Score!
In my cybernetic fiction class, we're writing short analytical essays each week on our readings, about 750 to 1000 words. I went a little overboard last week and was super paranoid about doing a good job, but it paid off because the prof just E-mailed me feedback with all praise. (I'll see if she gives me any critiques when she hands back a tangible copy on Monday.)
I love teachers that make me feel like the work I do actually has a purpose and is done well, like I can accomplish anything. I hadn't really felt that way about my relationship with learning until last quarter when I took cyborg anthropology, and my prof really encouraged me and was excited about the work I was doing. (She is great at this! Others have felt this way about her too.) This happened the same time I received so much positive feedback to my blog. I realized I am smart, that there are new things in the world I can come up with. So I want to stay in academia. I want to be a prof like those I look up to. Dr. Wetzel. I just wish I would have realized this sooner so I could have made myself more appealing to graduate schools.
Heh! I'm so cheesy and sappy today. But sometimes I want to spread my curb-skipping, heel-kicking happiness.
Also, I want to go to the Undoing Institutional Racism Workshop. Anyone else going to sign up? It's free. More info behind the cut, including date and time.
Undoing Institutional Racism Workshop
Friday May 12th 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday May 13th 10:00am-4:00pm
Viking Union 464
FREE - LUNCH PROVIDED - REGISTRATION REQUIRED
The Undoing Racism Workshop is an intensive two-day workshop designed to educate, challenge and empower people to "undo" the racist structures that hinder effective social change. The training is based on the premise that racism has been systematically erected and that it can be "undone" if people understand where it comes from, how it functions and why it is perpetuated.
This workshop moves beyond a focus on the symptoms of racism to an understanding of what it is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone. The workshop's systemic approach stresses learning from history, developing leadership, maintaining accountability to communities, creating networks, undoing internalized oppression, and understanding the role of organizational gatekeeping in perpetuating racism. The trainers are experienced antiracist community organizers from Seattle who have a lot of wisdom to share with our campus and community.
Sponsored by the Social Issues Resource Center, Anti-Racist White Student Union and People's Institute Northwest - for more info or disability accommodations (360)650-6804 - as.rop.social.issues@wwu.edu
The workshop addresses the following areas:
Analyzing Power
Effective organizing requires accurate analysis of the systems that keep racism in place, why people are poor, how institutions perpetuate the imbalance of power, and who is responsible for maintaining the status quo.
Defining Racism
In order to undo racism, it must be understood. Organizers and educators who intend to build effective coalitions need to be very clear about what racism is and what it is not in order to avoid serious strategic and tactical errors.
Understanding the Manifestations of Racism
Racism operates in more than just individual and institutional settings. The dynamics of cultural racism, linguistic racism, and militarism as applied racism are examined.
Learning from History
Racism has distorted, suppressed and denied the histories of people of color and white people as well. A accurate knowledge of history is a necessary organizing tool as well as a source of personal and collective empowerment.
Sharing Culture
One of the most effective methods of oppression is to deny a people its history and culture. The training process strongly emphasizes "cultural sharing" as a critical organizing tool.
Organizing to Undo Racism
Community organizing principles are discussed in terms of how communities can achieve concrete results in dismantling the structures of racism.
I love teachers that make me feel like the work I do actually has a purpose and is done well, like I can accomplish anything. I hadn't really felt that way about my relationship with learning until last quarter when I took cyborg anthropology, and my prof really encouraged me and was excited about the work I was doing. (She is great at this! Others have felt this way about her too.) This happened the same time I received so much positive feedback to my blog. I realized I am smart, that there are new things in the world I can come up with. So I want to stay in academia. I want to be a prof like those I look up to. Dr. Wetzel. I just wish I would have realized this sooner so I could have made myself more appealing to graduate schools.
Heh! I'm so cheesy and sappy today. But sometimes I want to spread my curb-skipping, heel-kicking happiness.
Also, I want to go to the Undoing Institutional Racism Workshop. Anyone else going to sign up? It's free. More info behind the cut, including date and time.
Undoing Institutional Racism Workshop
Friday May 12th 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday May 13th 10:00am-4:00pm
Viking Union 464
FREE - LUNCH PROVIDED - REGISTRATION REQUIRED
The Undoing Racism Workshop is an intensive two-day workshop designed to educate, challenge and empower people to "undo" the racist structures that hinder effective social change. The training is based on the premise that racism has been systematically erected and that it can be "undone" if people understand where it comes from, how it functions and why it is perpetuated.
This workshop moves beyond a focus on the symptoms of racism to an understanding of what it is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone. The workshop's systemic approach stresses learning from history, developing leadership, maintaining accountability to communities, creating networks, undoing internalized oppression, and understanding the role of organizational gatekeeping in perpetuating racism. The trainers are experienced antiracist community organizers from Seattle who have a lot of wisdom to share with our campus and community.
Sponsored by the Social Issues Resource Center, Anti-Racist White Student Union and People's Institute Northwest - for more info or disability accommodations (360)650-6804 - as.rop.social.issues@wwu.edu
The workshop addresses the following areas:
Analyzing Power
Effective organizing requires accurate analysis of the systems that keep racism in place, why people are poor, how institutions perpetuate the imbalance of power, and who is responsible for maintaining the status quo.
Defining Racism
In order to undo racism, it must be understood. Organizers and educators who intend to build effective coalitions need to be very clear about what racism is and what it is not in order to avoid serious strategic and tactical errors.
Understanding the Manifestations of Racism
Racism operates in more than just individual and institutional settings. The dynamics of cultural racism, linguistic racism, and militarism as applied racism are examined.
Learning from History
Racism has distorted, suppressed and denied the histories of people of color and white people as well. A accurate knowledge of history is a necessary organizing tool as well as a source of personal and collective empowerment.
Sharing Culture
One of the most effective methods of oppression is to deny a people its history and culture. The training process strongly emphasizes "cultural sharing" as a critical organizing tool.
Organizing to Undo Racism
Community organizing principles are discussed in terms of how communities can achieve concrete results in dismantling the structures of racism.