I don't know what it's like to be black ... but I do know the system is fucking broken!
Within the article, Charles Orlando shares his experience within a black body. However, the difference between his body and the black body of African Americans is that he could similarly take off the confines of his black body and void himself of many of the challenges and struggles Coates outlines in Between the world and Me. As I read this article, it was very inspiring to see a white man’s anger toward the injustices people of color face within society. However, Orlando states; “ it's not just injustice … it's pure, unadulterated supremacy that is being force-fed to black people”. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the injustice that takes place because they are either the ones who have become accustom to partaking in it and/or they have failed to gain knowledge on the perspectives and experiences of others. The more people (of all races) are made aware of the present experiences of people of color, the more efficient the society as a whole will be at allowing all to experience life/the world in non-discriminating ways. In the article, Orlando states that “the system” is broken, which I, to an extent agree with, however if it is a matter of only being broken, it can be fixed. I believe that one of the most efficient ways to alter the corrupted system begins within learning environments in which young children ought to gain experiences similar to Orlando’s (not as extreme as disguising as a person of color), as a means to inquire insight on the lives, funds of knowledge and experiences of others. In the words of Coates, “Perhaps one person can make a change, but not the kind of change that would raise your body to equality with your countrymen. The fact of history is that black people have not-probably no people have ever-liberated themselves strictly through their own efforts” (p. 96). The more people are made aware of the injustice, the better we can work at controlling unfair treatment toward African American’s which has been so engrained in the history of America. How can schools in America help fix the broken system? How do we uncover the “real world” to all?
-BG
