The Privilege Walk

A couple weeks ago, we did a kid of social experiment in English: The privilege walk.

The purpose of the privilege walk was to "encourage participants to become critical of their personal privileges associated with race, ethnicity, class, ability, religion and sexual orientation." According to the Ipas website "the purpose of this activity is to demonstrate how social identifiers that are out of participants’ control have affected their privilege and the rights of members of their community."

All the students in the class lined up against the wall and as each question was asked we were told to either walk a step forward or back. At the beginning of the question it took awhile for me to get off the wall and since I could not walk back some steps I remained on the wall. Finally when I moved forward, I felt good. It did not last for long though. I felt that each step I took forward I took two back with the following questions.

Some of the questions are as follows:
- If your primary ethnic identity is American, take one step forward. 
- If you were ever paid less or treated less fairly because of your gender, please take one step back
- If there were more than 50 books in your house growing up, take one step forward. 
- If one of your parents was laid off or unemployed involuntarily, take one step back.
- If your parents or guardians attended college, please take one step forward.
- If you were raised in an area where there was crime, drug activity, etc., please take one step back.
- If you studied the culture of your ancestors in school, take one step forward.

At the end of the exercise I felt myself further away from the most of the group. I was in the back of the class with only one other student. I actually knew her since middle school, so seeing her beside me eased the discomfort I felt not being where the other students were.

Students in each group got to together to discuss how they felt about the exercise and their reactions to some of the questions that were asked. I felt that if each student was blindfolded and we had begun the exercise in the middle of the class, there would have been different results. At first I felt ashamed, but then again I was well aware of my situation.

I did not grow up in a privileged environment nor did I have easy access to money in my household, but if there is one thing I did have, it was the opportunity for an education. I realized although everyone in the classroom ended up in different areas of the room, the fact was, we made it far enough to be in the same room. Meaning we had all made it through high school, and were now participating in activity together in the same English 1102 class in college.

I believe there is always the opportunity to be the exception; to go beyond your circumstance to amount to greater things and be that "success" story. It's never easy, but it's possible. Many people dealt with grave circumstances seldom make it out to "bigger" and "better" things. But I applaud myself for making it this far, no matter how I was dealt.

 Sample Privilege Walk Activity

* Circumstance- a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner,agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event.

"If I Were A Boy": My life as "He"

If I were a male...

Wow, that would be an adventure, but I think I would know somewhat "who" I'd be. I may have thought about this more than once but it's an enlightening perspective.

"Gender Roles" is the topic, now let us explore.

There he is, a slender guy, short, very hairy with a sultry voice. He pays much attention to his body and tries to keep in shape. He loves to eat; everything. The "dark and handsome" pretty boy. Who is he? He is me, as a man of course.

If I were to imagine myself as a male, I would describe my personality as humble. I think I would be very professional and "clean cut"; the man in charge. Social yes, but emotional... not so much. I would voice my opinions on politics and life and things of that matter but when it comes to love and things of that nature, I'd be your generic "me too babe" guy.

My common sense would be very apt, logic very convincing, humor very dry, but sensitive to peoples emotions (only slightly). I'd have tact, yes, but the fire would burn very hot; I'm the guy you would love to hate. Nonetheless I would still be a loyal individual, sensitive to the ones I allow to let in my life/circle.

I would swoon the ladies with my baritone voice, and impress the people when I play cello to a piece I wrote. Yeah that's me. If I had a favorite subject, it would be history; "understanding my past would help me change the future (if history repeats itself)".

Academically I would be above average, but no honor of high achieving student. I could see myself in a leadership role, calling all the shots. I would educate others on how to become like "Me" (but as a "He" of course).

In a sense me as "He" would be opposite in some areas but a projection of success. "He" differs from who I am in that he has to power to engage of much higher level than I (but it's only because he is a man). I commend him though because he was persistent and relentless, and he did so respectively. I admire him because he took control and, not only believed in himself, but others too, so they did the same. He is the "secret" me I aspire to be... because he did so much more.

Food for thought: "If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things" - Plato

* persistent – adj. persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles,discouragement, etc.
*indefatigable - adj.incapable of being tired out; not yielding to fatigue; untiring.

"The Myth of the Melting Pot" ; C.P. Ellis

"Why I Quit the Klan" (excerpt from Studs Terkel's American Dreams: Lost and Found)

C.P. Ellis is currently the business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers in Durham, North Carolina but at one point in his life he had been a part of the Ku Klux Klan, from member to president (aka Cyclops)

The article/interview begins by C.P. Ellis telling readers about his father, who was a huge influence in his life. He tells the audience that;

"I loved my father. He would go with me to ball games. We'd go fishin' together I was really ashamed of the way he'd dress. He would take his money and give it to me instead of putting it on himself. I always had the feeling about somebody looking at him and makin' fun of him and makin' fun of me. I think it had to do somethin' with my life...My father never seemed to be happy. It was a constant struggle with him just like it was for me..."

C.P. Ellis' father died at the age of 48 leaving Ellis to take on the responsibility of his father; he quit school and began to take care of his mother and sister and later, his wife and four children. He thought the nation was a great one and was hopeful in the church and law, but hardship soon hit him and everything seemed to get worse. With life beginning to spiral out of control and with an added heart attack, his whole mindset began to change. At this moment in the essay we are taken to a pathological appeal that brings audience members closer to understanding the basis of his hatred. This moment in his life is where it all began. 

"I really began to get bitter. I didn't know who to blame. I tried to find somebody. I began to blame it on black people. I had to hate somebody. Hatin' America is hard to do because you can't see to hate it. You gotta have somethin' to look at to hate. The natural person for me to hate would be black people, because my father before me was a member of the Klan."

He goes on to explain that he joined the Klan from being a chaplain, to vice-president, then eventually president (better known as Cyclops). He promised to live by upholding the "purity of the white race" and the other values of the Klan. Klan members had the ultimate mindset of, "here are white people who are supposed to be superior to them [black people], and we're shut out". This was their logic; they formed this group because no one would listen. He began to publicly speak about how he felt and realized others felt the same way too despite their race, but no matter how much he voiced his opinions he was still ignored because he was a part of the low income society. 

At this point readers begin to sense a change in the articles, C.P. Ellis begins to question his position in the clan; it wasn't the blacks or Jews, it was our "city fathers" so he called it that were the problem. As this feeling grows, his statements become more clear to the audience that he wanted out of the clan and no longer wanted to "fight" against other groups because, underneath it all we are the same. He finally threw himself into city politics, campaigning and union efforts with his counterparts and started to be recognized (something he didn't have before). 

In a sense we find that what changed in C.P. Ellis' case is perspective. He gained it by experiencing the reality of life and as he continued to educate himself not only scholarly; he saw that race wasn't what caused his hatred, it was the fact that his economic standing wasn't "good enough" to be heard. 

C.P. Ellis took action, changed for the better to benefit not only himself but others in his same situation. This proves to me that things do change and that one should take the time to gain a new perspective before they pass judgment. 

Underneath We Are All the Same

*Perspective- n. is a deep understanding of people, things, events or situations, empowering the ability to choose or act to consistently produce the optimum results with a minimum of time and energy.

" A More Perfect Union"

The other day, my English 1102 class watched, listened and also read along a speech made by our current president Barack Obama. In this speech he addressed the issue of race in society today. It shed light to the reality that we, as a nation, are still divided by racial context.

He begins his speech with a quote from the Declaration of Independence; "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union..." and tells his audience the brief background of what happened 221 years ago in that same city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He states that, “The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished."

"Unfinished" was the word that resonated in my ears. What could he possibly mean by it being unfinished? I thought to myself in that moment and realized that it was "unfinished" because it wasn't fulfilled. Although written, these words were not acted on to their fullest potential. 

He slowly connects with his audience, with a series of emotional appeals (pathos) that primarily serve to give us (the audience) a better sense of his standings on the issue of race without making excuses for any particular behavior. He says; 

"I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together- unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction-..."

At this point in the speech he, in a way, makes himself more human; I saw him as a hopeful man and not the president of the United States. He talks about his upbringing in a "white" surrounding and his diverse background. He states along the lines that in no other country is a story like his possible and that out of many countries, his story and many others makes us one. 

I agree these United States are a very unique entity. Here we are said to be "free" in the "land of opportunity" but I believe opportunities lend themselves to those who make an effort to change for the better...

On the topic of a man by the name of Reverend Wright, whose racial comments stirred the media: Obama goes on to admit they were wrong, and far from beneficial at a time where unity must be obtained (by our "union"). There are bigger problems to be solved and we have to do that together. Racism is a part of our "union" that we have yet to perfect. We must understand its rooting and work to heal the wounds of an imperfect society. 

"Union": one word, so simple, yet harder to obtain. Yet, a "more perfect union" allows us as a nation to learn from our past and only progress in our futures; to gradually learn to be "one nation" undivided, united, and similarly ambitious with hopes of unity.

The speech proved to be very inspiring and motivational. It handled the issue of racism in a tasteful presentation that gave the audience hope. It told me to treat others equally, as you would like to be treated- no more, no less. I enjoyed listening to President Obama as he filled our hearts with progressive hopes for the future of our country. 

 * sapient- adj. wise

Introduction

Welcome to my first ever blog.
I am Bryanna, a student at Georgia State University on her way to fulfilling her dreams someday.
I guess I could call myself a writer, and this is my chance to share my writings with the world. This blog will not only challenge me to put into words the many thoughts I have, but it will also unveil who I am.
Words are amazing and one of my favorite "things". With that said, with each blog post there will be a word of the day (not necessarily related to the day's post).
In this blog there will be social, political and other commentary. This blog was initially an English assignment given by my teacher, but I'll take this opportunity to enjoy my "homework".
The title of my blog, "Journey to Love, Strength, & Forgiveness", explains the path to the three words that best describe me. As I continue this blog, I will reveal myself to not only readers, but in a way, myself.
If you take anything away from this blog, I hope it's the ability to accept others' opinions.
So for now, thank you all (classmates too) for reading.


Until next time...


*amalgamate- v. unite