In Whose Honor

Well my initial reaction to this film was complete and total shock. First of all I was unaware, before this unit, that these mascots were so hurtful to the Native American people. It has to be very painful to watch your beliefs and ideas mocked at every sporting event that you attend who has these types of mascots. I just don't understand why there is so much resistence to getting rid of these mascots. I have to say that it is not a good enough excuse to say that money is the reason for them to stay. I really liked the flags that symbolized caucasions, blacks, and Jews as a mascot because it does give you a tiny insight to their feelings. it is pretty obvious that these different mascots would not go over at all in our society so why is it okay to have indian mascots. The chiefs are running around doing a "spiritual dance" but they look like a rehearsed gymnastics routine. These portrayals of the Native Americans traditions are very hurtful and downright rediculous. They do not portray these people in a good way at all and it needs to come to a stop...now!

Equiano Article

I think this article would be perfect to bring into an 8th grade English class who is about to read the novel The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers. The beginning chapter of this novel directly relates to the situation happening in the article. While I was reading the article I thought I had read it before but I am sure it only reminded me of the beginning of this novel. I think this would be a great way to introduce racism to a class, and especially if they are going to read Myers' book, because it is almost identical to his novel.

Applying multicultural Article

This article focuses on racism in The Great Gatsby. I think it is hard to focus on such an issue when the entire book is made up of white characters. I know the article points out the quote from one of the characters and I definitely agree with addressing that particular quote, but this book would not be one I base my racism unit around. I think there are other books out there that address this issue much better and focus on several different aspects of the problem. Now I think showing the quote to reiterate the topic in all forms of literature is a good example but it is not one I think is a basis for the topic.

Peggy McIntosh article

This article really opened my eyes to the truths behind white privilege. The list she writes about white privilege in our daily lives was astounding. These are things that I never would have thought about prior to the article. I really like how she introduced the idea of white privilege as an unearned power. This is so true, it is unfair for someone to have power over another because of the color of their skin, but it happens everyday. I agree with her in the fact that many whites are oblivious to these types of racism and inequalities. She lists ideas that whites take for granted everyday, especially when people stereotype certain races. They are an individual person so why are they being categorized negatively because of the color of their skin. This article was a wake-up call for me because she presents so many advantages whites have over other races and it is truly unjust.

Letters blog

Our group discussed the idea of recovering the girls. The British wanted to recover the girls and bring them back to the institution. The British using the word "recover" portrays the image that they have possession of the girls. They are human beings they are not owned by anyone. The British think they need to recover them and take them back to the institute. I do not think the British have any right to say that the girls belong to them because of their mixed race. They will truly be "recovered" when they are reunited with their families in the tribes.