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Ethnic
studies is a contemporary perspectives to frame the ongoing process by which
people of color are grouped and defined at the complex intersections of race,
gender, class sexuality and nationality. Ethnic studies are an enterprise that starts
from the assumption that race and racism have been, and continue to be
profoundly powerful social and cultural forces in America’s society.
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Ethnic
studies today is a course that draws from a variety of discipline such as literature,
history, sociology, and cultural studies. It is unique because it focuses on
different cultural not only on American’s but that understanding the experience
of the various radicalized minorities. In my opinion ethnic studies will
enhance the quality of life and freeing you’re from limiting, narrow
perspectives and stereotyping. It will
help you from preparing for work and play in society such as ours with
different backgrounds that increasingly will require the ability to negotiate across
cultural boundaries and to respect differences. I think all students benefit
from this course because it teaches and shows us different people in the world especially
today’s society there are so many different cultures, backgrounds, and etc.
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Today
in Arizona, the governing board pulled the plug on its Mexican-American studies
program which teachers say was designed to help middle school and high school
student navigate in complex, multiethnic world. Some of the reasons that there
is a debate over whether ethnic studies should be taught because they felt it
was targeting that “promote the over throw of the U.S government” and "resentment
toward a race or class of people."
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It's
true that teaching U.S. history and literature with an eye toward a minority
experience can give students misgivings about the wisdom of the majority, past
and present. But particularly in the Southwest, it's impossible to understand
history without acknowledging the subjugation and marginalization of minority
groups. Nor can one understand the greatness of the American experiment without
seeing it as a 200-year-long struggle to overcome injustices and live up to the
highest ideals of its founding documents. Surely one doesn't have to believe in
the infallibility of white people to be pro-American.
Jennifer-
ReplyDeletethank you for your incredibly articulate and well-written thoughts! I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your response.
I agree with your response about what Ethnic Studies is: it teaches about the history and culture of cultures in the United States while also teaching about larger structures of oppression in the United States (race, gender, sexuality, nationality). This theoretical approach helps to bridge all of the different disciplines together!
I also appreciate your comment about 'not believing in the infallibility of white people to be pro-American'. However, it seems that many white people in Arizona do feel attacked by Ethnic Studies and what it teaches. What do you think the origin of this fear is? What do they think will change if People of Color learn about their history and culture?
--eas
also: in order for you to get credit for your blog, it needs to have a word count on the bottom. I am letting people fix it this time, but for future ones you need it published with the word count to get credit!
ReplyDelete--eas