Privileges of your Personal Narrative

So we save the best for last lol (just playing). Considering how this is the last formal blog for the semester I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for giving me that comfortable space to reflect/vent. 

Yesterday’s class was great for effectively reflecting upon your privileges, overprivilges, and underprivileges. Ironically, I attended an event yesterday with Common Justice at Borough Hall. The topic was about healing communities, specifically dealing with faith-based reentry programs for former prisoners and bringing awareness to the resources that are at their disposal such as Common Justice. In this conversation there was a section where we were discussing what we could do for young men of color in an attempt to prevent them from going to jail/prison. As I heard this intense dialogue I observed the room and realized that the very group we are discussing is absent in this conversation. I immediately reflected upon the conversation we had in class yesterday and recognized my privilege as being the young men of color who could provide valuable insight for this group. 

One amazing part of this conversation was when a Rabbi from an affluent synagogue in the Upper East Side asked how he could get his congregation in forums such as this. Immediately, one of the panelist stated that the narrative his congregation might have about black people needs to be altered. For his congregation not attending forums that involve the black community indicates either a lack of awareness, lack of compassion, or the belief that black people are just violent, and maybe it’s all of the above plus more. In order for that narrative to change they must hear about the injustices the black community face to explain the pain that is behind a community that is constantly oppressed, ostracized, and demonized. Thus, what was suggested was that a representative of Common Justice would facilitate a workshop at the synagogue that aims to bring awareness about the injustices of not only the black community but also the criminal justice system as a whole.

My goal is to contribute in any possible way I can to change that narrative for society as a whole. My questions to you are: Is there anything you have a single narrative about? If so, what is it? Are there any stereotypes/narratives you would like to expand upon and/or dispel? Why and how might you go about achieving that goal? Be sure to include your privileges and under-privileges and how that may help or hurt this objective.

Danielle Sered is the Director of Common Justice and I feel that she has a tremendous privilege by being a white female that advocates on behalf of the responsible and harmed parties especially considering how many people believe harmed parties are typically white females but in actuality they are young men of color. She has a very important role because she not only provides victim services and an alternative to incarceration for responsible parties, but she continuously dispels/expands the narrative about these parties, which is important for everyone. With that being said, is there anyone you know that has a privilege and can use that to their benefit to dispel/expand a narrative?

I apologize for the lengthy blog but I do look forward to your insight. Have a great and safe break everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

Advocacy and confusion.

Hi Verons. This wasn't planned and Professor Rose and Warerston don't know about this post (I apologize if I'm stepping out of bounds with this) but something just happened in my class that couldn't wait and I'd really want to hear from you guys (hence the reason why I didn't write this in my journal instead. 

I was in my class today and there's one student in front of me who has vocalized more than once that he hates black people. He's said this time and time again and my heart boiled each time but considering the fact that we were in class, I didn't want to be "disruptive" nor did I know where to start. We broke up into group work today and he is in a group next to me. We are constructing a play and he proceeds to say that he'd want the black girl to be raped in his play because he "hates black people" (the class is rape in a global perspective so rape and/or violence had to be incorporated). This classmate is black himself, and IDENTIFIES as black so part of me may have felt like he was either kidding and/or felt bad for him for feeling this way about his own race.... But this was my last straw. 

I left my group and turned directly to him and said "I just have to know. Do you hate me because I'm black?" I started our conversation off this way and he said "I don't even know you, so no." I said right. "So what is with this false generalization of an entire race.. That includes you?". He proceeds to say that he doesn't agree with the culture of violence, the "stupid things they do", blah blah. An Asian guy in his group comes in and says "I don't think it's the race he hates, but the culture".. The black guy comes back in the conversation and says "it's not like I will act upon my hate and kill black people or anything. It's like me not beleiving in God and not bashing an entire religion because of it" SO much was wrong with this conversation but for the sake of time. I'll just give you an example of how I tried to handle this.  

I decided to dissect each aspect of what he said was validating his hate. For instance: he said that black people do stupid things and are "always up to trouble". I tell him that this mentality is the reason why stop and frisk is such an issue. Unnecessary police brutality and excessive force. You believing that this is true is a continued part of the problem. It matters. You are an asset to the system. And if I sit here and listen to you say this.. So am I. 

I have two questions. Does it still matter that someone is a racist even if they don't act upon their hate? Is this an example of self hate because he hates his own race? Help me Verons help me. 

What made them?

Happy Weekend Verons,

Before getting started I want to send a deep appreciation to you all for feeling close enough to share with each other. I don't know about you guys but it was quite therapeutic using Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework for human development to put our own experiences into perceptive.  I believe analyzing through this framework will lead us to a more holistic understanding and so for this week I'm going to ask that you guys further incorporate this theory.

I'm going to ask that you guys think about the ways in which you can incorporate Bronfenbrenner's theory in your current placement. Whether that means understanding clients, the space, the reason why you your Vera spin-off even exists, etc. When mentioning clients it's better that we don't mention any identifiable traits or names for that matter; in order to keep confidentiality

I find that for myself it's easier to come at this from the chronosystem to microsystem. I'm placed at the Domestic Violence Legal Education and Advocacy Project, a part of the Urban Resource Institute. I believe that non-profits like my own exist with a greater time of social healing- a slow dying of patriarchal beliefs. In terms of a : one particular client started off their life in Southern American and flew to Canada to walked in America. They had dreams of a better life ended up working numerous odd jobs. At one of these odd jobs they met a person and the both of them began dating. Because of America's jaded immigration policies this client had little agency which left them in a relationship with a legal permanent  resident who used this client's fear of deportation as a way making the client feel helplessly trapped in an abuse relationship.

Macrosystem

In terms of cultural context the client is an undocumented person living in a country that sought to deport them despite the client clean criminal record and hard work ethic. America is also makes males feel as though they have power over women, so masculinity played a huge role in how the client interacted with her abuser.  The abuser would keep tabs on the client and get enraged when he wouldn't receive a status update, this reflects onto how prescriptions of masculinity makes some men feel like they have to dominate women. The couple are both of from Latin America and aren't full citizens because America is very discriminating and the ways in which people can gain citizenship thus limiting the opportunities  available to both of them.

Exosystem

The client received little aid in terms of social services because they feared they immigration status would conflict matters. The client often feared to go to the police for aid and would only go to the police when they were in immediate danger- when they feared for their life. There was little mention of other matters and I do not wish to problematically make assumptions around mass media because I'm not sure whether that the client internalized anything the media perpetuated or if they had access to media.

Mesosystem

There was also very little mention of other people outside of family involved in the clients life or interactions 

Microsystem

Before the client got into a relationship with their abuser they moved to America because their aunt was settled here and could provide shelter. The client has had 2 children with the abuser and the abuser has abused the client in front of said children. The abuser has also sexually abused the client on multiple occasions, forcing himself onto them without consent. The client has received little education and relies on under-the-table paying jobs for sustainability