Written by: David A. DeRose
Given historical and contemporary events, I would like to
state my position on equity in this country. To understand my perspective, I
find it important to explain my process that has brought me to this point – as
this work is a process not a political stance. I am, above all an educator. I
am tasked with educating the next generation of leaders, adults, and
contributors to society. Although I no longer teach, I am forever dedicated to
the work of education. I have participated in workshops on equity, interviewed
close friends on the role race has played in their lives (and in their kids
lives), and am currently in a program where I seek to end inequities in
education. I’d be happy to share articles on race, class, and representation;
authors include Kenneth Howe, Paul Gorski, Tara J. Yosso, Carolyn M. Shields,
Beverly Daniel Tatum, and many others. If specific articles are desired, please
do not hesitate to ask.
I have read a multitude of research on how race,
socioeconomic status, and geographic placement impact academic success. I have
taught and worked in vastly different schools. I have listened to emotional
performances from underrepresented populations. I grew up idolizing people who
did not look like me. I ran a multicultural fair during my undergrad in
Nebraska. Long story short, I have made a life out of seeking out perspectives
different than mine.
Through experiences, conversations, and research I have
concluded unequivocally that white privilege and institutional racism exist.
Although there has been much progress since the Civil Rights Act in 1964 –the
13th Amendment (1865), the work of W.E.B Dubois (1868-1963), Malcolm
X (1925-1965), and Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)– we still have a long way to go.
In my opinion, victim blaming is the most important area we need to address. It
is easy to blame students success on their circumstances but it is much harder
to learn about their specific individual obstacles and attempt to address them:
transportation, work schedules, child care among many. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(2009) speaks of single stories in her Ted Talks. We must move away from this
idea of the single story and actively learn the specific circumstances that
people face daily prior to passing judgment in order to properly address and
correct them.
Lastly, I am a white, male, able bodied, Christian, heterosexual
male. I belong to every dominant cultural group. I believe whole-heartedly that
these issues will be resolved only when people like me address and remedy them.
It is not a “minority” issue. Those who
belong to the dominant culture need to recognize their part and work against
the systems that currently exist to ever have any dream of remedying them.
I listen and learn, but here is the issue. I listened to a black pastor mention the issue between black lives matter and all lives matter. He used the illustration that someone with cancer needs help from healthy people, i.e. cancer equals some of the issues surrounding what blacks are going through. I 100% agree. But then I began to think about those that have diabetes, how does one with cancer feel? Do you know that I have been discriminated against because I'm white, old, male, educated, tall, etc.? We are all different (I used the Bible's view of 1 Cor 12 and the body, eye, ear, foot approach), yet we're all the same, needing love, joy, peace, etc. If we only focus on the sins of others and never how to correct them as the MAIN focus, we demoralize others. When I spoke this past weekend regarding the homeless, I was not focused on homelessness as I was in raising the homeless up (and those that help them) by showing they ARE worth something in God's eyes and by extension, to ME, too. I don't ignore that people are different, skin and eye color, height, weight, etc., but I look at who has God created them to be (talents, skills, experiences, etc.) and pour gas on what God has created them to be and foster their growth and to work together with me as a team. When we look at our positions (victim, privilege, etc.), we hinder our growth. I don't look at my white privilege, I look at my Christian responsibilities to ALL of my neighbors and toward the future!
ReplyDelete