There is an interesting article in the current issue about how people
perceive and classify others.  I don't have it in front of me now but in
view of this discussion some might find it interesting and hopeful.
Evelyn

Evelyn Brown
Academic Development Specialist
Parkland College
2400 West Bradley
Champaign, IL 61821
217.351.2587 
ebrown at parkland.edu


>>> Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net> 2/28/2008 9:41 PM >>>

Andres--

There will also be Sharpton and maybe the elder Jackson, and some of 
the comments by Michelle Obama.  It's association and all the people 
one can put into a large circle around the man.

It's happening for Clinton, too.  And McCain.  I think it's very 
damaging for Obama, at this time.--future could be worse

Andrea

On Feb 28, 2008, at 4:47 PM, Muro, Andres wrote:


> So why should YOU have to buy into the guilt and inequity THEY have 

> created?  Don't you see?  THEY (the law makers you are talking about)



> have ruined it for ALL of us!

>  

> It is not that someone is buying  into the guilt and inequity. It is



> that people get sucked into it through subtle ways. In the late 1800



> and early 1900 when white people would strike, strike breakers would



> use black workers imported from other communities. So, poor black and



> white workers were force to quarrel through divisive strategies while



> creating alliances based on color. In those situations white people 

> would stop seeing themselves as different people from different white



> groups, but as whites loosing their jobs to black workers.

>  

> Right now, there is an interesting dynamic emerging in the 

> presidential race. There are images and literature being disseminated



> about Obama that everyone has seen. The literature is designed to 

> create an us vs. them phenomenon. So the lumping is subtly forced

into 

> us. It is not as simple as he is black so lets vote for someone

white. 

> It is more like he is different and he is a terrorist who went to 

> extremist Muslim schools and he is hiding his past by converting to 

> Christianity. The messages don’t’ have to say that he is black.

The 

> blackness is referred to by association. So, people begin to

associate 

> black with Muslim, Farrakhan, terrorist, enemy, other. So,

differences 

> are lumped into one class.

>  

> The messages that I got about Obama came from Chicanos in El Paso. 

> I’ve also heard comments by Chicano Democrats that if Clinton is

not 

> nominated, they wouldn’t vote for Obama, because of his Muslim 

> background. So, unintentionally people have begun to lump broad 

> differences into large categories.

>  

> Andres

>  

>  

> From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov 

> [mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Katherine

> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:54 PM

> To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1764] Re: Race, Power and Privilege

>  

> "Our history shows how privileged white men deliberately enacted laws



> to separate poor people by race - giving legitimate status to white 

> people just for being white"

>  

> So why should YOU have to buy into the guilt and inequity THEY have 

> created?  Don't you see?  THEY (the law makers you are talking about)



> have ruined it for ALL of us!

>  

> Okay, so you identify with being white. I don't but I look white.  

> Does that make me some kind of a bad person, an oppressor-in-denial? 



> I think not!

>  

> Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

> www.luxuriouschoices.net 

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: margery freeman

>> To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

>> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:31 PM

>> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1763] Re: Race, Power and Privilege

>>  

>> Brett and Nadia have raised some great questions about the 

>> intersections of race and class.  Certainly poor white people are 

>> disadvantaged because of their class.  But as my collea

gue and
mentor 

>> Diana Dunn has pointed out, they are not poor because they are

white.

>>  

>> What makes the U.S. social structures "peculiar" is that we've 

>> wrapped them with racism.  Our history shows how privileged white

men 

>> deliberately enacted laws to separate poor people by race - giving 

>> legitimate status to white people just for being white - so they 

>> couldn't/wouldn't organize together with people of color for more 

>> equitable conditions for all.  When we look at many social justice 

>> movements (labor, agrarian, women, etc.) in this country, we realize



>> they all foundered on race. 

>>  

>> As a white woman, I have many identities.  I find that in 

>> conversations about power, race and privilege, I can be effective 

>> only when I name and claim my white identity.  As Deborah says, "I 

>> know when others are real with me, say about sexism, 

>> heterosexism,classism, etc. [it] helps me to trust them, work with 

>> them, change things."  So it is with race.

>>  

>> Margery

>>  

>> Brett Griffiths <bgriff at umich.edu> wrote:

>>> This thread has been fascinating to read. As a culture, we seem to



>>> hold a number of double standards when it comes to diversity and 

>>> identity. For this reason, the term "race" remains problematic as 

>>> many here described it when deciding on a new title for the 

>>> discussion list. For those whites who are constructed as "others"

by 

>>> "others" we end up on the dialectic trick of two mirrors. How then



>>> do we carve out a place for dialogue?

>>>  

>>>  If we do not allow for Katherine's identity and her identity as 

>>> other than a one-dimensional social construction of "white", how do



>>> we really work towards understanding and dialogue? There is 

>>> intra-racism and inter-racism. There are polemics that afford 

>>> whoever is in power to construct the identity of the powerful, the



>>> powerless, and the middle opportunities for power between them. If



>>> we insist that all whites are "white" as they are constructed from



>>> the outside, do we not do the same disservice we have done to 

>>> African Americans, Latinos, Irish, Italians, Arabs, Indians, etc. 

>>> and all other minorities at each turn? 

>>>  

>>> Second, it seems that whites who live in poverty often do not 

>>> identify with the values of the culture that is

socially-constructed 

>>> as theirs. For this reason we have poor whites, who, like African 

>>> Americans, end up buying OUT of education and the social 

>>> constructions of identity and success that are shoved down their 

>>> throats in the form of academic assumptions. Do we really want to 

>>> say that there is no room for different-identity than the one 

>>> constructed upon us from the outside? Isn't this defeating the very



>>> purpose of this listserv?

>>>  

>>> Brett Griffiths

>>>  

>>>  

>>> On Feb 26, 2008, at 1:09 PM, Katherine wrote:

>>>

>>>

>>> "White is what your are designated by this race-constructed

society."

>>>  

>>> Well, PHOOEY on them!!!!  Who needs 'em anyway?  It's not what THEY



>>> think.  It's what I think.

>>>  

>>> : )

>>>  

>>> Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

>>> www.luxuriouschoices.net 

>>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>>> From: margery freeman

>>>> To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:04 AM

>>>> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1692] Re: 

>>>> DiscussingDiversityandPowerIssuesforProfessional Development in 

>>>> Adult Literacy

>>>>  

>>>> Katherine:  White is what your are designated by this 

>>>> race-constructed society.  When you walk into a bank or a store,

do 

>>>> the staff say, "Here comes a nice Lebanese/Sicilian woman?"  No, 

>>>> they see you as white. 

>>>>  

>>>> Everyone wants to be acknowledged and recognized for all that we 

>>>> are - for our ethnicity, culture, sexuality, gender, age, class. 



>>>> And we should!  But we who are white also need to understand our 

>>>> historical and collective status  When we do that, then we 

can 

>>>> effectively join with others who have been collectivized (and made



>>>> "less than") to transform these structures that dehumanize us

all.

>>>> Margery

>>>>

>>>> Katherine <kgotthardt at comcast.net> wrote:

>>>>> Thank you everyone for your input!

>>>>>  

>>>>> Problem is, I don't identify with being white.  I just look

white. 

>>>>> I'm about half Lebanese and half Sicilian.  And I've never been 

>>>>> part of any mainstream anything.  So saying, "As a white

woman..." 

>>>>> feels unauthentic.

>>>>>  

>>>>> Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

>>>>> www.luxuriouschoices.net 

>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>>>>> From: margery freeman

>>>>>> To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:08 AM

>>>>>> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1688] Re: Discussing 

>>>>>> DiversityandPowerIssuesforProfessional Development in Adult 

>>>>>> Literacy

>>>>>>  

>>>>>> Andres & Katherine:

>>>>>>  

>>>>>> Andres, Thank you so much for your excellent responses to 

>>>>>> Katherine's questions.  And Katherine, thank you for asking 

>>>>>> questions that many white people wonder but rarely ask.  Having



>>>>>> an historical understanding of stereotyping - which as Andres 

>>>>>> rightly notes still continues - gives us insights into the chasm



>>>>>> that racism has created among us. 

>>>>>>  

>>>>>> I find that when I enter a conversation across racial lines, I 

>>>>>> am more effective when I first name my own place:  "As a white 

>>>>>> woman, I think..."   Perhaps another way to engage in 

>>>>>> cross-racial conversations is to begin with an "I statement"

such 

>>>>>> as "I wonder why, as a white person, I have been taught to think



>>>>>> of black skin as "more beautiful?"  This sort of 

>>>>>> self-reflection can often be a first step toward real 

>>>>>> conversations, I think.  

>>>>>>  

>>>>>> Margery

>>>>>>

>>>>>>

>>>>>> Katherine <kgotthardt at comcast.net> wrote:

>>>>>>> Andres, Thank you for your explanation, which is probably less



>>>>>>> romantic than mine : )

>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>> Marketing images of any kind of diversity has always seemed 

>>>>>>> shallow to me....unless of course we are talking about

authentic 

>>>>>>> ethic stores or stores catering to ethnic groups (I'm talking 

>>>>>>> about international food markets, clothing stores etc. not big



>>>>>>> advertising).  As a woman, I feel marketed to all the time, 

>>>>>>> especially sexually.  I'm expected to look a certain way, act a



>>>>>>> certain way, and maintain a demeanor of acceptability.  We can



>>>>>>> get into that discussion easily enough, but I am trying to stay



>>>>>>> on track.

>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>> I completely understand that racism is alive and well. So is 

>>>>>>> sexism. I don't think I understood HOW alive and well it still



>>>>>>> is until I moved to this area (still considered southern, 

>>>>>>> somehow). I personally try to be sensitive and considerate, but



>>>>>>> it's not easy not because I don't care for diversity, but 

>>>>>>> because too often, I can't communicate properly.  Obviously, 

>>>>>>> this is the common problem we are discussing in this forum.

>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>> The point I am trying to make is this:  we might not "look" 

>>>>>>> diverse, but we aren't all "the enemy."  In the classroom and

in 

>>>>>>> other places, many of us try to break down the racial, 

>>>>>>> cultural or gender barriers, but we are not welcomed to do so. 



>>>>>>> There is justification for this:  whites have a history of not



>>>>>>> being trustworthy, especially to the ethnic groups you 

>>>>>>> describe.  This is something common globally, with all groups,



>>>>>>> ethnic or otherwise. 

>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>> In addition to the groups you mention, let's not forget 

>>>>>>> the Middle Easterners.  Post 9/11 they especially have not been



>>>>>>> trusted, have been subjected to discrimination and hatred which



>>>>>>> has extended to the mistrust of all "foreigners."  How do we

get 

>>>>>>> past all that in the educa

tional sector (and other sectors, 

>>>>>>> for that matter) except through education?  It's rather a 

>>>>>>> circular discussion because if no one wants to step forth to 

>>>>>>> have the dialogue, we CANNOT get past it. 

>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>> Here is an interesting article I just read on the topic of 

>>>>>>> discrimination against Middle Easterners in general: 

>>>>>>> http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/02/26/trustee 

>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>> Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

>>>>>>> www.luxuriouschoices.net 

>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----

>>>>>>>> From: Muro, Andres

>>>>>>>> To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List ; The



>>>>>>>> Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 8:08 AM

>>>>>>>> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1684] Re: Discussing Diversity 

>>>>>>>> andPowerIssuesforProfessional Development in Adult Literacy

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>> Katherine:

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>> There is nothing wrong with appreciating other people's 

>>>>>>>> beauties and with your descriptions in themselves. 

>>>>>>>> Unfortunately they also happen to be part of a historical 

>>>>>>>> context of exploitation, and commercialization. This country 

>>>>>>>> has a history of discrimination against other cultures and 

>>>>>>>> difference. This is particularly the case with African, Asian



>>>>>>>> and Latin American countries. it also happens that some of the



>>>>>>>> descriptions that you talk about are descriptions that are

used 

>>>>>>>> to represent and commercialize a few stereotypes of cultures

at 

>>>>>>>> different times in history.

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>> The exotic and the different represent both fear and bravery.



>>>>>>>> So, many like to symbolize their escapes into the exotic with



>>>>>>>> depictions of their adventures into the wilderness. Displaying



>>>>>>>> comodified representations of different cultures is a form of



>>>>>>>> showing our adventurous and fearless spirit. These images are



>>>>>>>> used to sell other cultures without necessarily sharing all 

>>>>>>>> aspects of the culture and wealth with them. It is like saying



>>>>>>>> "In America we are not racists, we display photos and outfits



>>>>>>>> from various cultures at festivals and shows and in our 

>>>>>>>> livingrooms". Yet, America doesn't go beyond cultural tourism



>>>>>>>> to display their openness. When it is time to promote 

>>>>>>>> multilingualism, openness to immigrants and true respect for 

>>>>>>>> other cultures, then the true acceptance emerges. We see 

>>>>>>>> movements like English only, the new efforts to pass anti 

>>>>>>>> immigrant laws and the use of Obama's outfit to exhort 

>>>>>>>> different emotions during election years.

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>> So, while again, there is nothing wrong with appreciating

other 

>>>>>>>> people's cultures in the way that you do, we still live within



>>>>>>>> a context of racism and exploitation of other cultures. It 

>>>>>>>> would be sort of as if people in a country that had a 

>>>>>>>> history of exploiting and systematically discriminating

against 

>>>>>>>> Americans would display photos of cowboys to show their 

>>>>>>>> appreciation of Americans. So, we should understand when

people 

>>>>>>>> feel a little sensitive about some of these images.

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>> Andres

>>>>>>>>  

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of

Katherine

>>>>>>>> Sent: Mon 2/25/2008 5:26 PM

>>>>>>>> To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

>>>>>>>> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1682] Re: Discussing Diversity and



>>>>>>>> PowerIssuesforProfessional Development in Adult Literacy

>>>>>>>> Wow, Andres!  I never would have even thought of the sexuality



>>>>>>>> thing, to be

>>>>>>>>  honest.  I know it's kind of out there in the hip-hop, diva 

>>>>>>>> world, but I'm

>>>>>>>>  FAR away from that scene.  Most African Americans I have 

>>>>>>>> interacted with

>>>>>>>>  have been incredibly bright, witty, and talented.  Many of 

>>>

>>>>> them have been

>>>>>>>>  students.  Some LOOK generic hip-hop, but inside, they have 

>>>>>>>> been beautiful

>>>>>>>>  individuals looking for a way to express that individuality.

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>  My personal perceptions come from appreciation of human 

>>>>>>>> beings, their unique

>>>>>>>>  cultural backgrounds, and the beauty that has come down 

>>>>>>>> through the ages.

>>>>>>>>  When I look at someone from a specific ethnic background, I 

>>>>>>>> see a kind of

>>>>>>>>  history--personal and cultural.  This has a lot to do with my



>>>>>>>> spiritual

>>>>>>>>  beliefs as well, so I know my perceptions are not necessarily



>>>>>>>> those of the

>>>>>>>>  majority.  I'm pretty "un-hegemonic" (ha ha.....if there is 

>>>>>>>> such a word).

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>  At the risk of totally offending people and sounding

ignorant, 

>>>>>>>> hasn't anyone

>>>>>>>>  here ever looked at a sun-worn worker from Central America, 

>>>>>>>> smile lines and

>>>>>>>>  wrinkles shining through every hardship that has been

overcome 

>>>>>>>> and thought,

>>>>>>>>  "What a beautiful person"?  Or a South African girl wearing a



>>>>>>>> bright, beaded

>>>>>>>>  kerchief and colorful necklaces?  Or an elderly Korean couple



>>>>>>>> walking side

>>>>>>>>  by side?  I don't see these as stereotypes of sexuality or 

>>>>>>>> ethnicity....I

>>>>>>>>  see these things as PART of culture.  And I see them as

beauty 

>>>>>>>> in people.

>>>>>>>>  Does that make me weird?

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>  Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

>>>>>>>>  www.luxuriouschoices.net 

>>>>>>>>  ----- Original Message -----

>>>>>>>>  From: "Muro, Andres" <amuro5 at epcc.edu>

>>>>>>>>  To: "The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List"

>>>>>>>>  <povertyracewomen at nifl.gov>

>>>>>>>>  Sent:Monday, February 25, 2008 5:39 PM

>>>>>>>>  Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1680] Re: Discussing Diversity and



>>>>>>>> PowerIssuesfor

>>>>>>>>  Professional Development in Adult Literacy

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>  > Problem is that black images have been historically 

>>>>>>>> distorted and used

>>>>>>>>  > by the

>>>>>>>>  > hegemonic society, media and/or government to represent 

>>>>>>>> something for

>>>>>>>>  > economic gain. At one time the stereotypes were of 

>>>>>>>> intellectual

>>>>>>>>  > inferiority and brute/wild strength. That is what was used



>>>>>>>> to promote

>>>>>>>>  > blacks as good

>>>>>>>>  > slaves. They were presented as not intellectually capable

of 

>>>>>>>> doing what

>>>>>>>>  > white people

>>>>>>>>  > did, but they had the strength to do the brute work.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > The brute strength and wildness stereotype has been 

>>>>>>>> associated with

>>>>>>>>  > animal beauty, exotic, animal sexuality, etc. While the 

>>>>>>>> media and

>>>>>>>>  > government do not publicly promote the stereotypes of 

>>>>>>>> intellectual

>>>>>>>>  > inferiority, those of wilderness, strength, wild sexuality



>>>>>>>> continue to

>>>>>>>>  > be used in the media. We may not notice these, but blacks,



>>>>>>>> after 400

>>>>>>>>  > years of enslavement, government supported discrimination,



>>>>>>>> stereotyping

>>>>>>>>  > in the media, etc. are really sensitive to this, and

rightly 

>>>>>>>> so.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > So, when you praise a black person for their beauty, youth,



>>>>>>>> hair, etc.

>>>>>>>>  > the association lurks over their heads, and the question 

>>>>>>>> always remains

>>>>>>>>  > if the reason you see them that way is because of the media



>>>>>>>> teaching us

>>>>>>>>  > to view blacks as these exotic, strong black creatures.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Ultimately, as with every ethnic group there are tall and 

>>>>>>>> short black

>>>>>>>>  > people, healthy and sick, strong and weak, highly 

>>>>>>>> intellectual and not.

>>>>>>>>  > And everything in between. Blacks brought to America as 

>>>>>>>> slaves were

>>>>>>>>  > selected to be stronger by the

>>>>>>>>  > enslavers who wanted physical laborers. They were 

>>>>>>>> intent

ionally bred for

>>>>>>>>  > physical strength like people do with dogs. They were sold



>>>>>>>> in markets as

>>>>>>>>  > healthy, strong, beautiful, muscular, able to breed and 

>>>>>>>> reproduce

>>>>>>>>  > healthy offsprings, etc.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Just for clarification purposes, I don't agree with the use



>>>>>>>> of

>>>>>>>>  > stereotypes for depicting blacks, as I don't agree with 

>>>>>>>> stereotypes used

>>>>>>>>  > to describe other cultures and ethnic groups. However, they



>>>>>>>> are a

>>>>>>>>  > historical fact and when we encounter resistance and

dislike 

>>>>>>>> to our best

>>>>>>>>  > intentioned comment, we must try to understand where the 

>>>>>>>> resistance

>>>>>>>>  > comes from.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Hope that this helps,

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Andres

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > -----Original Message-----

>>>>>>>>  > From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>>  > [mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of 

>>>>>>>> Katherine

>>>>>>>>  > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 6:56 AM

>>>>>>>>  > To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List

>>>>>>>>  > Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1678] Re: Discussing Diversity 

>>>>>>>> and Power

>>>>>>>>  > Issuesfor Professional Development in Adult Literacy

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > I'm so glad people are asking for diverse input, because I



>>>>>>>> think there's

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > such a lack of understanding, especially in cross-cultural

>>>>>>>>  > communications.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Here's an example:  a white woman tells a black lady (a 

>>>>>>>> BEAUTIFUL lady,

>>>>>>>>  > dressed to kill all the time) that she's beautiful, 

>>>>>>>> referencing the

>>>>>>>>  > widespread understanding that people with dark skin don't 

>>>>>>>> show their age

>>>>>>>>  > as

>>>>>>>>  > much.  The comment was meant as a compliment, but the woman



>>>>>>>> took it as a

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > racial slur.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > I have often said  I wish I were black, that I think I

would 

>>>>>>>> be prettier

>>>>>>>>  > if

>>>>>>>>  > I were black, not just based on aging.  Black women to me 

>>>>>>>> symbolize

>>>>>>>>  > strength, beauty, and character no matter what they look 

>>>>>>>> like.  Their

>>>>>>>>  > beauty

>>>>>>>>  > is inherited (though not necessarily exclusive to other 

>>>>>>>> cultures.)

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > I have also said, "God is a big black lady wearing

yellow."

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Why are statements like these taken as racial slurs?  I

know 

>>>>>>>> living in

>>>>>>>>  > the

>>>>>>>>  > D.C. Metro area that race is still a touchy subject, more

so 

>>>>>>>> than I have

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > ever encountered.  We are still very much in the South,

even 

>>>>>>>> in Northern

>>>>>>>>  > VA.

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > As a child, I remember asking a black friend if I could 

>>>>>>>> touch his hair.

>>>>>>>>  > I

>>>>>>>>  > just wanted to know what it FELT like, it was so cool.  And



>>>>>>>> braids...I

>>>>>>>>  > would

>>>>>>>>  > love to have braids.  (Way too expensive, however.)

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > What makes some people think these are insults as opposed

to 

>>>>>>>> compliments

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > (and in many cases, even racial low self esteem or poor

body 

>>>>>>>> image)?

>>>>>>>>  > Can

>>>>>>>>  > someone explain it to me?

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

>>>>>>>>  > www.luxuriouschoices.net 

>>>>>>>>  > ----- Original Message -----

>>>>>>>>  > From: "Angela Smith" <adsmith1 at uga.edu>

>>>>>>>>  > To: "The Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy DiscussionList"

>>>>>>>>  > <povertyracewomen at nifl.gov>

>>>>>>>>  > Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 7:57 PM

>>>>>>>>  > Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1676] Re: Discussing Diversity 

>>>>>>>> and Power

>>>>>>>>  > Issues

>>>>>>>>  > for Professional Development in Adult Literacy

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  >> While the issues of race 'appears' to be readily discussed



>>>>>>>> and

>>>>>>>>  > addressed,

>>>>>>

>>  >> it is evident that it is not. The need for its central 

>>>>>>>> focus for

>>>>>>>>  >> significant change still exists, particularly in

education.

>>>>>>>>  >>

>>>>>>>>  >> Thank you Michael for your facts and reflections in

regards 

>>>>>>>> to the

>>>>>>>>  > plight

>>>>>>>>  >> of African Americans. Margery, I appreciate your shared 

>>>>>>>> insight on

>>>>>>>>  > white

>>>>>>>>  >> privilege. Indeed, the mere fact that privileged people 

>>>>>>>> deny their

>>>>>>>>  >> unmerited privilege, try to mainstream the word

'privilege' 

>>>>>>>> from this

>>>>>>>>  >> significant social context or suggest that historical and



>>>>>>>> current,

>>>>>>>>  >> oppressive symbols be regarded in a general sense (not 

>>>>>>>> specific), is

>>>>>>>>  > only

>>>>>>>>  >> evidence of the lack of progress.

>>>>>>>>  >>

>>>>>>>>  >> The truth is, we are our social context with all of its 

>>>>>>>> lifelong

>>>>>>>>  >> influences. While I believe in transformational 

>>>>>>>> experiences, the

>>>>>>>>  > former

>>>>>>>>  >> truth remains the same. Indeed, it is this same social 

>>>>>>>> context that

>>>>>>>>  >> influences our practice. The question is: How do our 

>>>>>>>> ingrained beliefs

>>>>>>>>  > and

>>>>>>>>  >> values guide our practice - intentionally or 

>>>>>>>> unintentionally?

>>>>>>>>  >>

>>>>>>>>  >> Margery, I think you mentioned the importance of diverse 

>>>>>>>> input. I

>>>>>>>>  > agree.

>>>>>>>>  >> It is needed. Here's mine for what it's worth.

>>>>>>>>  >> Angela Smith

>>>>>>>>  >>

>>>>>>>>  >> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>>>  >> National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>>>  >> Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>>>>  >> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>>  >> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings,

please 

>>>>>>>> go to

>>>>>>>>  >> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>>>>>  >

>>>>>>>>  > ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>>>  > National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>>>  > Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>>>>  > PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>>  > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please



>>>>>>>> go to

>>>>>>>>  > http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>>>>>  > ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>>>  > National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>>>  > Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>>>>  > PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>>  > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please



>>>>>>>> go to

>>>>>>>>  > http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>  ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please

go 

>>>>>>>> to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please

go 

>>>>>>>> to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go



>>>>>>> to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>>>  

>>>>>> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! 

>>>>>> Mobile. Try it now.

>>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription setti

ngs, please go


>>>>>> to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go

to 

>>>>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>>  

>>>>  

>>>> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.



>>>> Try it now.

>>>>  

>>>>  

>>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

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>>>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>> National Institute for Literacy

>>> Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

>>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>>  

>>> Brett Griffiths

>>> bgriff at umich.edu or b.griffiths at comcast.net 

>>> Doctoral student, 

>>> Joint Program of English and Education, U of Michigan

>>>  

>>>  

>>>  Man is torn away from his primary union with nature, which 

>>> characterizes animal existence. Having at the same time reason and



>>> imagination, he is aware of his aloneness and separateness; of his



>>> powerlessness and ignorance; of the accidentalness of his birth and



>>> death. He could not face this state of being for a second if he 

>>> could not find new ties with his fellow man which replace the old 

>>> ones regulated by instincts. Even if all his physiological needs 

>>> were satisfied, he would experience his state of aloneness and 

>>> individuation as a prison from which he had to break in order to 

>>> preserve his sanity. (...) the necessity to unite with other living



>>> beings, to be related to them, is an imperative need on the 

>>> fulfilment of which man's sanity depends. This need is behind all 

>>> phenomena which constitute the whole gamut of intimate human 

>>> relations, of all passions which are called love in the broadest 

>>> sense of the word

>>> Erich Fromm, The Sane Society

>>>  

>>>  

>>>  

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>  

>>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>>  PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to



>>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

>>

>>

>> Margery Freeman

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



>> Office

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

>> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! 

>> Search.

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>>  National Institute for Literacy

>>  Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

>>  PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

>>  To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy mailing list

> PovertyRaceWomen at nifl.gov 

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/povertyracewomen