21 Reasons
I'm frustrated. At what? Well, a lot of things really, but right now... There are some new posters up at school--21 examples of "White Privilege," some on-campus, some off. I read all 21, which were under the disclaimer that these were posted not to blame but to raise awareness. All the same, when I finished, I didn't feel anything but guilt: guilt for what was on it, guilt for feeling offended, guilt for feeling frustrated because I am sick of being made aware over and over of this fact by multi-cultural groups on campus. I'm hesitant to even write about my frustration here--I don't want to be taken the wrong way or give the impression that I think racial issues are not important and significant. I think they are--and I know that just because I don't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist--that it isn't real.
I understood this more than ever during the recent "Leadership Week." After listening to male speaker after male speaker (including an all-male "worldview" panel), I felt, well...a bit over-looked. And I know it wasn't intential--someone just didn't think about it.
So, I don't want to do the same thing--I want to be sensitive, open and not closed...but I don't know how to respond. I disagree with the method of the posters--even if I recognize some of the reasons behind it. But I'm still left with the same questions: What should change? What do I do? What's next after being made "aware"? And I know my questions (as pointed out by one person I vented them to) are of the "I want to fix the problem" variety. But sometimes I don't know how else to react. I told someone that I was ok with being frustrated...but I think that was pretty much a lie. Don't I wish.
I understood this more than ever during the recent "Leadership Week." After listening to male speaker after male speaker (including an all-male "worldview" panel), I felt, well...a bit over-looked. And I know it wasn't intential--someone just didn't think about it.
So, I don't want to do the same thing--I want to be sensitive, open and not closed...but I don't know how to respond. I disagree with the method of the posters--even if I recognize some of the reasons behind it. But I'm still left with the same questions: What should change? What do I do? What's next after being made "aware"? And I know my questions (as pointed out by one person I vented them to) are of the "I want to fix the problem" variety. But sometimes I don't know how else to react. I told someone that I was ok with being frustrated...but I think that was pretty much a lie. Don't I wish.
posted by Mandy at 9:41 PM
1 Comments:
hey dude. ah, the tensions. as to the "fix the problem mentality," I suppose I don't support the *other*, different-minded culture's rejection of other different-minded cultures, including critizing white people for wanting to solve problems (though I protest and say it's a personality thing, not a wholy race thing). Reconciliation, I think, includes considering all "mentalities" and generally, I'd say moving ahead in this problem isn't really desired if you're only going on and on and on about the problem. Kind of like a friend who keeps coming to you with the same issue, just to hear you say "oh, poor thing..." (though empathy is good). Growth is the purpose, not pain. but what do I know. It's so complicated. thanks for the blog, manders.
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