Thank you for your recognition Margery. Obviously this subject is important
and thought provoking.

 

Many times people think that because I do not focus on race as a sole means
of oppression, but as part of a system of oppression, that I do not believe
we should focus on it. I think the most important way to utilize race in the
discussion is to focus on its roots and its effects in the past and present
in many geographical regions, while understanding its role in the bigger
picture. Slavery here was different because of its use to perpetuate a then
new form of capitalism- creating the racial divisions we now see as the only
form of racism.

 

I do believe that racism, so entrenched in our society, is able to stand
alone as a means of oppression now. However, when we frame it in the context
of why it is so entrenched in our system, we can begin to break down its
walls- together. This is what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was realizing at
the end of his life. 

 

A study that I recently came across,
(http://pewresearch.org/pubs/634/black-public-opinionu) is very interesting
to me indeed. I think it shows how race is nothing but a perpetuated
mind-state based on material circumstances- that black culture in America
has never been homogeneous. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of margery freeman
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 2:51 PM
To: The Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1654] Re: Comments about oppression

 

I echo Kathy's thoughts and am feeling very excited that this conversation
is drawing so much participation.

One thought about your racism/oppression analysis, Daniel -  Yes indeed,
people have always oppressed one another throughout history.  I wish more of
us had your historical analysis!  I think it's important for us to
understand how race (which you rightly call "simply the latest tool to use"
in oppression)  was constructed and institutionalized here in the U.S. and
has been exported around the world.  It is often called the "peculiar
institution," unlike other forms of oppression.  Knowing this can help us
not only begin to dismantle it, but also help those coming from other
countries beter understand why and how they are boxed in.  A Turkish person
becomes white when she lands at JFK; a Thai person becomes "Asian"; a
Chilean person becomes "Hispanic"; a Ghanian person becomes "Black".  Race
dehumanizes us all.  Yet we can't simply become colorblind, because the
structures of our society remain unchanged.   Better to analyze how and
where we fit into this racially constructed society, so we can come together
and transform it.

Margery

 

"Dr. Kathleen P. King" <drkpking at gmail.com> wrote:

Daniel-
Wonderful articulation fo the complexity of these issues
Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us

And yes Eric, It pains me terrificly that it was the US flag flying above
those camps and that  if flies over some wars that this country has been
involved in.

Thank you both - 
Kathy


-- 
Dr. Kathleen P. King, Professor of Education
President, Transformation Education LLC
Email: Transformationed at gmail.com  
Tel (201) 916-0575  Fax  (201) 458-9736      
"Lifelong Learning in a Digital Age"    





Margery Freeman

The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond - Northeast Regional Office

718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368

  

  _____  

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http:/www.yahoo.com/r/hs>  your homepage.


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