What is the Article About:
- challenges
- change
- tapping the glass
- being heard
- privileges
- social systems
- everyone's responsibility
Author's Arguments:
Johnson argues that "[t]he challenge we face is to change patterns of exclusion, rejection, privileges, harassment, discrimination, and violence that are everywhere in this society and have existed for hundreds of years. We have to begin by thinking about the trouble and the challenge in new and more productive ways..." (pg. 125)
Evidence:
"The problem of privilege and oppression is deep and wide, and to work with it we have to be able to see it clearly so that we can talk about it in useful ways." (pg. 125)
"If we're going to see ourselves as part of that kind of change, we can't use the human life span as a significant standard against which to measure progress." (pg. 131)
"Make noise, be seen." (pg. 144)
"Find little ways to withdraw support from paths of least resistance and people's choices to follow them, starting with yourself." (pg. 144)
"Dare to make people feel uncomfortable, beginning with yourself." (pg. 145)
"Openly choose and model alternative paths." (pg. 146)
"Actively promote change in how systems are organized around privilege." (pg. 147)
"Support the right of women and men to love whomever they choose." (pg. 149)
"Pay attention to how different forms of oppression interact with one another." (pg. 149)
"Work with other people." (pg. 150)
" Don't let other people set the standard for you." (pg. 153)
Comment:
I agree with Johnson. We all have a challenge to change our society. I believe that in order for this to work is we must be positive. To make this happen we need to find people who are willing to stand up, "make noise [and] be seen." At my job there are many people who have very negative view towards minorities. There is this one girl who saw two black guys in the stores and told my manager, "we need to keep an eye on, they look very suspicious." My manager became so angry at her comment. He told her, " Why, because they are black? so does that mean that I should keep and eye on Maria as well?" he left steamy down to his office, and I told her "it's true what my he said, you can't just assume." The girl felt awful, and I felt sorry for her. She is planning on becoming a teacher, and with an attitude like this, its very sad. She needs courses like FNED in her life. There is this other guy who really bothers me with his rude comments towards Hispanic people. He always has something stupid to say and it pisses me off so I stand up and make noise by responding to his comments. Ever since I've taken this course, I view everything differently. I am no longer afraid to stand up and speak my mind. I am in America and I have the freedom to speech, I will not let anyone with power over me take my voice.
