When discussing Citizen by Claudia Rankine, our class had trouble starting the conversation. When we did being the discussions, it felt sparse and surface-level regarding both the content and literary architecture of the essays or poems.
We mentioned how the diversity, or lack thereof, in our classroom as well as the idea that the AP Literature class is a white space impacts how we discuss the book's content. One point we never finished talking about was the discomfort of being white and how this leads to withdrawing participation in fear of saying something wrong.
Although I understand this point of view, it is crucial to speak up, even if you "say something wrong." Part of the point of discussing race is to overcome prejudices and to teach others about non communal experiences. If we are to make progress in the race conversation, then we need to educate each other - which I felt we lacked during this unit.
If you're white, you will never understand the discrimination that minorities do. It is simply impossible because experiences shape us into who we are and our belief systems. When people who aren't white open up about their experiences, they are not inviting your pity or apologies. Instead, your job is to realize your own inherent prejudices and to encourage introspection in those who are unaware of their own biases.
The fear of being labeled racist, which has such a negative connotation, and rightly so, prevents constructive conversation. Last year, I read Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum. She argued that the term "racism" should be defined as a system of advantage based on race. Although I don't necessarily agree with this definition, it would certainly aid people in speaking up.
So, let's talk about race.
I agree that some silence can come from not wanting to say the wrong thing. I do think that listening to others can be a valuable perspective and resource because, like you said, white people don't have the experience of oppression or racism. I think that it may be important to listen and try and understand at first, even if it causes some silence. I think that it is what follows this that really counts though. Often times, conversations about race end at, "racism is bad, people in this book/T.V. show/magazine/etc. were racist and it was shocking(or not so shocking to minorities). Moving the conversation past this and recognizing the systems that exist in our own lives and being active and outspoken advocates for change is the next step. I think this is where speaking out and really jumping into the conversation is the most important, and where we should look to lead many conversations about race.
ReplyDeleteI feel like silence does come from the possibility of saying something that could sound a bit racist, especially in the presence of black people as well. Since this book takes a viewpoint of a black woman, I feel that white people in class could be hesitant to speak, even if their point isn't racist, when there are women of color in their class. The women of color that are there are looked to as spokespeople, even if accidental. So it makes discussion in class a little one sided.
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