s point of view—everything they did to people of color was totally justifiable. Political science classes did not talk about who holds power, and anthropologists saw people of color as groups to be studied. They saw people with a heritage, a past and stories to tell as history, and people who did not have those things as specimens that belonged in a museum. Unfortunately, they dismissed the idea that people of color had a rich history as well. However, this idea is slightly nuanced because in the whole hierarchy of civilizations, Europeans saw Asian histories as a little more legitimate, than that of other races. Black and Native Americans were viewed as savages with no stories to tell. In the late ‘60s and ‘70s, those of us who were trying to figure it out rejected the lies that Europeans are superior, but we had no scientific evidence to make the rejection legitimate. So, why not create a field of study that allows us to, without bias, study this and gather evidence. This is what our ethnic studies program is. In 1968, the first serious outbreak of study on this topic happened at San Francisco University. People of every ethnicity came together and went on strike because the faculty refused to teach these classes. This was the beginning of a movement that people of every race were involved in, and women as well. At the beginning no one knew it would become such a huge movement. If you follow things in Ferguson right now, some protesters believe that this is the start of the movement. Now, we have thousands of colleges with ethnic studies programs. The history of the African American population is most widely recognized, the Latino population is the largest, and the Asian Americans are the most organized group. Native Americans struggle to get the recognition that they deserve because there are less of them left. The AAAS (Association of Asian American Studies, an association that I am part of) is one of the organized groups with around 700 members.

Q: How did you (personally) get started with ethnic studies?

A: I was teaching at Occidental College in LA, a private liberal arts college. I had been trained in Asian studies, and was planning to teach Japanese and Chinese history when my wife prompted me to become more political—we went to demonstrations and protests as I got more involved with Asians in America. So a group of us started asking questions. “Is the way we are being treated similar to the way Europeans are treating African Americans?” and we decided to research this as scholars.

The way that Dr. Odo changes the world is by opening our eyes to the cultures of other races, and enriching our education by teaching us about Asian American culture. Learning about different groups of people makes us (as Americans) well-rounded and able to accept people no matter where they come from. America is the “melting pot”, meaning that it is not just European (white) culture, but that American culture is made up of belief systems and customs from all over the world. Dr. Odo is a Japanese American man who grew up in Hawaii, and unlike most of his generation, left Hawaii to attend college on the mainland. He attended Princeton and Harvard Universities. Another interesting fact about Dr. Odo is that he is my grandfather!

Poem analysis

“The Ballad of the Landlord”

by Langston Hughes

Landlord, landlord,
My roof has sprung a leak.
Don't you 'member I told you about it
Way last week?

Landlord, landlord,
These steps is broken down.
When you come up yourself
It's a wonder you don't fall down.

Ten Bucks you say I owe you?
Ten Bucks you say is due?
Well, that's Ten Bucks more'n I'll pay you
Till you fix this house up new.

What? You gonna get eviction orders?
You gonna cut off my heat?
You gonna take my furniture and
Throw it in the street?

Uh-huh! You talkin’ high and mighty.
Talk on-till you get through.
You ain't gonna be able to say a word
If I land my fist on you.

Police! Police!
Come and get this man!
He's trying to ruin the government
And overturn the land!

Copper's whistle!
Patrol bell!
Arrest.
Precinct Station.
Iron cell.
Headlines in press:
MAN THREATENS LANDLORD                                                                                     TENANT HELD NO BAIL
JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!

            This poem deals with the issues of racism and classism. Considered one of the greatest leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes felt very strongly about issues of equality, especially dealing with race (he was African American). This poem illustrates how landlords would take advantage of their black tenants. They had the power to do this because the court would always favor the rich white landlord over the poor black tenant. The third and fourth stanzas are inappropriate demands and then threats that the landlord makes, and then when the tenant retaliates, he/she gets put in jail. This is an infringement of human rights on a very basic level. Landlords like this are cheating their tenants out of their money, and the innocent ones are being sent to jail because of racial bias.

The Breakfast Club Response

      The movie I chose to watch was The Breakfast Club because I feel that it clearly portrays teen stereotypes.

      The way that “normal” teens are portrayed depends on the stereotype and the message that the movie is trying to get across. Usually, a normal teen has a stable family situation, is middle/professional class, and serves as a secondary character in a film because people want to see the main character as the one with the drama in their life. Generally, these teens are white, living in a small town (in America). The amount of money depends on the stereotype. The stereotype can determine class, which determines the amount of money that the character has. The Breakfast Club portrays the perfect teen stereotypes with a twist. There is the rich/popular stereotype, the nerd, the jock, the weirdo, and the criminal. The popular girl, Claire, is pretty, has nice hair, nice clothes, lots of money. The nerd, Brian, wears “geeky” clothes (baggy sweaters and pants, sneakers), has a slight speech impediment, does not want to break the rules, and can’t seem to stop talking about math once he gets started. The jock, Andrew, belongs to the same crowd as Claire. He’s on the wrestling team, is great at trading insults but isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, and can’t seem to think for himself. The weirdo, Allison, has shaggy hair that covers her face, wears dark eyeliner, has a baggy coat on all day and carries a bag full of odds and ends. She moves in a strange way, and at the beginning, the only sounds she makes are squeaks and growls. Everything about the criminal, John, is rebellious. He has shaggy hair, piercings, wears leather gloves, and enjoys knocking everything over as he enters a room. He insults the teacher, keeps weed in his locker, and is always the ringleader. These stereotypes are taken to the extreme, but the twist is that every one of these characters has a vulnerable side, a part of them where they can all relate to each other, a part where we, as viewers, can relate to all of them. These images of teens make me think that no matter how hard you try, you cannot fit yourself (or others) into a box because there are bits that will always spill over into someone else’s box. I know that no matter what someone’s life seems like on the outside, you have to peel back a few layers to find out who they really are, and what is actually going on in their life. For example Claire, who seems to have the best life in the world and everything she could possibly want, actually faces difficulties in her family and between her parents. She says that they use her to get back at each other. On the other hand, John’s home life is what is expected. He has an alcoholic, abusive father, and a mother who doesn’t seem to be able to do anything about it. However, there is a good person somewhere inside of his hard outer shell. When he almost gets the others in trouble, he tells them to go and creates a distraction, because he know that it’s his fault, and he is prepared to suffer the consequences. This movie made me feel like the normal, average people aren’t always represented, and I think this is because people don’t find the “normal” teen very interesting. I also noticed how real people are almost never exactly the stereotype, and usually has a little bit of every stereotype in them.

Reading Response-The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

           Many people don’t notice the huge line between white and not-white, privileged and not-privileged. Many people decide to ignore this line, and instead choose to pretend that everything is fine. By doing this, they are effectively turning their backs on our country’s history, where racism brought out the worst of America. Sherman Alexie’s book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, tells the story of Junior, and how he was able to straddle this line. Junior and his family live on the Spokane Indian Reservation (aka the “rez”) where a small community of Native Americans live and struggle to get by. Tired of all the hopelessness on the rez, Junior leaves it behind when he becomes the only Indian in the white school of Reardan, 20 miles away from the reservation. Junior knows that he has to cross boundaries and make sacrifices in order to have more options in his future.

            When he decided to go to a white high school, Junior sacrificed his relationship with his best friend Rowdy. “…Rowdy and I have spent around 40,880 hours in each other’s company. Nobody else comes close to that. Trust me. Rowdy and I are inseparable” (24). However, when Junior breaks the news to him that he is going to be leaving the rez Rowdy does not take it well. Rowdy, the only kid on the rez who hadn’t bullied or beat up Junior, the only kid who protected him, punched him in the face and left him on the ground. “I stupidly hoped that time would stand still if I stayed still. But I had to stand eventually, and when I did, I knew that my best friend had become my worst enemy” (53). This hurt Junior more than any time he had been slapped or kicked or punched. It was probably the greatest sacrifice that he made. Rowdy’s reaction was so strong because, like so many of the other members of the reservation, he had already given up hope long ago. Junior was like a beacon for Rowdy because he was the only one left on the rez who had not given up. That meant that Junior still had a fighting chance whereas Rowdy did not. But when Junior stopped going to school on the rez and Rowdy turned his back on him, Rowdy lost any bit of hope and strength that Junior was able to give him.

            Another thing that Junior sacrificed was his tribe’s respect for him. “…some Indians think you have to act white to make your life better. Some Indians think you become white if you try to make your life better, if you become successful” (131). A lot of people call him an apple—red (Indian) on the outside and white on the inside. It hurts a lot to be cast out of your community, and being called an apple is basically being called a traitor to your race. When he returns home from school every day there is always someone waiting to call him names or pick a fight. What they don’t realize is that trying out new experiences is hard for him, too, and he struggles with it all the time, especially when his school basketball team plays the reservation’s team and he goes up against highschoolers from his tribe. He feels lost because he doesn’t know where he belongs.

            Leaving the rez also meant that Junior had to sacrifice being part of that tight-knit community. He no longer had a place where he was completely accepted. It is almost as if he is being torn in two. One side is Indian (home, family, loyalty to his tribe, hopelessness,) and the other is white (future, options, career, hope, sacrifices). But, Leaving the community means that he is no longer tied down and he can expand his options. “I realized that, sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe. But I also belonged to the tribe of American immigrants. And to the tribe of basketball players. And to the tribe of book worms” (217). While he may miss having a place that he could truly call home, Junior did what was best for him in the long run, and by moving on from the rez he created openings that he never would have had if he had stayed. He went from being hopelessly resigned to his fate to hopefully looking forward to the future, and although it is scary to leave the place that one calls home, it means that there are many more open doors.

            Junior did the right thing when he made the decision to leave the reservation. Although he had to make many sacrifices, he will benefit from it in the long run. Junior had to face the struggle of being an individual but still part of his community and I think that he will be a stronger person because of it. Although it took a huge amount confidence and determination to cross the racial boundaries, Junior managed to do it which means that he will have broader options in his future. Junior’s experience can teach the reader that while crossing barriers (whether it is a racial barrier or another kind) can be challenging and take many sacrifices, it is worth it in the end.

Reading Response-The Impossible Knife of Memory

            In the book The Impossible Knife of Memory, Julie Halse Anderson tells the story of a family broken apart by war, and their effort to put the pieces back together. The protagonist, Hayley, lives with her father, a soldier struggling with the aftermath of battle. After roaming the country in their pickup truck as Andy (her father) tries to escape the horrors that won’t leave his mind, he decides that they needed to settle somewhere and try for a ‘normal’ life. However, Andy’s memories catch up to him, and he turns to drugs and alcohol to drown them out. This raises some ethical concerns-where is the line between a true caretaker and a “parent”? And is it fair for a child to become a caretaker when there is a parent who should be able? When the roles become reversed, it interferes with Hayley’s trust in others, her ability to focus on what she needs to be doing for herself, and her interpretations of her surroundings at all times.

            Hayley has a hard time trusting anyone to be a stable part of her future because of all the times she has placed her trust in someone and they didn’t last. Her mom died when she was little and Hayley’s father was fighting in the war, so she went to live with her Grandma. She loved her Grandma, but eventually she passed away as well. Then, when her father came home from the army, he wasn’t the same person he was when he went off to fight, and she realized that she couldn’t trust him to be a balanced part of her future either. When his girlfriend Trish moved in, she cared for Hayley like her own daughter, and Hayley placed all of her trust in Trish. However, Trish started drinking more, neglecting Hayley and fighting with Andy until he kicked her out. All of the adults in Hayley’s life that she should be able to rely on have abandoned her (whether they could help it or not) so Hayley doesn’t let herself get close to an adult that she feels will not come through in the long run. She won’t even let her guidance counselor help her apply to colleges. Ms. Benedetti tries her hardest to reason with Hayley, convince her to try harder, apply herself to her work. However, Hayley just blows her off every time. “‘Damn it, Hayley!’ She pounded the armrest. ‘Quit screwing around. This is your future.’ ‘The present can’t be the future, Ms. Benedetti. It can only be the present.’ ‘What are you so afraid of?’” (283). This is a very meaningful piece of dialogue because it shows Hayley’s aversion to placing her trust in someone. Hayley is afraid of being let down once again, seeing another adult abandon her.

            Hayley’s worry for her dad is causing her to lose focus on her responsibilities towards herself. Taking care of him is a full-time job which causes her to neglect her schoolwork. Because there is no one in her life trying to keep her on track, she is constantly skipping school, in detention, and getting in trouble with her teachers and guidance counselor. The first line of the book is, “It started in detention. No surprise there, right?” (1). This shows that she is used to the consequences for her actions, and it seems like this has happened many times before. Andy’s lack of involvement in his daughter’s life directly influences her lack of involvement in her schoolwork, which could seriously damage her chance of having a future to look forward to. He has taught her that no good ever comes from thinking about what will come next, as opposed to what’s happening now. It is good to think about the present, but everyone needs to be able to think ahead as well.

            Being around her father and his horrifying flashbacks has caused Hayley to view people in an unusual way. She has a military routine by which she judges people, whether it is the drunks on the corner or an old lady on the bus. First, she finds what threat these strangers might pose to her. Then she assesses the situation with military precision—every possible scenario, every escape route, every way to defend herself or fight back. Then she springs into action on whatever plan she chooses. This routine shows a little paranoia that Hayley developed from being around her father. When there is too much input and she can’t perform her routine on everyone around her, she shuts down. For example, when she accompanies her friend to the mall, she becomes overwhelmed by the people and the noise. “I bumped, shoved, slipped into tiny cracks in the crowd, needing to get Out! Out! Out! as soon as possible…I walked as fast as the crowd would let me, eyes scanning for exits…” (323). This shows how disoriented she becomes when there are too many people and there isn’t enough time to find the threat, assess, and then take action. To her, everyone is a threat, and if she can’t take the proper steps to ensure her safety, she feels vulnerable and insecure.

            A teen should never be forced to take on a parental role, especially to her own parent. No child should have to give up focus on what they want from life in order to care for the parent who should be caring for them. No child should need a routine to keep their paranoia at bay because their parent isn’t there to watch out for them. No child should be unable to trust someone because of all the times that they have experienced caretakers that couldn’t become a stable part of their future. Hayley’s father should be making an effort to sort out his situation so that Hayley can relax and live a more normal life.

Reading Response-"Ashes"

            In Susan Beth Pfeffer’s short story “Ashes”, the protagonist Ashes is faced with a decision that could ultimately shape her future. Through Ashes’ relationship with her divorced parents, the reader can see how difficult it is to choose between the one who flatters and makes promises he cannot keep and the one who provides her with what she needs, but does not express any love—something every child wants. When she is faced with a moral dilemma, choosing to support one parent over the other will mean defining her personal values and deciding what she wants out of life.

            Ashes’ father seems to be the ‘good guy’ because he showers her with compliments and promises. However, he only tells her what he knows she wants to hear and cannot provide her with what she needs or what she wants —a parent that can follow through and keep his promises. For example, Pfeffer writes, “When I was little, Dad used to promise me the stars for a necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never quite happened” (115-116). This is a very powerful quote because it shows her father’s inability to carry through, and how irresponsible he is, telling her things he knows are unrealistic, but promising them to her anyway. This can be frustrating for a child, especially a teen, because there is always a hope that maybe the next time it will work out. Ashes was in this situation, and she is now starting to doubt her father’s ability to be a good caretaker, especially when he tries to convince her to do something that she knows is morally wrong. He tells her that if he can get his hands on two hundred dollars to pay off a debt, he will be financially set for life. However, the only place he knows he can obtain that much money fast is by “borrowing” it from Ashes’ mother. He asks Ashes to take it from her mother’s emergency supply—further proof of his irresponsibility. He is willing to let his child take the blame for something that she should never have been involved in. He says, “‘…I swear to you Ashes, I’d have the money in your hands by Friday at the latest’” (122). Ashes knows that this is wrong, and she questions him, but only halfheartedly because she wants to trust him. However, she has had experience with him being unreliable, and that has made her stop and think before blindly following him as she has done in the past.

            Ashes’ mother is the opposite of her father, seemingly cold and aloof, but what Ashes comes to realize is that her mother is able to provide her with what she needs to grow.  However she cannot provide Ashes with the love and affection that she wants. Despite this, Ashes learns that her mother is the real parent in her life, someone she can trust and look up to even though she is far from perfect. When walking into her mothers’ apartment, Pfeffer describes Ashes’ reaction. “It always felt a little colder when Mom wasn’t there. Even with the lights turned on it seemed a little darker” (124). Although Ashes previously stated that whenever she sees her dad, the sun is always shining, her mother seems to be the real source of light. Ashes is always comfortable with her, and can rely on her. While her father is spontaneous in his acts of kindness, Ashes can list all of the preparations her mother has made just in case, such as, “The flashlight with working batteries for a blackout. The extra quarters when the laundry isn’t quite dry. The gift-wrapped bottle of wine for the unexpected and undesired Christmas guest” (116). Her mother excels at being prepared—there is never a crisis in Ashes’ life that cannot be fixed by something her mother has close at hand, but Ashes never feels loved when she’s around her mom; and that is what she wants.

            Ashes faces a difficult decision that could potentially shape her future. If Ashes chooses to steal from her mother, she will earn her father’s trust and devotion. However, she knows in her heart that most of what he says to her is not true, and he is not afraid to manipulate his own daughter by flattering her to get what he wants. She will also be damaging her relationship with her mother which could mean cutting off necessary resources that her father is not able to provide. If Ashes chooses to stay loyal to her mother and do what is morally right by not stealing the money, she will gain her mother’s trust. In addition to this she will be stunting her relationship with her father which might not necessarily be a bad thing because he could not provide her with anything substantial, but it will mean that she never hears the words “you’re one in a million” which make her feel loved even though she knows that they are only half real. “I stood over the teapot and stared at the money,” she states. “Ten Andrew Jacksons stared right back at me. They offered no advice on what I should do” (123). This shows her indecision and how important it is to her that she make the right choice.

            The struggle that Ashes faces with divorced parents is that one can give her what the other cannot. Her father flatters her and tells her everything that he knows will make her feel good, but cannot follow through on anything he says and is not able to provide Ashes with what she needs. Ashes’ mother is always prepared—she anticipates everything from a rainy day to an earthquake, but while Ashes feels safe with her mother, she does not feel loved, and that is something that she wants so much that when it comes to choosing one parent over the other, it is hard for her to make a choice even though she knows what is morally right. The decision she makes will shape her future and her values, but no matter which parent she chooses, it will mean damaging her relationship with the other.