Race, noun; a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group. How does race define us? Does it define us? What does it mean to be racist? What happens when we talk about race with others? Race is a very controversial topic in the United States and most parts throughout the world. Racism is the act to think that one race or many races is superior to other races. During this project at High Tech High North County we interviewed many groups of people and had ‘Courageous Conversations’ with people from different ages, races, and beliefs. We explored race, racism, and many other historical events. We also learned how to have a ‘Courageous Conversation’ with people about their views and experiences about race. We went to Brookdale; a senior living community, and CSUSM; a local college. Courageous Conversations can help further improve the understanding of race in society.
When you engage in a Courageous Conversation for the first time it can be challenging and nerve wracking with a stranger. Our first Courageous Conversation happened with our peers at school. We had a conversation with our partner. My partner’s name was Emily. I had not previously known Emily on a personal level before. I have always just assumed that she is white or caucasian. One of the first questions we asked each other was “What race do you identify as?” What I found out was that she was not entirely white, she was more than that. She had Hispanic relatives. What I learned from this was that you can't assume what others’ race is, just by looking at them, in fact you shouldn't assume anything until you know the person as a whole. Race is independent from skin color, I just stereotyped her before I even knew who she was. This shocked me and I felt embarrassed and guilty that I stereotyped her.
Brookdale is a senior living community in San Marcos, California. My peers and I interviewed a man named Jon who grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He told us all about his life. He said that never looked at people by race but by their personality. He said that he had this perspective only when he was a kid. When he was older, he started to understand the segregation that was taking place. He said “it was between whites and colored people”. He didn't understand why, because when he was younger he never looked at people by their race. He was shocked. He told many stories about segregation, but the one that surprised me the most was that there were white hotels and black hotels in completely different parts of town. Even if you were a famous or important you were not allowed to stay in a hotel designated for white people. I was shocked. It is different when you read about it , but when someone shares their experience, it really hits you. What I learned from this is that no one is born a racist. When you are young, you see people as people and nothing else. Inequality didn’t just magically appear, it was created by society.
Society, in America, has created these inequalities over hundreds of years for almost each and every race. It all started out with Columbus when the Spaniards pushed out and mass murdered Native Americans. While settlers moved out west they exiled Native Americans from their homeland. In 1619 the first slaves from Africa arrived in the United States. In 1865 slavery was outlawed but still African Americans did not have anything close to the rights that whites had. The American Mexican war took place from 1846-1848. In the following century, Latino's have finally started to gain some rights back, but not all. During World War II, the Japanese were interred in several camps across California. Through hundreds of years society has created inequality. No one is born thinking about race, racism, stereotypes, and inequality, but it is taught to us.
One of our last Courageous Conversations of the project took place at CSUSM. My partner Emily and I interviewed and had a conversation with 3 college students. One of the people we had a conversation with really stood out from the others. She was 14 when she came to the United States from Egypt. As soon as she came to the United States she was bombarded with questions about why her people did “911” and also was categorised as ‘anti American’. She was infuriated because she has never felt this way towards America. I am guilty of this myself, it is almost a subconscious stereotype. Whenever I am at an airport and I see another person from another country I automatically categorize them as a ‘Possible Terrorist’ or someone who hates America. This happens subconsciously. When she shared, I felt a small feeling of guilt because I have categorised people like this before, now I understand how something that seems so small and harmless can cause a big effect.
During this project we also studied with a group about a social gap between race. Ours was the collage race gap. Only 32% of hispanics are enrolled in college, 38% of african americans, 43% of whites, and 62% of asians. We researched for about a week, what we found was 3 main things to contribute to the college gap.
1. Social Class
2. AP class and test scores
3. Language.
What I took away from this was that once that gap starts it is extremely hard to stop because if someone does not graduate from college their kids are going to have an even harder time going to college. These gaps are causing the gaps and so on and so forth. One of the main things that help perpetuate the gaps in society are involuntary and subconscious stereotyping.
Our whole class took an IAT (Implicit Association Test) test about race to discover the subconscious judging and preference that occurs within ourselves. I have always assumed that I do not prefer one race over another. I was extremely anxious to find out if and what I prefer when it comes to race. I took the test and it stated that I have a small preference for white over African Americans. I was shocked because I have never thought about myself this way before. I started to feel guilty that I was subconsciously doing this. I then realized that it is not entirely my fault, no one is born with a preference, society taught them.
Race is a very controversial and sensitive topic in the United States and some parts throughout the world. Courageous Conversations can help further improve the understanding of race in community and society. This project has taught me a lot about the history, stereotypes, social skills, and most importantly myself. Are you willing to engage in a conversation about race? What are you doing to learn about race in your community?
When you engage in a Courageous Conversation for the first time it can be challenging and nerve wracking with a stranger. Our first Courageous Conversation happened with our peers at school. We had a conversation with our partner. My partner’s name was Emily. I had not previously known Emily on a personal level before. I have always just assumed that she is white or caucasian. One of the first questions we asked each other was “What race do you identify as?” What I found out was that she was not entirely white, she was more than that. She had Hispanic relatives. What I learned from this was that you can't assume what others’ race is, just by looking at them, in fact you shouldn't assume anything until you know the person as a whole. Race is independent from skin color, I just stereotyped her before I even knew who she was. This shocked me and I felt embarrassed and guilty that I stereotyped her.
Brookdale is a senior living community in San Marcos, California. My peers and I interviewed a man named Jon who grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He told us all about his life. He said that never looked at people by race but by their personality. He said that he had this perspective only when he was a kid. When he was older, he started to understand the segregation that was taking place. He said “it was between whites and colored people”. He didn't understand why, because when he was younger he never looked at people by their race. He was shocked. He told many stories about segregation, but the one that surprised me the most was that there were white hotels and black hotels in completely different parts of town. Even if you were a famous or important you were not allowed to stay in a hotel designated for white people. I was shocked. It is different when you read about it , but when someone shares their experience, it really hits you. What I learned from this is that no one is born a racist. When you are young, you see people as people and nothing else. Inequality didn’t just magically appear, it was created by society.
Society, in America, has created these inequalities over hundreds of years for almost each and every race. It all started out with Columbus when the Spaniards pushed out and mass murdered Native Americans. While settlers moved out west they exiled Native Americans from their homeland. In 1619 the first slaves from Africa arrived in the United States. In 1865 slavery was outlawed but still African Americans did not have anything close to the rights that whites had. The American Mexican war took place from 1846-1848. In the following century, Latino's have finally started to gain some rights back, but not all. During World War II, the Japanese were interred in several camps across California. Through hundreds of years society has created inequality. No one is born thinking about race, racism, stereotypes, and inequality, but it is taught to us.
One of our last Courageous Conversations of the project took place at CSUSM. My partner Emily and I interviewed and had a conversation with 3 college students. One of the people we had a conversation with really stood out from the others. She was 14 when she came to the United States from Egypt. As soon as she came to the United States she was bombarded with questions about why her people did “911” and also was categorised as ‘anti American’. She was infuriated because she has never felt this way towards America. I am guilty of this myself, it is almost a subconscious stereotype. Whenever I am at an airport and I see another person from another country I automatically categorize them as a ‘Possible Terrorist’ or someone who hates America. This happens subconsciously. When she shared, I felt a small feeling of guilt because I have categorised people like this before, now I understand how something that seems so small and harmless can cause a big effect.
During this project we also studied with a group about a social gap between race. Ours was the collage race gap. Only 32% of hispanics are enrolled in college, 38% of african americans, 43% of whites, and 62% of asians. We researched for about a week, what we found was 3 main things to contribute to the college gap.
1. Social Class
2. AP class and test scores
3. Language.
What I took away from this was that once that gap starts it is extremely hard to stop because if someone does not graduate from college their kids are going to have an even harder time going to college. These gaps are causing the gaps and so on and so forth. One of the main things that help perpetuate the gaps in society are involuntary and subconscious stereotyping.
Our whole class took an IAT (Implicit Association Test) test about race to discover the subconscious judging and preference that occurs within ourselves. I have always assumed that I do not prefer one race over another. I was extremely anxious to find out if and what I prefer when it comes to race. I took the test and it stated that I have a small preference for white over African Americans. I was shocked because I have never thought about myself this way before. I started to feel guilty that I was subconsciously doing this. I then realized that it is not entirely my fault, no one is born with a preference, society taught them.
Race is a very controversial and sensitive topic in the United States and some parts throughout the world. Courageous Conversations can help further improve the understanding of race in community and society. This project has taught me a lot about the history, stereotypes, social skills, and most importantly myself. Are you willing to engage in a conversation about race? What are you doing to learn about race in your community?