Final Reflection

I was lucky enough to take a class with Christine last quarter. What I appreciate most about Christine's classes are how the concepts we study are not only rooted in history, but in ethics as well. The concepts and injustices we studied in this class challenged all preconceived notions I had about race, labor, migration, capitalism, democracy, and racial slurs as well as other terms that are often thrown around loosely in the public mainstream. These classes help educate us how to be better citizens and people and for that I am grateful. Lit studies are often undermined or scoffed at in higher reverence for business, science, and engineer majors, but the world functions based on language and human interaction; without this critical studies of Humanities, we would have a limited understanding of what it means and takes to be human.
The historical struggles of african-americans, asians, filipinos, and chicanos are not historic struggles, but ever-present, current issues. Obviously, in lieu of the Ferguson and Eric Garner decisions, the discussion surrounding race has intensified in the past few months. Listening to On Point radio hour on NPR just yesterday, the conversation was, "Let's Talk Race," the central question asked, does racism still exist? (My extra credit blog will be closed readings of this talk), but when I heard this on the radio, I realized that for me, this class has illuminated the key point, not only does racism still exist, but it is the foundation of this country. Racism and US history are so intertwined within the culture, economy, education, spatial geography, etc that it's simply naive anyone would deny racism as pervading.
The reason it is "invisible" to some is not pure naivety, and certainly not proof or a real counterargument.  Historically, there has been a purposeful manipulation by those in power so that narratives change with their will and need. The discussion of Angela Davis' article on the black rapist is just one example of how propaganda was used to manipulate the frenzied masses.  Solidarity between the working class of whites and blacks was also prevented as a break along the lines of race occurred because the white laborers believed falsified notions about their working brothers, while at the same times lender themselves to the machine of exploitation. These manipulations have prevented solidarity of humans between humans, and isolated them instead by race. Seeing pictures of charred, black bodies hanging from trees is an ugly reality that people can forget what it means to be human. Seeing the video of Eric Garner is another reminder.
More examples of this flip in narration were highlighted in the discussion involving white sentiment labeling filipinos as "savage", while simultaneously alienating indigenous Mexican populations. These steps were taken by those in power to maintain and develop a status quo of tiered wages, to keep the filipinos working the low-wage jobs, and to acquire land from the native mexicans in the new state of California.
Finally, another powerful example, is an analysis of the institution which ironically has always been a painted as the key to freedom, peace, prosperity, and enlightenment: our education and the education system, as it like the work force becomes tiered, funnels minorities into the workforce and maintains a racialized legacy of working-class, low-paying jobs for minorities.