This week in class, we aim to discuss whether class position and mobility are directly linked to indivual acheivement and self sufficency, or to institutionalized policy and structures. The author's of this week's readings all address this question in their own voices, using their own examples. However, Dalton struck me with one sentiment.
“If there is a genuine commitment to merit- based decision making it is possible that merit will out, but only for those that have the right kind of merit.” (306)
In his discussion regarding the myth of the ability of an individual to rise through the ranks of class based on their own merit and the judgement thereof, Dalton raises many important questions for the marginalized and oppressed populations.
What is merit? How do we define it? Who decides which merits are valued? How do these decisions effect other people? What is the role of personal biases and experiences? What is the role of individual anomalies(ie Colin Powell) in the greater culture conversation?
While I do not venture to say that I have all of the answers to these questions, there are certainly aspects I can try and dismantle. If I were to take the stance that class position and mobility were individual- then I would support at least in part, that one could pull themselves up by their own boot straps and make meaningful changes which would advance them up the class ladder. It would be their own work, their own savings, their own cultural and social capital, that would be their tools in designing their own success. But.. What if your bootstraps are broken?
It is not that an individual with broken bootstraps wants to advance any less then those with perfectly new "footwear". In fact, it could be argued that those with broken bootstraps want even more desparately to advance, for if they advance then they can have the money, and the job, to afford them new shoes and make their journeys easier. If we remain in this context, lets consider what if your boots are hand me downs? Or if your government, school, clothing company, no longer carries the bootstraps made for people like you(ie in your size) What is one to do then?
It is in this vein that I can only begin to question the role of systems and institutions in the role of individual advancement.
I find it narrow and ignorant to devisively paint class in this binary manner. On the whole I have made a life's purpose out of institutional frameworks. Though not mutually exclusive.
I dont think any of this weeks authors have comprehensively and successfully negotiated the two simultaneously. In that, an individual does hold a role within a system, such as an individual does have postition to make meaning of their class, participate in changes however small to the class system, and to negotiate their class or other identities to the best that they are able within the larger context. However, when we do not consider policy and procedure of systems, then we cannot adeptly address the questions that arise when one individual, with all the "right" merits is denied opportunities to advance simply by basis of an immutable characteristic. When one has reached the glass ceiling for those of their identities- who do we blame the glass ceiling on? When one has pulled themselves up by their bootstraps to find themselves only at an iron clad sign of do not enter then what?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Whos streets? Our Streets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z5AyGANrRk&feature=share
Class has taken to the streets... literally WALL street- interestingly the mainstream media has yet to cover this protest despite mass arrests, police brutality allegations, and the macing of a penned in group of peaceful female protestors without provocation.
Class warfare? People will begin to see what it really looks like. Notice the signs connection racism, and the crowd of predominantly young college aged people. Hmmm...
Class has taken to the streets... literally WALL street- interestingly the mainstream media has yet to cover this protest despite mass arrests, police brutality allegations, and the macing of a penned in group of peaceful female protestors without provocation.
Class warfare? People will begin to see what it really looks like. Notice the signs connection racism, and the crowd of predominantly young college aged people. Hmmm...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Class Analysis...
This week we are presented with the question of class analysis. Why do we need one? Why is it important? How does using a class lens change our perspectives?
The articles for this week tie together nicely to show the importance of these questions. Morris shows us the importance of using a class lens, that is not mutually exclusive of a race lens. Through a loose timeline of the history of blacks in America, Morris guides us quietly through the connections between race and class. Two major lessons can be learned here. Firstly, consider the argument of Morris that black powerlessness only matters when it impacts white society and success, highlighted by the death of the entire french quarter and its impact on the white elite. While the impact on blacks was more immediate and visible, it was the impact on white owned business that was sensationalized as loss, while black loss was portrayed as a series of bad decisions, such as not leaving, that led to "their" situation. But since we all read the article I dont have to tell you why they didnt leave, do I? What does this say about the value of black business? and socio-political involvement?
In some ways, the piece in the Monthly Review offers us another view. By using Hurricane Katrina and its socio-political implications, including "white flight" and the history of political and economic power having a purely white history, we begin to see the invisibility of class as previously discussed in class. Consider the concept that the problems of Katrina "looked" like race. This is a fundamental distinction. It shows us that race is often the social scapegoat because of its visibility, though in reality class may be the better fit.
Ultimately, this is no surprise. In the context of these articles and our previous lecture and discussions, I can only hold one thing to be true. Class and Race are not mutually exclusive in the majority of cases. It is by recognizing this that we can develop a sense of the importance of a class analysis. Mainly, if we begin to view interpersonal dynamic in the realm of class, what does this mean for the social power structure? What does this mean for race dynamics. Consider the implications for social change if working/lower class whites and blacks of varying socio-economic status unified for common advancement. What then would become the visibility of class? The impact on social policy, race relations, and the labor movement could be drastic albeit slow. The political structure would have to shift from what Morris deemed a conversation of the corporate minded republican right and the humanist impact vocalized moreso by the democratic left. (Note- the political divide of bi-partisan systems is not supported by myself entirely though language is limiting)
This stuff is complex and muddied, and any attempt by a theorist, economist, academic, or activist etc. must not reduce these into singular concepts, for when we do, we fail to recognize the lives and identities of a hollistic person. We are not simply our class, our race, etc. and to assume that we shelve or closet these as we face different climates and even disasters, is crippling, but it is this exact attempt at compartmentalization that continues to envoke echos of "class warfare" "race relations" and the "battle of the sexes" with little sensitivity to the wisdom of experience.
The articles for this week tie together nicely to show the importance of these questions. Morris shows us the importance of using a class lens, that is not mutually exclusive of a race lens. Through a loose timeline of the history of blacks in America, Morris guides us quietly through the connections between race and class. Two major lessons can be learned here. Firstly, consider the argument of Morris that black powerlessness only matters when it impacts white society and success, highlighted by the death of the entire french quarter and its impact on the white elite. While the impact on blacks was more immediate and visible, it was the impact on white owned business that was sensationalized as loss, while black loss was portrayed as a series of bad decisions, such as not leaving, that led to "their" situation. But since we all read the article I dont have to tell you why they didnt leave, do I? What does this say about the value of black business? and socio-political involvement?
In some ways, the piece in the Monthly Review offers us another view. By using Hurricane Katrina and its socio-political implications, including "white flight" and the history of political and economic power having a purely white history, we begin to see the invisibility of class as previously discussed in class. Consider the concept that the problems of Katrina "looked" like race. This is a fundamental distinction. It shows us that race is often the social scapegoat because of its visibility, though in reality class may be the better fit.
Ultimately, this is no surprise. In the context of these articles and our previous lecture and discussions, I can only hold one thing to be true. Class and Race are not mutually exclusive in the majority of cases. It is by recognizing this that we can develop a sense of the importance of a class analysis. Mainly, if we begin to view interpersonal dynamic in the realm of class, what does this mean for the social power structure? What does this mean for race dynamics. Consider the implications for social change if working/lower class whites and blacks of varying socio-economic status unified for common advancement. What then would become the visibility of class? The impact on social policy, race relations, and the labor movement could be drastic albeit slow. The political structure would have to shift from what Morris deemed a conversation of the corporate minded republican right and the humanist impact vocalized moreso by the democratic left. (Note- the political divide of bi-partisan systems is not supported by myself entirely though language is limiting)
This stuff is complex and muddied, and any attempt by a theorist, economist, academic, or activist etc. must not reduce these into singular concepts, for when we do, we fail to recognize the lives and identities of a hollistic person. We are not simply our class, our race, etc. and to assume that we shelve or closet these as we face different climates and even disasters, is crippling, but it is this exact attempt at compartmentalization that continues to envoke echos of "class warfare" "race relations" and the "battle of the sexes" with little sensitivity to the wisdom of experience.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
First Assignment- Oh, Arizona
The forms of inequity here are vast, and while I'll stay away from an anti prison industrial complex, anti racism, rant as best I can. (After all its an assignment not a novel) There are some key components here to address.
Firstly, I think of prison populations as a whole. Statistically, they tend towards men and women of color and lower socio-economic status. Therefore, our prison population is marginalized from the start, regardless of their reasons for entering the criminal justice system. Then, we take their families who are presumably from the same race and socio-economic status who are outside the system, and we punish them as well. First, because they are separated from their family member, and secondly, because they must pay this fee. I can't help but think of Constitutionality here, be it the 8th or 14th Amendments. Could it not be considered cruel and unusual punishment to deny a person the right to see their families based on a systemic tax? Specifically one which is NOT going to what it is said to be allocated for, but a State deficit- which TAX dollars of the same working and lower class are suppossed to already be paying? Or the 14th Amendment, meant to provide equal protection under the law to suspect (read special) populations and due process? Do these Constitutional rights end simply because of incarceration? Last time I checked your status as a human wasn't revoked due to a change in location, a poor life choice, or questionable circumstances forced upon you but I digress...
In sum, Our systemic, institutional oppressions meet here at the intersection of race and class. It not only places those who are incarcerated in a place to "pay their debt to society"(I in no way endorse the previous colloquialism) but it leaves their families, suffering the emotional burden of having a family member in prison, left suffering a financial burden as well. All while the state mismanages its funds, provided by its citizens.
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/09/arizona_state_prisons_now_charging_25_for_visits.html
Firstly, I think of prison populations as a whole. Statistically, they tend towards men and women of color and lower socio-economic status. Therefore, our prison population is marginalized from the start, regardless of their reasons for entering the criminal justice system. Then, we take their families who are presumably from the same race and socio-economic status who are outside the system, and we punish them as well. First, because they are separated from their family member, and secondly, because they must pay this fee. I can't help but think of Constitutionality here, be it the 8th or 14th Amendments. Could it not be considered cruel and unusual punishment to deny a person the right to see their families based on a systemic tax? Specifically one which is NOT going to what it is said to be allocated for, but a State deficit- which TAX dollars of the same working and lower class are suppossed to already be paying? Or the 14th Amendment, meant to provide equal protection under the law to suspect (read special) populations and due process? Do these Constitutional rights end simply because of incarceration? Last time I checked your status as a human wasn't revoked due to a change in location, a poor life choice, or questionable circumstances forced upon you but I digress...
In sum, Our systemic, institutional oppressions meet here at the intersection of race and class. It not only places those who are incarcerated in a place to "pay their debt to society"(I in no way endorse the previous colloquialism) but it leaves their families, suffering the emotional burden of having a family member in prison, left suffering a financial burden as well. All while the state mismanages its funds, provided by its citizens.
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/09/arizona_state_prisons_now_charging_25_for_visits.html
Friday, September 2, 2011
WELCOME!
Hi guys,
My name is Chris. I am a Graduate Student hoping to pursue an Individualized Master's in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation and Oppression. I ended up registering for this class as a result, transferring only a few weeks ago from the MSW program. I did my BA in Womens Studies here at RIC. I am very excited about this semester, as I missed the material covered in classes like these that I didnt get in my other program. When I am not on the RIC campus, I am usually playing one of my 4 instruments somewhere(if even my own living room), spending time with friends and family, which sometimes includes skype calls to friends in far away places, shooting pool, or working on starting my own nonprofit. I am not new to Blogger so if anyone is struggling feel free to leave a comment and I will help when I can. I will be posting again regarding the upcoming class material after I listen to the podcast.
In solidarity,
C
My name is Chris. I am a Graduate Student hoping to pursue an Individualized Master's in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation and Oppression. I ended up registering for this class as a result, transferring only a few weeks ago from the MSW program. I did my BA in Womens Studies here at RIC. I am very excited about this semester, as I missed the material covered in classes like these that I didnt get in my other program. When I am not on the RIC campus, I am usually playing one of my 4 instruments somewhere(if even my own living room), spending time with friends and family, which sometimes includes skype calls to friends in far away places, shooting pool, or working on starting my own nonprofit. I am not new to Blogger so if anyone is struggling feel free to leave a comment and I will help when I can. I will be posting again regarding the upcoming class material after I listen to the podcast.
In solidarity,
C
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