Rainbows and Critiques

This blog will put a lens on the concepts of race and racial inequalities, to enlighten our ignorance as a human race. Now no need to get hostile with the comments... Living in color already gives me a suspect persona! Jk Hope this blog can impact...

[ourhihumanblog]

The darker the berry the sweeter the juice .... no?! :(

"Oh  wow! you're pretty cute for a dark skin"

  C O L O R I S M

Discrimination against race or skin.

Having darker skin hasn't been pleasing growing up because my mother and sisters skin complexion is much lighter. Young kids would always say, 'your sister is prettier' or 'why don't you look like your mother?' Colorism is a big issue within the black community because the darker skin people are always being compared to the lighter skin, especially the women, always being judged by the complexion of their skin type. Its known that dating back to slavery years, it was the lighter skin women that were able to work inside the house while the darker women picked cotton on the fields. And to carry this mentality of envy or hierarchy because your closer to being part of 'white privilege,' mind bottles me. Its not just our culture but other minorities suffer this problem as well..

  Bollywood. I looked into the whole, what is 'ideal beauty' and asked some of my middle eastern friends about what is considered beautiful. My friend from Pakistan explained to me that the lighter your skin the prettier you are and there is a ranking system depending on not just how light your skin is but also where you from. Apparently any middle eastern that migrated to Guyana or any Caribbean island, is frown upon. Not realizing that there is more to outer beauty that can even determine who wants to marry you, but also where you choose to migrate to.

  And they really need to start making these!!!!!

[ourhihumanblog]

How Colorism Affects People Around the World | Oprah's Lifeclass | Oprah... Let us not judge but love our skin for what it is.. In my theory, if someone doesn't love it then surround yourself with people who do!

[ourhihumanblog]

Clark Doll experiments I've got a better insight on prejudice, not only within my own culture as a black woman, but also through other cultures. I realized that white privilege is like a disease, but I also learned about how that it can impact or effect within the white race. A big interpretation I learned from this clip is the doll experiment and how society portrays children to view a specific type a doll 'better' looking than the other. Watching this documentary really made a connection to the way I use to think as younger girl. Looking a Disney channel shows and seeing majority of white blonde haired actresses, made me envy the way I looked and want to be them. The doll experiment was very informative and I learned a lot not just about myself but other cultures on how superior the white race is portrayed. Welcome to colorism!

[ourhihumanblog]

Dang those Jockeys!

Student Athletes are surrounded by their sport and many studies have shown a lack of knowledge on a college level. This brings into question, are they earning the grades or being handed them ? According to articles such as, UNC fake class scandal and NCAA's response wind their way to Washington, explains the problems of football players not capable of reading on a college level and taking easy classes just to be eligible to play. OMGEEEE ... NOOO WAYY.... Who would of have known ? lol Well most players have to dedicate majority of their day practicing, watching plays and lets not forget when they have to travel for games! This does not surprise me, if an athlete fails then there goes the team championship, it is kind of unfair for non-athlete students to  work their butts off and get the earning grades they need. Although, I'm sure if athletes had as much time on their hands to study it would be different . (OKAY.... I'm trying to be neutral here as a student athlete myself )

Ideally what I should be doing after practice .....

In reality....

  Coming from a student athlete I can relate to this topic because growing up my life has always revolved around track. I was taught that you can either use your given talent (which was my natural speed) or you can be very studious and try to apply for academic scholarships. Knowing the situation and disadvantage of being a minority I took the route that gave me opportunities, but there is a negative aspect of it; injuries. Just going to school and not even considering my education, my main focus was only on track until I got injured twice, realizing that my life is more than track. The athletics tend to put that aside with student athletes, they try to do whatever they can to get you to pass, but that does not prep you for the life after college. Taking the steps to be able to make decisions yourself, not having a tutor to outline your schedule and definitely not settling with a C in your class because you believe your sport will forever provide for you, was a big wake up call for me after I transferred this past summer. But on the bright side... Here are a list of positives aspects of being a student athlete:

1. Your sport can bring you a higher education

2. Balancing school and your sport = learning about time management at an early stage

3. Not performing the way you want to... Breatheeeee. =  Patience and discipline

4. Opportunities to get out of poverty or violence

[ourhihumanblog]

UNC reacts to illiteracy investigation Are athletes getting their diplomas handed to them..?

[ourhihumanblog]

Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action is the process in which colleges can consider ethnic background when applying for admissions. Quotas are already banned, so colleges are not required to accept a certain number of minorities etc. Although, colleges may assume that there was a cultural reasoning for why minority applicants did not do as whites when taking SATs.

Some may argue in which affirmative action unfair, coming from a black woman I think it brings opportunities. Using affirmative action for minorities to get accepted into school gives us a chance to be treated ‘equally.’ Whites are born with benefits and of course with those benefits, they always get the first pick when it comes to applying for schools or a job, versus a minority with a different name.  Try going to schools where there is violence, lack of teaching material and bad influences. Then ask yourself will I get the same education as those privilege students then went to private schools .

You see growing up in the working middle class... School was like a warzone... Here's a translation:

 That's why I went to a school outside my zone!!

  I believe affirmative action is a positive discrimination policy in which fixes the percentage of jobs and schools so that it allows an opportunity for minorities to work and have a fair advantage. Hence, affirmative action may give opportunities but in my opinion I still believe there are ways to go around it and let’s say you get the job, there is no guarantee that you will be treated fairly.

[ourhihumanblog]

Abigail Fisher vs. University of Texas at Austin "In the case of Abagail Fisher v UT Austin, Abagail claims that she did not get in as a white girl because UT accepted minorities who were less qualified than her under Affirmative Action. AT UT Austin one is guaranteed admission if one is in the top 8% of the class. This is a strictly merit based policy and does not consider race and ethnicity. Abagail did not qualify for this because she was in the top 12%." She argues that she should have been accepted but was not because 'poorly qualified minorities' were accepted over her Affirmative Action is the process in which colleges can consider ethnic background when applying for admissions.

[ourhihumanblog]

Barack Obama's views on AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

[ourhihumanblog]

Cultural difference, economic and social disadvantages

Cultural difference, economic and social disadvantages all connect together due to ones ethnicity, social class and money income . Cultural difference has a negative factor due to communication through language. For example, growing up in New York, a lot of the Asian restaurants would have workers that did not speak fluent English. This has a disadvantage in communicating with one's customers in his or her business.

Many different cultures will shut out a person that is not seen as common to one's religion, dress attire or even the language spoken, one's culture may have a disadvantage based on how society mortifies one culture.  Cultural difference has many barriers in which conflict within language.Economic disadvantages always play a huge role in society on how one may interact or label you as. I believe this intertwines with social disadvantages because one of social disadvantages may be labeled with people with economic disadvantages.

  For example, studies have shown being either a minority or even homosexual, you are put in at a disadvantage compared to those of a superior race. This plays a huge role in how one can defeat the system of being judged based on their skin or roles played in society? This ties into economic disadvantages because the lack of being discriminated due to  your social life, takes a toll on your economic well being. It is where one is treated at a disadvantage due to not having money. Those of money are given power and are able to have the freedom of living in comfort, travelling wherever they want and not having to worry about surviving day by day.

MONEY IS POWER ... MUAHAHAHA .... wait ...

That awkward situation of explain your sexuality ... ohh sh**** ... am I less of a man/women?

Another example, that is very common (and annoying) seeing black people with great wealth, is something that is questioned. In a way it's put as a same level as judging a poor person, because society labels certain minorities as crooks, criminals, drug dealers etc. Having the disadvantages of not only being of a different culture but to point out how one's money was launder or 'dirty,' is one way these two concepts relate to each other.  "oh look at his fancy car, he must be a drug dealer..."

[ourhihumanblog]

8 Cultural Differences Between America And Other Countries

[ourhihumanblog]

White Privilege...

Whites being the dominant race and minorities growing up in poverty, sets the bar low for anyone outside of what is considered white.

Whites are expected to live a certain way by having a higher income and social status then minorities, these expectations can hinder whites because of what Is highly expected of white people may cause hatred for their race and anger. Not being able to have the same opportunities just because you look a certain way or not being employed due to having a non-white name on a resume, can reflect whites being labeled as superior.  Not subconsciously being aware of their own assets can reflect ignorance of not trying to change ‘white privilege.’

Even though many white people are not aware of their own privilege, some steps to solve this problem of American society can start with the younger generation. White parents must begin with teaching their children about being born with these assets at a young age.  The main problem within white culture is not being labeled as a racist, covering up these benefits will not help stop the disadvantages of minorities.

This can change the disparities of white people, not only realizing the position of dominance, but also using their power to acknowledge and change these social systems. Which challenges my new opinion on the white race taking steps to subconsciously being aware of their privileges given to them rather than denying them.

 oh darn! where's my shade?!?!

[ourhihumanblog]

Dear White People VIRAL VIDEO - Racism Insurance Coverage for White Priv…

[ourhihumanblog]

White Party - A Lesson in Cultural Appropriation

WELL! >.

[ourhihumanblog]

3 THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BUYING A HALLOWEEN COSTUME

Okay so it's about to be that time of the year where females want to bust out their sexiest costumes and the guys want to scare the crap out of you .... in some cases picking your Halloween costume takes a lot of thought, right? Well here's more things to think about the next time you decide to be that sexy rain dancer.

  1. How would you feel if you were made a Halloween costume

  2. Research the history/ origin of the costume

3. Is it mocking someone's sexuality as a joke

Cultural Appropriation is used as an excuse, especially since Halloween is such a big event in American culture, one can get away with dressing a certain way due to being ‘just a costume.’  Or what about the fact at which it is appropriate to wear, or copy one’s culture just for an event or even to represent a mascot.

How can we change this? Culture appropriation perpetuates members of the dominant roles to take credit of members of the culture created. Ways to change this by going to public hearings such as (ex of Native Americans). Other ways are investigating into the history of one culture such as researching the music industry and mistreatment/degrading minorities versus how whites portray as a trend.

[ariseandwarn]

"When they (white people) see a black man they see their own demise."

Sis. Dr. Ava Muhammad (via ariseandwarn)

[relatable-truths]

[ourhihumanblog]

For an open mind? ... Be kind and rewine

Lets open the floor to anything that has been said  that you perceived as offensive. (it is okay to take a few minutes to reflect on this). WELL... it is normal (apparently) nowadays that many curious people of different racial groups would like to be educated by their clarifying questions. HA! Fun fact: there is no such thing as a stupid question, except for the annoying ones like...

  To start things of right...Fun fact: Being a black female that loves electronic, alternative, basically anything that sounds like you have to be high off of the universe to listen to...  IS MY KIND OF MUSIC! But I leave the weekends for twerking... I kid (sarcasm ... ha)

Here's my story where someone has said the said the "wrong" thing to me about race/ethnicity/culture :

Just recently, transferring from Oregon (hippie area) and coming to Florida (racist south), my mother was driving and was called the 'N word' and this eally shocked me because being raised in New York and going to school at Oregon, I didn't really focus on the color of my skin, but everything was about your major or what activities you do outside of school. Oh yeah.. peace ... love and grass (wink wink) 

  Watching my mom being called the 'n word' really hurt me and her response to this ignorant piece of human.... was saying a funny joke about him not having hair and laughed it off (I guess she wanted to lighten the mood). She explained to me that he's bothered with himself to not accept that everyone is equal and the only way to take his anger out is by putting other people down. This was more of a wakeup call for me, to realize that I am not on the west coast or back home, and people do care about skin color. Although when I was younger I was taught not to look at color but to treat people the way you want to be treated and to ask questions before voicing your opinions.

Not going to tell you how to live your life, but! Think about a question or statement you say to someone and ask yourself.... Would I appreciate someone else doing that to me or a loved one. You're welcome... And there's no pressure in wondering, just research the question before asking!