Talking about Race / Learning about Racism

     When addressed with the idea of race and racism, I am always hesitant to talk about it and I find myself often times thinking I shouldn't speak on it. Growing up I did not experience much diversity, but it wasn't anything intentionally done by my parents, it was an education choice they made in order for me to have the best education possible. The first time I was really addressed with a diverse culture was when I was going to high school. My whole life before this, I was going to school with the same 18 people and of the 18 people in my class, no one identified as BIPOC. Once I got to high school though it was the opposite for me though, where as white students were the minority. 

    Being the minority for me was definitely a change, but not a shock. It is something that individuals who identify as BIPOC must deal with all the time, therefore why when I am addressed with the same situation should I be shocked. Although it wasn't a shock for me it did build into some uncomfortable situations and now thinking on it I can say it is probably the reason that I do not speak on many racial issues addressed in any of my classes. I can associate my fear of thinking I cannot and should not speak on these issues to being the minority in high school, and I was always surrounded by very vocal and passionate BIPOC individuals. The article talked specifically about why white individuals do not speak many times on these issues when addressed by a class conversation on racism, and for me it is due to past situations, not that they ended in a way they shouldn't, but when being of the minority in the setting I was in, I was often times not given the chance to speak which developed into me thinking I shouldn't. 

   



Comments

  1. Victoria RestlerSeptember 28, 2020 at 6:05 PM

    Thanks for your post Abby and for openly sharing your own experiences. I appreciate you voicing that talking about race is difficult for you and that you often remain quiet. It seems really useful to trace this back to your experience being a white minority in high school. Is there a particular situation or dynamic that made you feel that you shouldn't speak on issues of race? If so, how has that carried forward? (You don't have to answer here, but this feels like an important question to ask yourself)?

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  2. Indira's Blog Spring 19'September 29, 2020 at 3:58 PM

    Hi Abby!

    I agree, Racism is a hard topic to discuss because people are afraid to offend others by giving their opinion and point of view. Honestly, I feel the same way sometimes because racism has become a very controversial topic. Some people have the same experience as you, they did not grow up with people from different background and sometimes that makes it harder to understand issues regarding racism.

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