Go HERE and watch this video clip titled "sam and esther".
Yeah, I watched this right after I had a nice lunch in my warm home with everything I need to maintain a lovely daily life all around me.
This is why I HAVE TO DO MORE and I HAVE TO BE BETTER and this is when I really deeply and truly understand privilege. It's all connected. This makes me a better person. It's a gut punch today, and I needed it.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Maybe you were born with it
Let's talk about unintended consequences....OR....You Aren’t Bad for Having Privilege
The truth is, I don’t have any control over the privilege I was given. I was born white, female, into a middle class family with college education, home ownership, and Catholic sensibilities as a part of my family heritage. I didn't get to choose this family of my birth. I'm not bad for being born with it, and at the same time I MUST realize what this means when I live with all of the benefits of my privilege but PRETEND that I'm not privileged. Confused? Yeah, this is work. Let me say it simply: I'm not bad for having privilege, but not being able to give up my privilege (as in, stop being white) is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card for any bad behaviour or for reliquishing responsibility for both personal awareness and action.
Finding a balance between accepting my privilege and fighting against it is not easy. I struggle with it on a daily basis. I've been working in these posts to talk a little more clearly about this really complex topic. I am working on my own understanding and of privilege and working to understand what insititutional privilege is and how it benefits and normalizes white experience.
Here's the challenge: privilege is perpetuated in part by the silence of people when one of their own group does something racist -whether subtle, covert, or overt. This can be an inappropriate joke, or someone admitting that they committed a crime against a non-privileged person. It can be an assumption about a person, a dismissal of a person's opinion or simply ignoring a person. Don't do it. Don't think it. Don't say it. And work your stuff - and don't give up. Fix it.
While it’s a good thing for me to be engaging in this, I remind myself that I cannot expect to be praised or rewarded for my efforts; oppression may be a new experience for me, but it’s something people of color live with every day of their lives.
The truth is, I don’t have any control over the privilege I was given. I was born white, female, into a middle class family with college education, home ownership, and Catholic sensibilities as a part of my family heritage. I didn't get to choose this family of my birth. I'm not bad for being born with it, and at the same time I MUST realize what this means when I live with all of the benefits of my privilege but PRETEND that I'm not privileged. Confused? Yeah, this is work. Let me say it simply: I'm not bad for having privilege, but not being able to give up my privilege (as in, stop being white) is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card for any bad behaviour or for reliquishing responsibility for both personal awareness and action.
Finding a balance between accepting my privilege and fighting against it is not easy. I struggle with it on a daily basis. I've been working in these posts to talk a little more clearly about this really complex topic. I am working on my own understanding and of privilege and working to understand what insititutional privilege is and how it benefits and normalizes white experience.
Here's the challenge: privilege is perpetuated in part by the silence of people when one of their own group does something racist -whether subtle, covert, or overt. This can be an inappropriate joke, or someone admitting that they committed a crime against a non-privileged person. It can be an assumption about a person, a dismissal of a person's opinion or simply ignoring a person. Don't do it. Don't think it. Don't say it. And work your stuff - and don't give up. Fix it.
While it’s a good thing for me to be engaging in this, I remind myself that I cannot expect to be praised or rewarded for my efforts; oppression may be a new experience for me, but it’s something people of color live with every day of their lives.
A Finn and An Ethiopian
LESSONS FROM THE FINN ON HOW TO SPEND YOUR TIME
WHEN YOU ARE NOT PLAYING TENNIS OR SLEEPING
1. Learn how to wield the remotes (yes, there are more than one)
for maximum viewing pleasure
2.Become engrossed no matter how mundane the show. In fact,
the more ridiculous, the more juvenile, the more just plain 'ol
silly, the better to view.
3. Perfect the art of napping between scenes and during
commercials.
EQUALS ONE CONTENTED FINN AND ONE ADORING ETHIOPIAN
WHEN YOU ARE NOT PLAYING TENNIS OR SLEEPING
1. Learn how to wield the remotes (yes, there are more than one)
for maximum viewing pleasure
2.Become engrossed no matter how mundane the show. In fact,
the more ridiculous, the more juvenile, the more just plain 'ol
silly, the better to view.
3. Perfect the art of napping between scenes and during
commercials.
EQUALS ONE CONTENTED FINN AND ONE ADORING ETHIOPIAN
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
He's #1
Blueberry wakes up Twinkletoes, "Get up sister,
it's time to make my birthday cake!"
Waffles has to tire out the dog so he behaves with
a houseful of birthday guests...
Enlist everyone to help prepare the birthday party:
Waffles - ice and decorate the carrot cake
Twinkletoes - bake the cheesecakes(s)
Ms. Plum - make the Ethiopian food
Mr. Silly Pants - general gopher and party purchaser
Songbird - play with Blueberry
Clementine - chop vegetables - lots of them
Math Man (songbird's boyfriend) - assemble decorations
Charm Blueberry with his first balloons, lovingly
and preciously chosen by his Daddy.
Enjoy the party and the gift of a kitchen set - especially
with the kids!
Watch the science guy make his injera look like a burrito.
And have LOADS of fun!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Music Is Being Made and So Is A Birthday Cake!
Tomorrow is going to be a full day. First,Mr. Silly Pants will accompany Twinkletoes in the solo and ensemble competition tomorrow. It's one of his favorite things to do and I know Twinkletoes loves having a accompainist right in the household. They are playing Poulenc - Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. I love watching them prepare their piece; have a look at how engaged Blueberry is in the music - he stands behind his Daddy as he looks from one to the other, sometimes toddling to the keys to add a few notes of his own. Twinkletoes is an amazing musician, and so is Mr. Silly Pants. So, we'll be up and out of the house early early, cheering on our daughter/musician and Blueberry's Daddy.
Then, we'll be heading home for a birthday extravaganza because Blueberry turns 1 on Sunday. We're celebrating on Saturday since Songbird has to return to college on Sunday. We'll have Blueberry Cheesecake, of course. Twinkletoes makes amazing cheesecake, so that's her task. I'm making a carrot cake in the shape of a car - just for fun. Then, I'll send one of the kids downtown to pick up some injera,, and Mr. Silly Pants and I will be preparing an Ethiopian dinner for a houseful. We'll have cake early with some friends. Then, we'll have a family dinner. We have the 6 of us plus 2 boyfriends = 8 for dinner and I hope some of our birthday guests linger a little past cake time to enjoy some Ethiopian food with us.
The following pics are of our playgroup birthday celebration for all of the late winter and early spring birthdays - and yes, the playgroup is filled with awesome Ethiopian children. Playgroup is Blueberry's favorite weekly activity. Mine too! Note the helpers blowing out the #1 birthday cupcake, and Blueberry's FIRST taste of chocolate. A huge shout out to Clare for the delicious cupcakes and the amazing fun and frivolity in her lively home. 
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
