Blog entries must be 200-400 words in length and must be submitted as comments to the main thread before the next class period.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Diversity Training
Can't wait to hear what you thought of yesterday's presentation. In your post, please try to connect Cody's presentation with your own break and the issues you'll encounter.
Every time I have the opportunity to hear Cody Charles speak, he never fails to open my mind and expand my world view. I have been lucky enough to hear him speak during Student Housing training, and now through our class for Alternative Winter Breaks. Cody had lots of powerful things to say during his presentation. However, one point in particular stood out to me, especially in relationship to my break: the discussion of the sometimes invisible and accidental nature of oppression and privilege. Cody demonstrated this point by showing images of two locations on campus. The first was the iconic Strong Hall, a building that seems to be displayed on almost every piece of KU advertisement and publicity. Personally, this image inspires feelings of joy, pride, and nostalgia (despite the fact that I still lots of work yet to do in order to graduate and reach alumni status). However, through an excellent discussion, Cody exposed us to the fact that Strong Hall is incredibly difficult to access for individuals who are either temporarily or permanently physically handicapped, but not so for able-bodied individuals. Cody essentially showed us that we, as a University, have inflicted oppression onto a minority group, and we, as a group of well meaning Alternative Breaks participants, share responsibility for this oppression, along with all of our fellow Jayhawks. This notion was sobering, and somewhat hard to hear, as it is difficult to think of myself, and my good friends, as oppressive individuals. However, we are indeed guilty of unknowingly and accidentally subjecting other individuals to oppression. During my break, I am headed to Denver, CO to work with LGBT populations. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals are often subjected to oppression from the heterosexual, non-LGBT community. Cody’s presentation has exposed me to the fact that this oppression is likely not intentional, and may even happen by accident. Of course, some people are completely intentional in regards to their oppression of LGBT individuals. However, during my break, and also throughout the rest of my life, I must realize that LGBT individuals, and other minority groups, are sometimes subjected to oppression from kind individuals who are well-meaning, and completely non-intentional with their oppressive behaviors. Additionally, it is now my responsibility to remind myself, and other well-meaning individuals, of the fact that oppression is invisible, and can sometimes occur by accident. Perhaps these reminders will play at least a small part in ending the intentional and accidental oppression faced by all minority groups.
I was fascinated and humbled by what Cody Charles had to say at our last meeting. He certainly has a way of opening your eyes and your mind to things that you've probably never thought about before. He defined oppression and privilege in easy-to-understand terms and applied them nicely to our everyday lives by using his own personal anecdote relating to the salon and by demonstrating other oppressive forces seen right here on the KU campus. I've certainly never stopped and considered Strong Hall's access to the handicapped, and it was humbling to be shown that certain individuals are disadvantaged in such a way at KU. His speech and his assertions helped me and undoubtedly many others appreciate our privileges and recognize barriers to these privileges that exist to certain others. I plan on carrying these lessons with me throughout my winter break trip and throughout my life. Although I won't be working directly with people or toward the aid of people, I do believe that these lessons may still be applied. My work at the Appleton-Whittell Ranch will, hopefully, help preserve the biodiversity and the native Arizona ecosystem. Whether or not this work helps people directly, I strongly believe in the greater good of our environment and its ability to sustain, and everybody should be privileged with a healthy environment. Furthermore I think that many ideals of the environmentalist movement parallel what Cody said to us this week in that very few of us have probably ever stopped to think about how our privileges help oppress our environment. To my knowledge, none of us has ever witnessed the extinction of a species or have been forced to drink polluted waters. Perhaps some of us have lived with the smog of a big city or have cut trash off of wildlife, but it certainly isn't something we consider every day. In any case, the degradation of the land and the oppression on its ability to thrive and sustain is slowly coming back to bite us.
This was probably my favorite classes so far. I really enjoyed what Cody had to say in his presentation and completely agreed with basically everything he had to say and I felt that it was extremely powerful, I loved it so much. He discussed how people are being oppressed everyday and how we are extremely privileged, and sometimes we forget the most simple things in life that we are afforded. We take these things for granted and dismiss them as a privilege, for instance Cody gave us some examples like in his own situation where he went to our own Union to try to get his hair cut yet they told him they did not feel comfortable cutting his hair because he is black. Because of this Cody was shocked and upset because the union is supposed to be a place where all of its students can go but obviously they were only catering to a select few students. He also mention that strong halls only place for those who have to use a wheelchair only have access to the building through the back entrance. Many of us had no Idea about this at all, I know I did not nor did I really consider what people in wheelchairs had to do to get into the building, and it was not a thought that had ever crossed my mind. One thing that Cody said that will always stick with me and what I thought was extremely powerful and touching was when he said that we need to expand our reality. Because what he was trying to get across to us is that we do not think about those who are being oppressed unless we are personally in that position of oppression. I thought this was ingenious I have always thought about certain aspects of oppression but not all because there are so many people in this world who are oppressed in many ways and it is important for us to understand what many people are going through in this world each day. Because we come from good circumstance we do not consider this, and when I think about it that is what is wrong with this world and what has caused many violent wars and issues. Because people simply did not understand someone else's situation those people simply did not care, thereby causing another group of people grief. I felt that this presentation was vitally important especially for what we are doing when we go on these volunteer breaks. We have to realize that these people have come from less fortunate situations and we need to be understanding and sensitive to what they have gone through. We need to make sure we apply what Cody said to the sites that we go on and we must also apply this to our everyday life if we wish to have a better understand of people and this world. We must keep an open mind and heart so we do not hurt others purposely or unintentionally.
“Privilege is unearned, unasked for and usually invisible.” –Cody Charles. This is the quote that resounded in my head throughout the entire meeting. What Cody said is true I have never thought about all the privileges of my life. I was born in a great country, into a good family, and with no physical or mental disabilities. These are all things that were unearned, unasked for, and that I have never questioned. When Cody gave the example of him not being able to get his hair cut at the salon in the Union it really surprised me. Privilege is not something that most people think about until an event happens that personally affects them. Another thing Cody mentioned that struck me was that the only way for someone in a wheelchair to enter Strong Hall was to come in from the back. It never crossed my mind how being able to walk up stairs and enter through the front doors of a building are privileges, or that not being able to is a type of oppression. The second point that Cody emphasized in his presentation was oppression. How oppression has always been and that the group being oppressed has just changed. He gave the example of the forefathers of our country and how white, wealthy, educated, men were the oppressors, and that poor, uneducated blacks were the oppressed. Oppression and privilege are two important issues that we could possibly have to deal with on our Alternative Breaks. We need to be aware of these topics and know how to handle the situation if we encounter them. For my Alternative Break I will be going to the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary in Texas. The type of oppression that I will encounter there will be that of humans serving as the oppressors, and the animals as the oppressed. After going through the class with Cody I will be able to better reflect on my experiences while on the Alternative Break.
I thought the presentation by Cody Charles on diversity was excellent, but it was a difficult pill to swallow. It is always hard to consider that by living my life, I have benefited from some kind of privilege, a privilege that resulted from the oppression of another group. Even though privileges are by definition unasked for advantages, learning of the inequality caused by a privilege is difficult. For example, I had wondered how those with physical disabilities entered Strong Hall because I could not see a handicap accessible entrance. I had no idea that this entrance was completely in the back of the building by a parking area. Not only is this unfair, having the entrance in the back makes the handicap door less accessible. I was saddened by the thought that someone who is already disadvantaged would by further inconvenienced by being able to use only one door. Mr. Charles explained that privileges exist not because people are unintelligent or indifferent; it is simply because they are unaware. Therefore, the first step to enacting social justice is becoming aware of the privileges that exist in our world. The next step is to try and remove these privileges. On my Alternative Break trip to Give Kids the World, we will be helping children with terminal illnesses have a “normal” vacation experience with their families. Though I cannot cure their illnesses or pay their medical bills I can at least help ensure that they feel special and are happy for a week. For my life in Lawrence, fighting social justice will take several different forms. One way that I already try to make people more aware is by asking people not to say “retard.” My youngest sister is mentally handicapped and people do not always realize what they are implying by the use of the word. By saying things like, “You know, that’s not a nice word,” I try to call attention to their actions in a non-confrontational manner. This is just a small way that I can help make people mindful of the feelings and needs of others. As my reality continues to expand, I hope that my sphere of influence and advocacy for social justice will expand with it.
This week, Cody came to talk to us about diversity and awareness. I found his presentation to be very enlightening. I have had several different versions of diversity training/ awareness from several different organizations, but I found this to be the most understandable and relatable of any that I have had. I was unaware of several issues that he brought up, especially the inaccessibility of campus for people using wheelchairs. If it isn’t something that you have encountered, you just don’t think about it. Cody’s presentation was very applicable to the break that I am going on. We will be working with terminally ill children and their families, and the number of privileges we have over this group of people is staggering. We are all in good health, we do not have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills every month, and none of us have to wonder whether or not we will live to see our next birthday. Many of the children that we will come into contact with may never make it to college or experience many of the amazing things that we have had the privilege of experiencing. The best that we can do is be respectful and try to learn as much as we can from these incredibly strong individuals. We must accept the fact that we cannot understand where they are coming from or what their lives are like, and be aware that they face innumerable challenges every day of their lives. In my work with Dance Marathon, I have come to realize that a huge part of what these kids are missing is the chance at a normal, carefree childhood. I hope that we will be able to give them a chance to forget about all of their troubles (at least for a few days) and have a week of lighthearted fun with their families. They deserve it more than anyone.
This week’s class featuring Cody Charles really opened my eyes to the different types of oppression that are inflicted on groups of people. When I used to think of oppression I always thought of the obvious examples: slavery, women’s rights, etc. Cody was able to shed light on the types of oppression that are not so obvious. His examples were powerful and made me realize that often times people don’t even realize the privileges they have and how those privileges are unearned and unappreciated. The best example of this was when he showed everyone a picture of Strong Hall and pointed out the lack of a ramp for those in wheelchairs or with other disabilities to access the main entrance. I’ve always taken for granted that I can easily walk up the stairs to enter buildings on campus, while others are forced to go around and enter in the back. Cody repeatedly asked, “What kind of message does that send?” The answer is obviously that these groups of people are not a priority. We aren’t thinking about them, but we should be. This class was so applicable to my alternative break since my group is going to Denver, Colorado to work with the LGBT community. To me, these are people who are so obviously being oppressed in our society by not even being granted the same legal rights as others. However, it is not just religious and political institutions that are oppressing these people; it is also the people who are sitting by and doing nothing. That’s the biggest lesson I got out of Cody’s presentation. Doing nothing to stop oppression is almost as bad as being an oppressor. Being involved in Alternative Breaks is just one step towards becoming more aware of these issues, but I hope to continue to learn about injustices that are happening as I return from my break and make sure to do as much as I can to stop them.
The presentation on diversity is one of the better presentations I have heard in a very long time. I did grow up in a very privilege town and everyone in my high school knew it. Our high school always said that the school was very diverse and from a far it did. We had mixed classrooms and I was never in a class that was all white. Though I had friends that laughed and said that it wasn’t really diverse and that the school just placed some kids in classes that they weren’t at the level for. It occurred to me now, that all my friend that said that were privileged as well. So I wondered if they just said it to say it. The presentation made me aware of things that I hadn’t even thought of before, like with strong hall. I never knew that before and it surprised me quite a bit transferring from a university where every building was wheelchair accessible without making people go through the back. With the lower nine, I have no doubt it will open my eyes to the social injustices that happen all around me without me know it. The main problem with social injustice is that it’s invisible to people who don’t suffer from it till it brought to light. So the question is how do you bring something to light when so many people are not aware of it. That is going to be the main challenge for me, when I return from my alternative break. I don’t know what exactly I’ll learn while down there but the things I do learn, how will I bring them back to Lawrence and make other people see the injustice that exists. For it’s very hard to see injustice if you don’t experience it yourself.
I found Cody Charles’ talk about social justice very interesting and thought provoking. He talked about how certain groups of people can encounter oppression in a society while other groups have privileges. The oppression and privileges that certain groups have often times goes unnoticed. For example, Cody talked about Strong Hall, which is a focal point or the “brains” of campus. Every student eventually needs to go into Strong Hall for whatever reason be it going to one of its many different offices. He showed us a picture of Strong Hall and asked us where we saw oppression. It turns out that the only way people in wheelchairs can enter the building is through a ramp in the back. Many students, including myself, had no clue about this case of oppression on our very own campus. On my alternative break trip, I am traveling to Nashville, TN to help the elderly pursue more meaningful lives. The elderly sometimes are handicapped and require a wheelchair to maneuver around. Often times as a society we oppress the elderly without even realizing it. Another way how the elderly are oppressed is that people can condescend or not take them seriously. We need to realize that they are humans just like everyone else and should be treated equally. They also do not have the same resources that we often take for granted. For example, they may have lost family members. What I took home most from Cody Charles is when he said that now you have learned it, you can’t unlearn it. He was talking about how now all of us know what social justice is, we are now aware of oppression happening around us. It is up to us, as volunteers, to carry this knowledge of social justice on our trips to make the most out of the experience. We should know how our volunteer service will affect society.
Cody Charles was my resident director my freshman year, and I’m honestly not used to the more serious side he shows now as the assistant director of Multicultural Resources. I heard Cody’s speech on diversity during recruitment as a recruitment counselor; however, it was not as intense as it was at our Alternative Breaks meeting. I think that a lot of what Cody has to say initially has a huge shock value to it, which is such an effective way of relaying the equally shocking message. It is very hard to hear the things about the lack of diversity at KU in the first place, and to hear it from some one like Cody makes things even harder. Cody said, “Once you learn this, you can’t unlearn it.” I have never thought of a better way of planting the idea to live each day for social justice, even in the smallest of forms. Social justice is just that; a just social environment. However, the only way to make this happen is to take action, even in the smallest way. As a student with a learning disability, I felt like I was aware of some of the unjust things on campus, relevant to students with disabilities. However, because I can walk, and use my eyes, ears, voice, etc., I never thought of strong halls only ADA accessible entrance as being “hidden” from the public, as if to hide the disabled from the public. Whether it be the fact that KU wants to preserve the beautiful architecture of some buildings or it is just inconvenient, most of the buildings on campus have handicapped accessible entrances away from the front of the building. I would have never thought about this before, but now I feel like it’s something I can’t ignore. It won’t be unlearned, it can’t be forgotten, and it shouldn’t be.
When listening to Cody Charles speak it was a little strange to hear what he had to say. I never realized that things that I took for granted like getting a haircut, that there would be discrimination against students of other ethnicity's. In a way I feel like I was just oblivious to what was really going on. Another thing that he said that I found interesting was that he asked us where the handicap entrance was at Strong hall. Only about 10 people actually know. I knew because I needed to use crutches because I had hurt myself but if I hadn't then I would have had no idea. The idea that the entrance is hidden is pretty strange and the fact that the students that are handicap are expected to be on time to class doesn't really seem realistic if they are coming from another class. It just doesn't seem right that these people are being hidden from KU society. Cody Charles really helped open up my eyes and was absolutely an awesome speaker.
Every time I have the opportunity to hear Cody Charles speak, he never fails to open my mind and expand my world view. I have been lucky enough to hear him speak during Student Housing training, and now through our class for Alternative Winter Breaks. Cody had lots of powerful things to say during his presentation. However, one point in particular stood out to me, especially in relationship to my break: the discussion of the sometimes invisible and accidental nature of oppression and privilege. Cody demonstrated this point by showing images of two locations on campus. The first was the iconic Strong Hall, a building that seems to be displayed on almost every piece of KU advertisement and publicity. Personally, this image inspires feelings of joy, pride, and nostalgia (despite the fact that I still lots of work yet to do in order to graduate and reach alumni status). However, through an excellent discussion, Cody exposed us to the fact that Strong Hall is incredibly difficult to access for individuals who are either temporarily or permanently physically handicapped, but not so for able-bodied individuals. Cody essentially showed us that we, as a University, have inflicted oppression onto a minority group, and we, as a group of well meaning Alternative Breaks participants, share responsibility for this oppression, along with all of our fellow Jayhawks. This notion was sobering, and somewhat hard to hear, as it is difficult to think of myself, and my good friends, as oppressive individuals. However, we are indeed guilty of unknowingly and accidentally subjecting other individuals to oppression. During my break, I am headed to Denver, CO to work with LGBT populations. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals are often subjected to oppression from the heterosexual, non-LGBT community. Cody’s presentation has exposed me to the fact that this oppression is likely not intentional, and may even happen by accident. Of course, some people are completely intentional in regards to their oppression of LGBT individuals. However, during my break, and also throughout the rest of my life, I must realize that LGBT individuals, and other minority groups, are sometimes subjected to oppression from kind individuals who are well-meaning, and completely non-intentional with their oppressive behaviors. Additionally, it is now my responsibility to remind myself, and other well-meaning individuals, of the fact that oppression is invisible, and can sometimes occur by accident. Perhaps these reminders will play at least a small part in ending the intentional and accidental oppression faced by all minority groups.
ReplyDeleteI was fascinated and humbled by what Cody Charles had to say at our last meeting. He certainly has a way of opening your eyes and your mind to things that you've probably never thought about before. He defined oppression and privilege in easy-to-understand terms and applied them nicely to our everyday lives by using his own personal anecdote relating to the salon and by demonstrating other oppressive forces seen right here on the KU campus. I've certainly never stopped and considered Strong Hall's access to the handicapped, and it was humbling to be shown that certain individuals are disadvantaged in such a way at KU. His speech and his assertions helped me and undoubtedly many others appreciate our privileges and recognize barriers to these privileges that exist to certain others. I plan on carrying these lessons with me throughout my winter break trip and throughout my life. Although I won't be working directly with people or toward the aid of people, I do believe that these lessons may still be applied. My work at the Appleton-Whittell Ranch will, hopefully, help preserve the biodiversity and the native Arizona ecosystem. Whether or not this work helps people directly, I strongly believe in the greater good of our environment and its ability to sustain, and everybody should be privileged with a healthy environment. Furthermore I think that many ideals of the environmentalist movement parallel what Cody said to us this week in that very few of us have probably ever stopped to think about how our privileges help oppress our environment. To my knowledge, none of us has ever witnessed the extinction of a species or have been forced to drink polluted waters. Perhaps some of us have lived with the smog of a big city or have cut trash off of wildlife, but it certainly isn't something we consider every day. In any case, the degradation of the land and the oppression on its ability to thrive and sustain is slowly coming back to bite us.
ReplyDeleteThis was probably my favorite classes so far. I really enjoyed what Cody had to say in his presentation and completely agreed with basically everything he had to say and I felt that it was extremely powerful, I loved it so much. He discussed how people are being oppressed everyday and how we are extremely privileged, and sometimes we forget the most simple things in life that we are afforded. We take these things for granted and dismiss them as a privilege, for instance Cody gave us some examples like in his own situation where he went to our own Union to try to get his hair cut yet they told him they did not feel comfortable cutting his hair because he is black. Because of this Cody was shocked and upset because the union is supposed to be a place where all of its students can go but obviously they were only catering to a select few students. He also mention that strong halls only place for those who have to use a wheelchair only have access to the building through the back entrance. Many of us had no Idea about this at all, I know I did not nor did I really consider what people in wheelchairs had to do to get into the building, and it was not a thought that had ever crossed my mind. One thing that Cody said that will always stick with me and what I thought was extremely powerful and touching was when he said that we need to expand our reality. Because what he was trying to get across to us is that we do not think about those who are being oppressed unless we are personally in that position of oppression. I thought this was ingenious I have always thought about certain aspects of oppression but not all because there are so many people in this world who are oppressed in many ways and it is important for us to understand what many people are going through in this world each day. Because we come from good circumstance we do not consider this, and when I think about it that is what is wrong with this world and what has caused many violent wars and issues. Because people simply did not understand someone else's situation those people simply did not care, thereby causing another group of people grief. I felt that this presentation was vitally important especially for what we are doing when we go on these volunteer breaks. We have to realize that these people have come from less fortunate situations and we need to be understanding and sensitive to what they have gone through. We need to make sure we apply what Cody said to the sites that we go on and we must also apply this to our everyday life if we wish to have a better understand of people and this world. We must keep an open mind and heart so we do not hurt others purposely or unintentionally.
ReplyDelete“Privilege is unearned, unasked for and usually invisible.” –Cody Charles. This is the quote that resounded in my head throughout the entire meeting. What Cody said is true I have never thought about all the privileges of my life. I was born in a great country, into a good family, and with no physical or mental disabilities. These are all things that were unearned, unasked for, and that I have never questioned. When Cody gave the example of him not being able to get his hair cut at the salon in the Union it really surprised me. Privilege is not something that most people think about until an event happens that personally affects them. Another thing Cody mentioned that struck me was that the only way for someone in a wheelchair to enter Strong Hall was to come in from the back. It never crossed my mind how being able to walk up stairs and enter through the front doors of a building are privileges, or that not being able to is a type of oppression. The second point that Cody emphasized in his presentation was oppression. How oppression has always been and that the group being oppressed has just changed. He gave the example of the forefathers of our country and how white, wealthy, educated, men were the oppressors, and that poor, uneducated blacks were the oppressed. Oppression and privilege are two important issues that we could possibly have to deal with on our Alternative Breaks. We need to be aware of these topics and know how to handle the situation if we encounter them. For my Alternative Break I will be going to the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary in Texas. The type of oppression that I will encounter there will be that of humans serving as the oppressors, and the animals as the oppressed. After going through the class with Cody I will be able to better reflect on my experiences while on the Alternative Break.
ReplyDeleteI thought the presentation by Cody Charles on diversity was excellent, but it was a difficult pill to swallow. It is always hard to consider that by living my life, I have benefited from some kind of privilege, a privilege that resulted from the oppression of another group. Even though privileges are by definition unasked for advantages, learning of the inequality caused by a privilege is difficult. For example, I had wondered how those with physical disabilities entered Strong Hall because I could not see a handicap accessible entrance. I had no idea that this entrance was completely in the back of the building by a parking area. Not only is this unfair, having the entrance in the back makes the handicap door less accessible. I was saddened by the thought that someone who is already disadvantaged would by further inconvenienced by being able to use only one door. Mr. Charles explained that privileges exist not because people are unintelligent or indifferent; it is simply because they are unaware. Therefore, the first step to enacting social justice is becoming aware of the privileges that exist in our world. The next step is to try and remove these privileges. On my Alternative Break trip to Give Kids the World, we will be helping children with terminal illnesses have a “normal” vacation experience with their families. Though I cannot cure their illnesses or pay their medical bills I can at least help ensure that they feel special and are happy for a week. For my life in Lawrence, fighting social justice will take several different forms. One way that I already try to make people more aware is by asking people not to say “retard.” My youngest sister is mentally handicapped and people do not always realize what they are implying by the use of the word. By saying things like, “You know, that’s not a nice word,” I try to call attention to their actions in a non-confrontational manner. This is just a small way that I can help make people mindful of the feelings and needs of others. As my reality continues to expand, I hope that my sphere of influence and advocacy for social justice will expand with it.
ReplyDeleteThis week, Cody came to talk to us about diversity and awareness. I found his presentation to be very enlightening. I have had several different versions of diversity training/ awareness from several different organizations, but I found this to be the most understandable and relatable of any that I have had. I was unaware of several issues that he brought up, especially the inaccessibility of campus for people using wheelchairs. If it isn’t something that you have encountered, you just don’t think about it.
ReplyDeleteCody’s presentation was very applicable to the break that I am going on. We will be working with terminally ill children and their families, and the number of privileges we have over this group of people is staggering. We are all in good health, we do not have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills every month, and none of us have to wonder whether or not we will live to see our next birthday. Many of the children that we will come into contact with may never make it to college or experience many of the amazing things that we have had the privilege of experiencing. The best that we can do is be respectful and try to learn as much as we can from these incredibly strong individuals. We must accept the fact that we cannot understand where they are coming from or what their lives are like, and be aware that they face innumerable challenges every day of their lives. In my work with Dance Marathon, I have come to realize that a huge part of what these kids are missing is the chance at a normal, carefree childhood. I hope that we will be able to give them a chance to forget about all of their troubles (at least for a few days) and have a week of lighthearted fun with their families. They deserve it more than anyone.
This week’s class featuring Cody Charles really opened my eyes to the different types of oppression that are inflicted on groups of people. When I used to think of oppression I always thought of the obvious examples: slavery, women’s rights, etc. Cody was able to shed light on the types of oppression that are not so obvious. His examples were powerful and made me realize that often times people don’t even realize the privileges they have and how those privileges are unearned and unappreciated. The best example of this was when he showed everyone a picture of Strong Hall and pointed out the lack of a ramp for those in wheelchairs or with other disabilities to access the main entrance. I’ve always taken for granted that I can easily walk up the stairs to enter buildings on campus, while others are forced to go around and enter in the back. Cody repeatedly asked, “What kind of message does that send?” The answer is obviously that these groups of people are not a priority. We aren’t thinking about them, but we should be. This class was so applicable to my alternative break since my group is going to Denver, Colorado to work with the LGBT community. To me, these are people who are so obviously being oppressed in our society by not even being granted the same legal rights as others. However, it is not just religious and political institutions that are oppressing these people; it is also the people who are sitting by and doing nothing. That’s the biggest lesson I got out of Cody’s presentation. Doing nothing to stop oppression is almost as bad as being an oppressor. Being involved in Alternative Breaks is just one step towards becoming more aware of these issues, but I hope to continue to learn about injustices that are happening as I return from my break and make sure to do as much as I can to stop them.
ReplyDeleteThe presentation on diversity is one of the better presentations I have heard in a very long time. I did grow up in a very privilege town and everyone in my high school knew it. Our high school always said that the school was very diverse and from a far it did. We had mixed classrooms and I was never in a class that was all white. Though I had friends that laughed and said that it wasn’t really diverse and that the school just placed some kids in classes that they weren’t at the level for. It occurred to me now, that all my friend that said that were privileged as well. So I wondered if they just said it to say it. The presentation made me aware of things that I hadn’t even thought of before, like with strong hall. I never knew that before and it surprised me quite a bit transferring from a university where every building was wheelchair accessible without making people go through the back. With the lower nine, I have no doubt it will open my eyes to the social injustices that happen all around me without me know it. The main problem with social injustice is that it’s invisible to people who don’t suffer from it till it brought to light. So the question is how do you bring something to light when so many people are not aware of it. That is going to be the main challenge for me, when I return from my alternative break. I don’t know what exactly I’ll learn while down there but the things I do learn, how will I bring them back to Lawrence and make other people see the injustice that exists. For it’s very hard to see injustice if you don’t experience it yourself.
ReplyDelete-Laura Damon
I found Cody Charles’ talk about social justice very interesting and thought provoking. He talked about how certain groups of people can encounter oppression in a society while other groups have privileges. The oppression and privileges that certain groups have often times goes unnoticed. For example, Cody talked about Strong Hall, which is a focal point or the “brains” of campus. Every student eventually needs to go into Strong Hall for whatever reason be it going to one of its many different offices. He showed us a picture of Strong Hall and asked us where we saw oppression. It turns out that the only way people in wheelchairs can enter the building is through a ramp in the back. Many students, including myself, had no clue about this case of oppression on our very own campus. On my alternative break trip, I am traveling to Nashville, TN to help the elderly pursue more meaningful lives. The elderly sometimes are handicapped and require a wheelchair to maneuver around. Often times as a society we oppress the elderly without even realizing it. Another way how the elderly are oppressed is that people can condescend or not take them seriously. We need to realize that they are humans just like everyone else and should be treated equally. They also do not have the same resources that we often take for granted. For example, they may have lost family members. What I took home most from Cody Charles is when he said that now you have learned it, you can’t unlearn it. He was talking about how now all of us know what social justice is, we are now aware of oppression happening around us. It is up to us, as volunteers, to carry this knowledge of social justice on our trips to make the most out of the experience. We should know how our volunteer service will affect society.
ReplyDeleteCody Charles was my resident director my freshman year, and I’m honestly not used to the more serious side he shows now as the assistant director of Multicultural Resources. I heard Cody’s speech on diversity during recruitment as a recruitment counselor; however, it was not as intense as it was at our Alternative Breaks meeting. I think that a lot of what Cody has to say initially has a huge shock value to it, which is such an effective way of relaying the equally shocking message. It is very hard to hear the things about the lack of diversity at KU in the first place, and to hear it from some one like Cody makes things even harder. Cody said, “Once you learn this, you can’t unlearn it.” I have never thought of a better way of planting the idea to live each day for social justice, even in the smallest of forms. Social justice is just that; a just social environment. However, the only way to make this happen is to take action, even in the smallest way. As a student with a learning disability, I felt like I was aware of some of the unjust things on campus, relevant to students with disabilities. However, because I can walk, and use my eyes, ears, voice, etc., I never thought of strong halls only ADA accessible entrance as being “hidden” from the public, as if to hide the disabled from the public. Whether it be the fact that KU wants to preserve the beautiful architecture of some buildings or it is just inconvenient, most of the buildings on campus have handicapped accessible entrances away from the front of the building. I would have never thought about this before, but now I feel like it’s something I can’t ignore. It won’t be unlearned, it can’t be forgotten, and it shouldn’t be.
ReplyDeleteWhen listening to Cody Charles speak it was a little strange to hear what he had to say. I never realized that things that I took for granted like getting a haircut, that there would be discrimination against students of other ethnicity's. In a way I feel like I was just oblivious to what was really going on. Another thing that he said that I found interesting was that he asked us where the handicap entrance was at Strong hall. Only about 10 people actually know. I knew because I needed to use crutches because I had hurt myself but if I hadn't then I would have had no idea. The idea that the entrance is hidden is pretty strange and the fact that the students that are handicap are expected to be on time to class doesn't really seem realistic if they are coming from another class. It just doesn't seem right that these people are being hidden from KU society. Cody Charles really helped open up my eyes and was absolutely an awesome speaker.
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