Today we talked about race, like we do everyday. But today we were not only asked to think about our personal views and our family views on the subject matter, but we were also asked to think about how we can help the issue. Most people said by simply talking to their families and making them aware that times are changing and certain things are no longer okay. Basically, we need to be active in the mission of equality.
After class, we broke into groups and headed out for lunch. In doing so, my group and I decided to shop a little as well. After buying absolutely nothing and feeling nourished after a yummy lunch, we proceeded back to the hotel for our second guest speaker's lecture. In this lecture we learned that a social hierarchy exists in Costa Rica much like the one in place in the United States. Whether we wish to acknowledge one exists or not is not the issue because looking around, in either country, it is obvious that it does. Whites are at the top. Asians and Hispanics are in the middle. Blacks are at the bottom. Living in the United States as a white female I have experienced white privilege every day causing me to be blinded to the fact that this hierarchy is still in place. If I were asked if I believed this to be true a week ago, I would have said absolutely not because I did not see it. I was, am, and will be, though extremely unfair, treated in accordance to it because of my skin color. In other words, whether anyone wants to verbally acknowledge it or not, when really thinking about it, we all know it's true. By simply acknowledging it, we have made a step in the direction of changing it.
Following this intense discussion, most of us rested and worked on class work while letting the lessons of the day sink in. After about an hour or so of this, we all began to frantically get ready for the evening. We were to go to dinner as a group at a Peruvian restaurant. I had bass and chicken along with rice and coke (made with real sugar); it was absolutely delicious. Finishing up our meal, the majority of us headed for the Jazz Cafe up the street where we sipped on Cosmopolitans and listened to music for about an hour. The music was fabulous and the drinks were delicious. Feeling as if we were about to pass out from exhaustion, we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep. Between intense discussion and lots of eating, some shut eye was very much needed.
Though at first I dreaded going to class, participating in discussion, and listening to speakers, today completely changed my mind. I do not think I have ever thought this deep about the subjects we are discussing until today. Today I learned I can do my part to help others realize everyone IS equal but not always treated in that manner by simply being active. Whether this means talking to my family about certain issues or simply showing others I have changed by not using words or phrases that have a negative connotation to them, I can make a difference. If I learned nothing else, it's that I can make a difference even if it's only a slight one and even with issues that seem too big to conquer.
After class, we broke into groups and headed out for lunch. In doing so, my group and I decided to shop a little as well. After buying absolutely nothing and feeling nourished after a yummy lunch, we proceeded back to the hotel for our second guest speaker's lecture. In this lecture we learned that a social hierarchy exists in Costa Rica much like the one in place in the United States. Whether we wish to acknowledge one exists or not is not the issue because looking around, in either country, it is obvious that it does. Whites are at the top. Asians and Hispanics are in the middle. Blacks are at the bottom. Living in the United States as a white female I have experienced white privilege every day causing me to be blinded to the fact that this hierarchy is still in place. If I were asked if I believed this to be true a week ago, I would have said absolutely not because I did not see it. I was, am, and will be, though extremely unfair, treated in accordance to it because of my skin color. In other words, whether anyone wants to verbally acknowledge it or not, when really thinking about it, we all know it's true. By simply acknowledging it, we have made a step in the direction of changing it.
Following this intense discussion, most of us rested and worked on class work while letting the lessons of the day sink in. After about an hour or so of this, we all began to frantically get ready for the evening. We were to go to dinner as a group at a Peruvian restaurant. I had bass and chicken along with rice and coke (made with real sugar); it was absolutely delicious. Finishing up our meal, the majority of us headed for the Jazz Cafe up the street where we sipped on Cosmopolitans and listened to music for about an hour. The music was fabulous and the drinks were delicious. Feeling as if we were about to pass out from exhaustion, we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep. Between intense discussion and lots of eating, some shut eye was very much needed.
Though at first I dreaded going to class, participating in discussion, and listening to speakers, today completely changed my mind. I do not think I have ever thought this deep about the subjects we are discussing until today. Today I learned I can do my part to help others realize everyone IS equal but not always treated in that manner by simply being active. Whether this means talking to my family about certain issues or simply showing others I have changed by not using words or phrases that have a negative connotation to them, I can make a difference. If I learned nothing else, it's that I can make a difference even if it's only a slight one and even with issues that seem too big to conquer.
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