Part 5
Welcome back to the final installment of my blog, it's been a long five weeks, but we've finally reached the finish line. This assignment had tested my time management skills with none of my posts being put up before 10 pm the night the post was due, but I have enjoyed it. This is a very different format than what I am used to it was rocky at first, but I feel like as time went on, I began to get the hang of it. Thank you to everyone who stumbled upon my blog and went on this journey with me, now without further ado let's wrap this bad boy up.
Something I've struggled with throughout the past few weeks was figuring out what the argument of this book is. I think that the argument of the book is that there still is racism a strong force in America, which is great because it's true but that all got diluted by for lack of a better word Dr. Tatum's bragging. The book was laid out in a logically way you start out learning the terminology used in the rest of the book and what definitions Dr.Tatum was going to use which is the perfect way to start a book like this if the reader doesn't know what's going the argument won't work. In my opinion, this was the most effective chapter because it stayed more objective, cited others who did work within the whole civil rights movement and, had a very calm and non-judgemental tone. Unfortunately things began to go downhill from there, during the second chapter focused around racial development in black children Dr,Tatum spent a significant amount of time talking about how she raises her kids which didn't sit well with me all these references began to sound like bragging and took away from the whole point of the chapter. For me, that is all I remember from that chapter and stayed in the back of my mind for the rest of the book. Section three on white identity was an improvement something I really found compelling was the inclusion of the journals from her past students, we get to see how different people actually felt about these race issues and their struggles with them not jus Dr.Tatum's opinion or interpretation and as a white person the third chapter was very eye-opening. Even though there was still this overarching feeling of judgment, it didn't ruin the section. Moving on to chapter four there was a transition from conversations about blacks and white to the other ethnic groups we have in the United States, these different ethnic groups don't get enough recognition, and Dr.Tatum did an excellent job explaining and addressing them. Even though both chapters two and three did not deter me further, they didn't seem very connected and felt like two separate essays, not one book; this contributed to my confusion about the argument of the book. The conclusion focused on the fear that is associated with racism and how we must get over it if we ever wish to see change. It was cute, hopeful and it wrapped up the book very effectively. I have no complaints.
So here is my two cents: fear is the reason why we don't do a lot of things, and it is the most prominent opponent of change. Race is a topic surrounded by fear that we must get over if we have any hope for a better tomorrow. I've learned a lot about myself and the way I view the world things I used not to notice or didn't think we're a big deal are now standing out to me, and I think that was the whole point of this assignment. I have pushed my boundaries and hope to be a positive force from here on out.
I'm going to end my blog the same way Dr.Tatum finished “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria”.
“Change is possible (342)”
KM
Something I've struggled with throughout the past few weeks was figuring out what the argument of this book is. I think that the argument of the book is that there still is racism a strong force in America, which is great because it's true but that all got diluted by for lack of a better word Dr. Tatum's bragging. The book was laid out in a logically way you start out learning the terminology used in the rest of the book and what definitions Dr.Tatum was going to use which is the perfect way to start a book like this if the reader doesn't know what's going the argument won't work. In my opinion, this was the most effective chapter because it stayed more objective, cited others who did work within the whole civil rights movement and, had a very calm and non-judgemental tone. Unfortunately things began to go downhill from there, during the second chapter focused around racial development in black children Dr,Tatum spent a significant amount of time talking about how she raises her kids which didn't sit well with me all these references began to sound like bragging and took away from the whole point of the chapter. For me, that is all I remember from that chapter and stayed in the back of my mind for the rest of the book. Section three on white identity was an improvement something I really found compelling was the inclusion of the journals from her past students, we get to see how different people actually felt about these race issues and their struggles with them not jus Dr.Tatum's opinion or interpretation and as a white person the third chapter was very eye-opening. Even though there was still this overarching feeling of judgment, it didn't ruin the section. Moving on to chapter four there was a transition from conversations about blacks and white to the other ethnic groups we have in the United States, these different ethnic groups don't get enough recognition, and Dr.Tatum did an excellent job explaining and addressing them. Even though both chapters two and three did not deter me further, they didn't seem very connected and felt like two separate essays, not one book; this contributed to my confusion about the argument of the book. The conclusion focused on the fear that is associated with racism and how we must get over it if we ever wish to see change. It was cute, hopeful and it wrapped up the book very effectively. I have no complaints.
So here is my two cents: fear is the reason why we don't do a lot of things, and it is the most prominent opponent of change. Race is a topic surrounded by fear that we must get over if we have any hope for a better tomorrow. I've learned a lot about myself and the way I view the world things I used not to notice or didn't think we're a big deal are now standing out to me, and I think that was the whole point of this assignment. I have pushed my boundaries and hope to be a positive force from here on out.
I'm going to end my blog the same way Dr.Tatum finished “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria”.
“Change is possible (342)”
KM
Kaila,
ReplyDeleteGood final post! Interestingly enough, we agreed about the section in which Tatum seemingly "brags" about her raising her boys. I, too, found it to be boastful, and if I'm honest, a bit of a stretch. I also like that you ended your blog the same way she ended the book-creative!
Hello Kaila,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that you've become more introspective from reading this book. I think all of us should be aware of our own unconscious biases and that change is possible if we do so. I've heard that many people who read this book did not always agree with the author's style. Do you mostly agree with your author on the issues that she wrote about, or would you approach the topics differently?
Hey Brianna,
DeleteI do agree with Dr.Tatums main points, but I would have focused more on objective evidence and use a lot of logos instead of relying heavily on subjective opinions. If she used more current events studies, professional experience and, studies, it would have strengthened her points.
Do you think that the impact of fear on racism also relates to our collective fear to even discuss the topic? I think you (or a classmate-I've read a lot of blog posts over the past 5 weeks) commented on how our normally chatty class has been a bit less chatty during this unit. Is this because we're too afraid to talk about it? And what does that fear do to our ability to address issues of race?
ReplyDelete