When we talk about oppression what comes in your mind is by far more important to understand before we look at its true meaning because what we think of it is, how we react to it. What does it means to be female or male or transgender; gay or straight or queer; White, Latino, or Black; young or old; learning disabled or able-bodied; Christian or atheist or Jewish, Hindu, or Muslim, all that have been constructed within historical conditions and cultural presupposition? The oppressions that are created in society and all the stereotypes associated with it becomes the cause of our privileges and dispriviledges in this contemporary society. There are the two types of oppression the conscious and unconscious. We see conscious oppression when we intentionally try to oppress others to gain our privilege but thinking of others, sometimes we oppress others but it is unconscious because it's not us but these ideologies lessoned into our minds. There are five faces of oppression exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence. All these faces of oppression combined creates a society where no one is free from the war of oppression and privilege. All the isms connected create a "overarching system of domination" by the use of these different oppression like racism, classism, sexism is a way in which "power and privilege" construct difference in our society but everyone in the society is affected by those oppressions due to the classifications society has created and which classification you fit in. the struggles or history events have taught us various lesson that we use today to solve our daily life. The contextual dimension teaches us how does this oppression is divided into intentional and unintentional ways of oppression. We socialize and the society force us "to accept system of oppression as normal".
Yes, it is important to talk about what is happening in our society. [[Scenario1|African American Girl]]
No, it is a very harsh topic and I don’t feel like talking about it. [[ Read a Real story| A Dialogue in Black and White]]
A Muslim African American girl who came to United States by herself from Gambia just to achieve a better education. She came here on a student visa and signed for the asylum now she is in United States and is living at her cousin's house and starts junior year of high school. Right now she does not have any type of money either to participate in various school activities and yet is feeling lost at school. A place where she is being oppressed in every way possible because she is muslim, an immigrant, afican american and is not have good amount of money to even afford her school preferences but the only privilege she has is that she is smart. She needs a friend that she can hold on to, who can understands her.
No, I can't become her friend she is so funny looking plus my parents said don't be friends with muslim people. [[Current Example1]]
Okay i will think about it, if she will let me cheat from her. [[Bring awareness in our children about these oppression at a young age]]
Yes, i will help her no matter what because i think what is happening to her is wrong.[[I will be her ally]]Andrea Ayvazian a white girl and Beverly Daneil Tatum a black girl are two women who don't live in the same neighborhood, their children don't go to the same school, and they don't worship in the same places; their lives are different in many ways but they still end up being very close friends. They are brought together by an agency that does antiracism education, paired up as a biracial team to do some antiracism training ata college in the Bostan Area. Ayvanzian: " we were brought together as ateam... Beverly and i call that first professional collaboration, during which our relationship was formed, our trial by fire." One of the conflict occured to test their relationship as friends occured when they were conducting a workshop at St. Louis.The topic of same sex were brought up and as both friends go to different worship places. Tatum goes to a Presbyterian church and Andrea is a Quaker who supports same sex commitment ceremonies.During their discussion about the workshop that Andrea said, "that she didn't understand how i could be a part of a religious community that was exclusionary in the way that the Presbyterian church currently is, and in fact suggested that i should find another church." She said that to Beverly in an "unconscious" state unawre of her being privilege by the white community. She was taking granted that many churches or worship communities that she can choose from because almost all of them are predominantly white and will affirm her racial identity... Her statement to me was a failure to recognize that privilege. Beverly thought she need to talk to Andrea about her spiritual journey and she did and that makes Andrea to understand that the same that was privilege for was an oppression for Tatum as she said, "you're right". Later Ayvazian mentioned a quote when talking about their relationship "The first thing you do is forget that I'm black. Second, you must never forget that I'm Black".
I would like to learn about the oppression in society so I can also build strong relationships. [[African American Girl]]
I wanna know what is the fundemental cause of this racial difference [[Where does it start|Current Example1]]In our society children start facing the idea of racism from the very start of their school lives and this social segregation not comes from our experiences but from the assumption of others about a certain group or about a certain thing. The definition of prejudice is a "preconceived judgement or opinion based on limited information" or the one saying "prejudice plus power". And racism being the "system of advantage based on race" these definitions explains how difficult it is go against the conveyor belt and that if you try to resist, you will eventually end up at the starting point because the power of the society and its effects on every person. But what can change this?
[[live the life we are living]]
[[Bring awareness in our children about these oppression at a young age]]We need to help our children to come out of his suffering enviornment. By giving them awareness of their surroundings.
Totally agree with you. [[ African American Girl story continue]]
What are you talking about our children should do what we want them to do. [[Start]] Continue to live the life you are living knowing our historya dnd also keeping in mind that the history of oppressions in society. " African American would remain degraded as unpaid laborars and dehumanized as property until the civil war." "In English mind the color black wasfreighted an array of negative images: deeply stained with dirt, foul, and dark or deadly in purpose malignant, sinister, wicked").They best was is when we are helpful to others.
I think i will have to agree and help others. [[I will be her ally]]
I will continue with what my parents think is right. [[Bring awareness in our children about these oppression at a young age]] Being an ally is being supportive of other people who are differnt than you.... this support should be fexible and elastic so that it does not define a person but rather the person define the needed support.Being commmited to other person, know your Privilege know their privilege and also know that how they are being oppressed by society. I think you choose a very nice descision and you know what to do when others are in problem and you understand the oppressions and problems that people in our society are facing. And that you know that accepting the reality helps the ally to understand the intense emotions that surrounds this issue within the community.Now that you understand your possibility i hope your relationship as a friend gets both of you the great happiness.One day she is sitting on the Lunch table alone and you went to get her and your lunch but when you come back you some other group of kids from the other table are bulling her, throw pieces of bread at her.
What will you do?
Run away from the situation leaving her alone [[ Next Day]]
Come back to the table give her, her lunch and tell her that you have to go. [[ Move on|You just became part of that racism]]
You will use your white privilege or any other privilege and walk infront of them and tell them to shut up. [[ What happened]]Next day she comes to you asks that where did you go I was waiting for you. And you said that a teacher told you to do something so you went to help her. She lowers her head and walks away.
You ran back to her and say sorry and say that this will never happen again [[I will be her ally]]
You decide to never talk to her again [[ A Dialogue in Black and White]] "Cultural racism - the images and messages that affirm that assumed superiority of whites and the assumed inferiority of people of color - is like a smog in the air sometimes it is so thick it is visible, other times it is less apparent but always, day in and day out, we are breathing it in" [[ African American Girl story continue]] You relationship became stronger than ever
:))))))) [[I will be her ally]]