Multicultural Initiatives: What is Racism? by Claudia Fox Tree

What's this blog about?

I teach several courses under the broad topic of "Multicultural Education," prioritizing social justice issues of access, power/privilege, & narrowing the academic achievement gap. I am a person of color and I almost always have a white co-teacher. We include topics, such as: racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ethnocentrism, deculturalization, transforming curriculum, etc. This is a place where I post information that we teach; lesson plans for activities; and resources we use and/or which are shared with me by my adult students.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

What is Racism? by Claudia Fox Tree

When racism is not "named" once observed, then it can't be interrupted and changed, and that's an even bigger problem. Racism is about a SYSTEM (see David Wellman) that is and has been in place to raise one group and put another down, often without the "lifted" group having any conscious awareness that it is happening (privilege - see Peggy McIntosh). One reason NA's don't "stick together" is internalized oppression as Jason says. Another is that there are so many more pressing issues (food, water, etc.) on, say, reservations, that have to be met first. (see http://www.buzzfeed.com/...) Look how long it took women to get the right to vote!