Talking Points #2

Article #1
Richard Rodriguez
Aria

Rodruiguez argues that while it is important for children to be taught a second language to forward themselves in the world, they need to be able to practice the language that is the basis of the Culture of Power, English. If a child does not know how to speak English than they will have much greater difficulty in schools and in life.

1. "At first, it seemes a kind of game. After dinner each night, the family gathered to practice 'our' English. ... Laughing, we would try to define words we could not pronounce." (35)
I feel that Rodriguez had fun learning English with his parents. He was in a stress free enviornment without the pressure of answering a question in English when he did not feel he could. By his parents helping him out, everyone in his fmaily was able to learn English in a stress free enviornment and benefit in the Culture of Power.

2. "Weeks after, it happened:One day in school I raised my hand to volunteer an answer. I spoke out in a loud voice. And I did not think it remarkable when the entire class understood. That day, I moved very far from the disadvantaged child I had been only days earlier. The belief, the calming assurance that I belong in public, had at last taken hold." (36)
Again, due to the relaxed enviornment that Rodriguez learned his English in, he found it in himself to speak out in class. He was able to feel like he was a part of the "norm". He felt he had a place in public because he could now speak English so the middle class white society could understand him.

3. "She'd join conversations she overheard, but her intrusions often stopped her children's talking. By contrast, my father seemed reconciled to the new quiet." (37)
I feel that this happens alot. Children become much more bilingual than their parents and when English starts to become more mainly used in the household bonds between parent and child can be strained. In this case, Rodriguez's father becomes aware that he cannot speak English as fluently as his children or his wife therefore basically takes a vow of silence from even speaking the English anymore because he got made fun of.

This article was a rather easy read. I really felt bad for his father at the end of the article because I can completely understand where his father was coming from. I can semi-understand French and I took five years of it, but when I get around my dads side of the family, and all of them are speaking fluent French, I get intimidated. I know my French isn't as good as theirs and when they ask me a question in French, sometimes I have no idea what they just asked me because they said it way to fast. Then I would become the laughing stock. So I can really understand where his dad was coming from. I do however think it's a good idea that children, especially now, learn English. It is mainly used in the world. On the other hand though, Spanish and currently Chinese should be learned as well because they are the next two popular languages.

Talking Points #1

Article #1

Peggy McIntosh

White Privelege: Unpacking the Invisable Knapsack

McIntosh argues that white people are taught to think of their lives as normal. They consider themselves average and benefits to people will allow "them" (colored people) to be more like "us" (white people).

1. "I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege." Page 1

I think that this quote pertains to the article because it basically sums up the entire article. White people are taught to see that nothing is wrong in the world because they are white and therefore are not without privileges. By this I mean that, white people could never say they had no privileges because they were taught that they have them and people of color do not. The same goes for men and women.

2. "If these things are true, this is not such a free country; ones' life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own." Page 4

I like this quote because it shows that people get "lucky". If a white baby is bron into the world they almost automatically have more opportunities that when a black baby is born into the world. This is due to the simple fact that white people do not have to deal with the hardships that a black person would have to endure.

3. "In my class and place, I did not see myself as a racist because I was taught to recognize racism only in individual acts of meanness by members of my group, never in invisible systems conferring unsought racial dominanc on my group from birth." Page 5

This is the last quote I picked because it also sums up the entire article. White people are simply not taught to see a difference in whites vs. blacks. A white person will never consider themselves as a racist because they only think that a racist person has to do with someone showing meanness to an individual of a different race. That is not always the case and this quote shows that whites cannot understand that.

I liked this article because it really allowed me to understand why some white people just cannot fathom the idea that they might be a little bit racist. They cannot understand that they don't have to act in a mean way towards someone to be racist. It can just be a small comment that a couple of guys call each other. It's still a form of racism. I just don't think its appropriate because it is racism in a nutshell.

Article #2

Salim Muwakkil

Data Show Racial Bias Persists in America

Muwakkil argues that racism is not over and that the claim that is it over was made by conservatives of the civil-rights movement.

1. "'Do you feel that racial minorities in this country have equal job opportunities as whites, or not?' Fifty-five percent of whites polled said yes. Other polls have revealed similar numbers"

This is crazy! I can't believe that the majority of white people think that there is little to no racism in the world anymore! Are people that ignorant? Apparently yes!

2. "The study found that applicants with white-sounding names were 50 percent more likely to get called for an initial interview than applicants with black-sounding ones. What's more, higher resumes provided little advantage for black applicants."

I truely am not surprised at this statement. Things are still not right in the United States although many think that this does not exist anymore, RACISM STILL EXISTS IN THE UNITED STATES!!!! If I was a black person, I would give my newborn baby a white sounding name for the simple fact, it may give them a headstart in the world. Am I wrong to say this? Or is it a great idea?

3. "Those who assert we've arrived at a colorblind society are blinding themselves to reality."

I found this a little confusing because I did not know how to really read this statement but what I think it says is that, people who believe that racism doesn't exist anymore are really only blinding themselves from the truth of the matter.

I thought this article was good but it made me mad. I just cannot understand how people, mainly white people, think that racism doesn't exist anymore. As a race, they have blinded themselves from the truth and become ignorant adults. Maybe this is why the world is the way it is. People refuse to see the TRUTH OF THINGS!!

Just Me

My name's Kayla Jandreau and I am a sophomore at Rhode Island College. I'm majoring in phys. ed. and health ed. Many think it's an easy thing to study, but they are so wrong. It's just as much writing as any other major and it's not all about hanging out in the gym all day long.

I'm a softball player here at school and this past summer I played on a travel team. We actually went to the national tournament and took first place. It's a real accomplishment because it's something that every travel softball team wants to do but usually falls short.

I currently have three tattoos and eight piercings. I love having all of those because they make me feel different from everyone else. Especially my tattoos because no one else has what I have. I will probably get more as well. Actually I have an appointment for another tattoo next month which I'm psyched about.

I love laughing and being around people who will make me laugh. Most of my friends tell me I make the funniest faces and those usually make them laugh. I'm super ticklish just ask my sister. Speaking of, I am so close to my sister. I'm two years older than she is but we should have been twins. I love her to death and would do anything to protect her.

And that's all for now :)