Racism has existed for centuries all over the globe and it is the most streaming topic. Currently we are facing inhuman actions in society, a young girl by the name of Breonna Taylor lost her life in a shooting in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment on March 13, 2020. The shooting was led by a white police officer who set out a warrant believing there were suspicious activities. She was hit with six bullets by the police. Unfortunately she did not get justice, the verdict is that the police that were involved did not get harsh punishment, two were arrested and the reason was that they hit a neighbors wall. A wall had more justice than a powerful strong young black women whom was an innocent bystander. Before this incident there was George Floyd who was suffocated by a police officer. The white officer knelt on his neck putting pressure on him during his arrest as this was happening another officer just stood by and watched. As times go on racism has been evolving and it is still on going. Sad to say but will there ever be an end? In this article the author Beverly Daniel Tatum speaks about her experience in institutional settings and teaching the course of Psychology of Racism. She speaks upon how she constructs her classroom to be a comfortable and respecting setting. Through out the reading she discusses the term racism, prejudice and the fundamentals behind them. There a couple of statements that stood out to me.
This is one of the quotes which is based on racism and prejudice, "Because of the prejudice and racism inherent in our environments when we were children, I assume that we cannot be blamed for learning what we were taught (intentionally or unintentionally)." (Tatum, P.4) Children are not born with racism and prejudice they are taught and or they witness the action of it. Children are molded into their adults beliefs it is not until we are adults and educate ourselves we build on what is right and wrong.
I believe there is a lack of talk about race especially institutions. In high school we talked about African American Studies but I learned it from the point of view of white dominant. As a high school student I never had the chance to speak about race. While being enrolled in Rhode Island College there was not much talk about the top not until in one of my social work classed we went heavy on the conversation. It was intense and eye opening. I learned a lot from that class, I had the opportunity to watch a couple films in that class which were 13TH, When They See Us, and When the Levees Broke. Each of these documentaries are based on racism in different sceneries. Because of this class I began to start keeping up with the world and especially on race. I don't think race should be an awkward conversation, its there let it be present, speak upon it.
These are links to the three documentaries that I have seen and a link to the article
When the Levees Broke
When They See Us
13TH
Talking about Race, Learning about Racism: The Application of Racial Identity Development Theory in the Classroom
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