Sharing stories is a valuable way to reflect on our histories, beliefs, and actions, particularly when these stories focus on transformative experiences, ones in which we take risks, embrace discomfort, and find empowerment in doing so. The faculty, staff, and students at Drake University who are engaged in the work of infusing global and multicultural understandings into our culture and curriculum recognize that these narratives are indispensible—they inform the actions we take as we work to create a hospitable, welcoming, and intellectually engaging atmosphere for all our community members. Join us by sharing your stories here!
As I watch my students take their finals, and read their narratives of identity, analysis, and critique, I think of the important work that we are all doing to create spaces in which fearless self-reflection, and difficult conversations are met with generous listening and hospitable reactions! It is tremendously rewarding, and tough-to-do work. I look forward to sharing my own stories ... and reading the words of others on this blog ... as finals end and we turn to summer!
ReplyDeleteI've found throughout my first full year at Drake that most of the papers and presentations have helped me grow and self reflect because I was forced to make them applicable to my life. Whether it be one of my first papers in my FYS on role struggle: I wrote about my struggle in being a black female in the black community and a black female in overall society. To self reflective memoir in my reading and writing non fiction class. I've found as far as my classes I'm pushed to step outside of my perimeters but also a different perspective as well.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, have you guys ever thought about getting a twitter account hooked up with this blog you would get tons of feedback. A lot of Drake organizations and colleges have twitter accounts and it is easy to follow what is going on.
I'm in the unique position of living as a racial and sexual minority at Drake University, and I have never consciously or overtly experienced discrimination.
ReplyDeleteMy half-Japanese ethnicity adds a different outer appearance, and because Asians are viewed as being the "successful minority" I am simply viewed as a mild outsider. In addition I am the grandson of a American citizen born in Hawaii, so my lineage has had a number of years to assimilate into what it means to be Asian-American. It has come to the point where I feel more "at home" in front of White people than Asians. Because of my biracial status, I exist in this awkward vacuum of racial ambiguity of which few (at Drake at least) can relate.
Furthermore, as a gay male I was forced to encounter the bitter pain of multicultural difference in myself during the tumultuous times of high school where non-conformity was punished. Yet, because I do not come off as effeminate as the gay stereotype, most people do not guess about my minority status. In fact I would go as far to say that being a more masculine gay holds me higher in the eyes of heterosexuals (and homosexuals for that matter) than feminine gays. That being said, I have felt accepted as part of the in-group of Drake, but only insofar as my behavior falls in line with the expectations of my gender.
So, I find myself a double minority while almost being rewarded for those dispositions. I am the out-group accepted by the in-group. I am a privileged minority, and I must continue to challenge myself to realize the lack of privilege of other minorities. The Malaysian students on campus are likely to be judged quicker because of their Asian accent. Unlike women I do not have to worry about advances from men at a bar or fear of sexual assault walking across campus at night. The Black students at Drake experience far more marginalization and judgment than I ever will despite us both being racial minorities. The list goes on and on about the tragedies of misunderstanding and discriminating against minority students at Drake.
My hope for those who come from privileged backgrounds is for them (and myself in some aspects) to discover the common humanity they have with those who come from oppressed backgrounds. Through privilege comes a rather easy and lethargic acceptance of the status quo, and until the walls of such complacency are shaken by the notion that multicultural issues are human issues, apathy will continue to dominate the motivations and mindsets of the privileged. The social problems faced by Blacks, Muslims, Transgenders, homeless, disabled, and women are my own problems. All of humanity is my family, not just my intermediate family. It is the communication of this interconnectedness that I continue to contemplate and discuss with my fellow student. There are many Drake students who live more engaged than I do, and they continue to be a source of inspiration in my own widening of perspective lens in relation to privilege.
I came to Drake being the only student from my country and at first I was really apprehensive about whether or not I could adjust with the colossal change that I was about to undertake. However, during my first year I was shown so much hospitality and acceptance that I didn't feel as if I had ever left Home. Looking back, my apprehension now seems trivial.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the people of Drake (students, professors, staff) do a wonderful job in celebrating diversity. They accepted me with open arms and allowed me to feel at home in a foreign country. In fact, if I may be so bold as to say this, but I think that every International Student at Drake will agree with me when I say that the students and faculty at Drake go well beyond their means to ensure that we feel accepted and appreciated.