Workshop:Busing to basketball

I went to a workshop this week in the tech pride room. It was titled “Basketball and Busing” and Marc Burnet spoke about growing up African American in Tennessee and how he handled integration. He had to change elementary schools because of the integration rule and had to start new in a mainly all white school on the other side of town. He even had to move into what he called the "projects" because this location was closer to school. He faced much racism and hardship growing up, but he said basketball kept him level headed. The basketball coach would even make the African American players run extra in hopes they would quit because they just were not accepted by the white crowd. This backfired and the African American players only got better at the sport. I really enjoyed the speaker today and his honesty with the subject. Also, Mr. Burnet said that sometimes he would have to walk home after basketball practice at night through the nice white neighborhoods. Sometimes people would stop him and ask him what he was doing there and if he was stealing something. It is just so horrible to think how colored people were treated and still are treated. Mr. Burnet also said that busing to school really changed the whole aspect in his town. The kids from the “projects” were all loaded onto a bus and brought to school where all the middle class white children were waiting and watching them to get off the bus. Mr. Burnet said that the white children treated the kids from the “projects” like trash and that he got into many fights because he was constantly called names and verbally abused by the white children and even the teachers. I feel like I have learned more about the African American culture and how horribly they were once treated. This speech definitely benefited me and I plan on attending more.

Workshop: Busing to Basketball

I went to a workshop this week in the tech pride room. It was titled “Basketball and Busing” and Marc Burnet spoke about growing up African American in Tennessee and how he handled integration. He had to change elementary schools because of the integration rule and had to start new in a mainly all white school on the other side of town. He even had to move into what he called the "projects" because this location was closer to school. He faced much racism and hardship growing up, but he said basketball kept him level headed. The basketball coach would even make the African American players run extra in hopes they would quit because they just were not accepted by the white crowd. This backfired and the African American players only got better at the sport. I really enjoyed the speaker today and his honesty with the subject. Also, Mr. Burnet said that sometimes he would have to walk home after basketball practice at night through the nice white neighborhoods. Sometimes people would stop him and ask him what he was doing there and if he was stealing something. It is just so horrible to think how colored people were treated and still are treated. Mr. Burnet also said that busing to school really changed the whole aspect in his town. The kids from the “projects” were all loaded onto a bus and brought to school where all the middle class white children were waiting and watching them to get off the bus. Mr. Burnet said that the white children treated the kids from the “projects” like trash and that he got into many fights because he was constantly called names and verbally abused by the white children and even the teachers. I feel like I have learned more about the African American culture and how horribly they were once treated. This speech definitely benefited me and I plan on attending more.

skin is skin

After reading both essays I noticed a definite pattern. In society today there is an apparent, yet unspoken about power/ranking/order of people based on both sex and race. White males rule above all peoples and white people have advantages over colored people. It is unspoken about, and most consider it rude or “crossing the line” if woman point out men’s over apparent power in society. Men work to support the family and while most women work, they are still left to pick up the pieces of the household (cleaning, cooking, laundry, children) while managing their own careers. This is just not fair? Who made these rules? Why haven’t women stepped up for themselves? They have in the past, yet there is not enough support and determination to make a difference. We live in such a follow the norm society where nobody wants to make a scene by voicing their real opinion. Yet, the real unfairness of society today is the unspoken about advantages of white people over colored people. After reading the essays, I was blown away by how much racism there really is in the world today and how even in my life I myself do not see the huge advantages I have as a white person in the United States. When Ms. McIntosh made her list of the daily effects of white privilege I really had to step back and realize the hidden, yet overbearingly apparent advantages I have. Some examples that really stood out to me and I have not even considered previously are the simple fact that “flesh” colored band-aids and cover up are way more accessible to match the color of white people over colored people’s skin. Also, I believe it is very true that when someone asks to talk to the “person in charge” more often than none this person will be white. White people are widely represented everywhere in America from television to music to the newspaper. Whites have more say and more representation over the colored crowd. After reading the essays I am very aware of the everyday racism in our society. I feel like I have been living a lie for my entire life, in which colored people have this negative vibe associated with them that somehow white people learn at a young age and just slowly live with it and don’t even realize what is happening. What gives white people any say over who has power or the advantage? Skin is skin; if you think about it, colored people have just a darker tint to their skin. I really wish there was no separation, that people were people and there was no hidden ranking and prejudices because of skin color. I can wish all I want, but in the end I know deep down there will always be that separation because that is just how it is. It is really sad but our society today will never be able to get over skin colors and racism. It will always be there, just like our skin.

Advertising or Brainwashing?

In response to the Iron Maiden, I first want to say that it is so apparent that advertising has an overwhelming impact on women of our time. From hair, to weight, to how to dress, females definitely feel the effects of advertising and feel more obliged to follow what advertising portrays. I agree with just about the entire essay and found the statistics staggering. For example, just the fact that women pay a whopping $33 billion on weight loss, $7 billion on cosmetics, and $300 million on cosmetic surgery. That is nuts! I am especially bothered by the cosmetic surgery fact; I really believe that people need to find the strength to be happy with themselves and to not choose to go under the knife. I believe Americans need to look at themselves in a better light and stop putting so much pressure on themselves to be so visually perfect. What ever happened to inner beauty? I am a very big fan of those dove commercials where woman of all shapes and sizes strip down to their undergarments to advertise not only the dove products, but also their beauty and womanly strength. It makes me sick to hear stories about teenagers becoming anorexic or bulimic because of their desire to become skinny. The fact is that these high fashion super models are too skinny and they look downright unhealthy. It really made me mad when the fashion world believes professional models are considered over the hill by the time they are twenty-four. Now that is just disturbing, age does not determine your beauty, the person determines their own beauty and inner being. The visual essay really made me look at ads in a different light. I feel almost brainwashed because as I looked at the pictures I realized how much advertising influences young minds and in most cases the hidden message the advertisement is presenting. Sex is everywhere in advertising and it is disgusting how much women are the targets. I just really hope women of our time can step up and be stronger and not focus on the visual aspects of themselves but on who they are a as a person. People should be influenced by their own decisions, not by what a magazine tells them to do.

Little Rock 9

Tonight I went to listen to Dr. Terrence Roberts speak at our University at Tennessee Tech. He was one of the nine African American teenagers to attend a normally Caucasian populated school, called Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas. Right off the bat I noticed Dr. Roberts’s patience as he spoke. He was very at ease and comfortable about talking about segregation of his time and racism. I am from Wisconsin and frankly have never experienced any sort of racism toward African Americans. I have not been too exposed to these experiences, considering my high school had maybe two African American students in the entire school. I really enjoyed Dr. Robert’s speech and the strength he told his experiences and how he dealt with racism. I was very amazed when he spoke about using nonviolence in every situation. Students would fill water balloons with their own urine and place them in his locker and instead of getting angry he said he removed himself from the situation by smiling and walking away. This would take an insurmountable amount of inner strength to not fight back or to say anything about it. I have a lot of respect for Dr. Roberts and really thought highly of him when he said that he honestly does not believe in fighting. It takes a lot for somebody in our day and age to not fight back to hostile situations. Lastly, I was really appreciative when Mr. Andy stood up and said he was disappointed with all of the empty seats in the auditorium and the lack of representation from our student body at the presentation tonight. I too felt embarrassed because this man made a trip out to speak at our school and share his life experiences and advice and there were quadruple the amount of empty seats in that auditorium than full seats. I really benefited from Dr. Roberts speech and know others would have too. I really hope that in the future we can better represent our university to such honorable presenters.

Heck yes there should be high schools!!!!

I read “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” by Leon Botstein and this essay really upset me. Botstein attempts to say that American high schools are “obsolete and should be abolished.” He tries to make all high schools look bad because of high school sports, cliques, and the general assumption that kids do anything to try to be “popular” in high school. He blames high schools for making kids feel alone and becoming “outsiders” in high school. One of his examples of this is the columbine shooting. I honestly think high school shapes our young society today, not only does is prepare you for college but instills experience, relationships, and LIFE for god sakes into people. High school is about breaking down the social barrier and finding yourself, and yes in most cases kids tend to hang out with a certain “group.” Everyone can make friends, and even the quietest person can find companionship and relationships in high school. Yet, I do not feel sorry for a person who does not put any effort into finding friends and isolates themselves from the world of high school. There are niches for everyone and activity opportunities for everyone in high school, from athletics, to math club, to sewing for fun, everyone can find their niche in high school. Lastly, I am still a bit heated that Botstein makes athletics out to be some sort of cult. For me, athletics were my life in high school. But, I also exposed myself to other things like Leo club, National Honors Society, Spanish club and a heck of a lot more; I didn’t put all of my energy into just sports. If I wanted to be well rounded and get the full experience of high school, I then had to take it upon myself to expose myself to the other aspects of high school besides sports. Yet, athletics shaped me into who I am today and without athletics and high school in general I would be a very lost individual looking for extreme guidance. So, yes I think Botstein is lunatic for thinking and sadly attempting to prove that American high schools should cease to exist. I would love to debate him on this topic and prove him so very wrong!

Hi my name is Brooke. I am really not to sure what we are supposed to write.... hmmm this is my first blog and the web address is whattheblog-brooke.blogspot.com.

Ha .. do you guys kind of feel like your going to spell somthing wrong on here.. I def. do. I know there is a spell checker but.. o well.

~have a good one