Last week, I compared the lives of Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This week, I tackle their movements seen through the popular films "Long Walk to Freedom" and "Selma" and compare the injustices of both countries. I really loved "Selma" because it was a great depiction of the grassroots movement and all MLK and others did to progress. I liked how "Long Walk to Freedom" wasn't afraid to show the negative sides of influential figures of South Africa at that time. In the US, I can still see the legacy of the civil rights movement in the 60's. I am blessed to live this legacy and I am free to attend an institution with so many different races and learn from them. Though people of color are still experiencing issues of discrimination, I hope that with time and more knowledge on these race issues, things will improve.
It is so shocking that South Africa is still new to this social system of equality. To know that apartheid was abolished the same year I was born puts the timeline in great perspective. I'm grateful that I will be visiting the country this summer and will be able to meet people who lived through that system. I am excited to hear the stories and actually see firsthand the lasting impact of apartheid on their lives psychologically, socially, and economically. This is great because in a way I will get a glimpse of what the US was dealing with 30 years ago, then just reading about it in textbooks.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Week 4: MLK vs. Nelson Mandela
The lives of the influential Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are very comparable in the following ways: They both lived their lives to fight for the civil rights for people of color in their country; they were both incapacitated for their cause to end such injustice (although Mandela served a much, much longer term than MLK); They both believed in a peaceful protest as their key strategy (although, Mandela eventually gave this up towards the , causing his imprisonment). Mandela fate led him to become president of the South African democracy, while I truly believe that MLK could've had the same fate had he not been assassinated.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."-Nelson Mandela
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”-MLK
These quotes stick out to me for two reasons: I am an education major who is interested in uplifting youth from underprivileged backgrounds; and because it expresses how these two men were similar: they know the true value and importance of education.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."-Nelson Mandela
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”-MLK
These quotes stick out to me for two reasons: I am an education major who is interested in uplifting youth from underprivileged backgrounds; and because it expresses how these two men were similar: they know the true value and importance of education.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Week 3: South African History and Demographic
Reading about the population of South Africa, I was surprised to see that blacks were the majority and whites were the minority. Yet, the concerns and well being of the majority were considered inadequate and minor. It makes me question why the system of apartheid lasted as long as it did. Why didn't the group with more people "win" by default or revolt sooner and demolish the system that held them down? My confusion probably stems from my instant comparison of South Africa and the United States because I often tend to think they are similar. It also makes me question the demographics of my own country. Is the black population really the American minority or are we vast in number like our sisters and brothers in South Africa.
The history of South Africa was interesting to learn about. I had no idea that the city we will spend most of our time was considered the "Mother City"due to it being the first South African city of European settlement. The rest of South Africa's history was marked with extreme injustices against people of color, but it is interesting to see how the government will use issues of the past to better the future. One must first make mistakes before they can learn from them and succeed.
The current event that struck out to me the most is the story about the Lagos church victims being repatriated South Africa. It is interesting to me because my ethnicity is Nigerian. This is also intriguing, since in a way I will be like those victims. But to travel to another country alive and come back to my home country dead is very heartbreaking. I pray for the entire continent of Africa and I hope the mourning families gain closure.
With that being said, my question for Mr. Gilmour would be: where do you see South Africa, in terms of race relations and social welfare (employment, education, living, etc), in the next five years?
The history of South Africa was interesting to learn about. I had no idea that the city we will spend most of our time was considered the "Mother City"due to it being the first South African city of European settlement. The rest of South Africa's history was marked with extreme injustices against people of color, but it is interesting to see how the government will use issues of the past to better the future. One must first make mistakes before they can learn from them and succeed.
The current event that struck out to me the most is the story about the Lagos church victims being repatriated South Africa. It is interesting to me because my ethnicity is Nigerian. This is also intriguing, since in a way I will be like those victims. But to travel to another country alive and come back to my home country dead is very heartbreaking. I pray for the entire continent of Africa and I hope the mourning families gain closure.
With that being said, my question for Mr. Gilmour would be: where do you see South Africa, in terms of race relations and social welfare (employment, education, living, etc), in the next five years?
Monday, February 2, 2015
Week 2: “Unpacking the Knapsack of Privilege” and “Who am I” Reactions
I chose to not mention race or ethnicity in my first blog post, because I guess I did not fully understand the prompt. I don't think I discussed any traits. However, if I did, my Nigerian ethnic background is something I would've mentioned because with that description, explains so much of who I am, my morals, my culture, my lifestyle, etc. I consider my race to be amongst the non-dominant group in the country I am from, thus coming with many disadvantages and challenges.
My reaction to “Unpacking the Knapsack of Privilege” was that I agreed with everything the author wrote about white privilege and how it is similar to male privilege. I never realized, however, that white students growing up weren't explicitly taught to be the oppressor; but in some ways it was already known to them based on external societal roles.
“Who am I” relate to dealing with the pressures of matching the dominant culture. I was a victim of skin bleaching back in early high school. But in my case, I wasn't bleaching to become white, I was bleaching because I understood that being of a lighter skin tone put you at an advantage in many aspects of life.
One fact that stood out was "Race is a modern idea: ancient societies did not divide people according to physical differences, but according to religion, status, class, and even language." I found this interesting because I've always known race to be an important ideal and divider that I jus always assumed that that's how it has been since the beginning of time. So it was refreshing to discover that that wasn't the case.
My reaction to “Unpacking the Knapsack of Privilege” was that I agreed with everything the author wrote about white privilege and how it is similar to male privilege. I never realized, however, that white students growing up weren't explicitly taught to be the oppressor; but in some ways it was already known to them based on external societal roles.
“Who am I” relate to dealing with the pressures of matching the dominant culture. I was a victim of skin bleaching back in early high school. But in my case, I wasn't bleaching to become white, I was bleaching because I understood that being of a lighter skin tone put you at an advantage in many aspects of life.
One fact that stood out was "Race is a modern idea: ancient societies did not divide people according to physical differences, but according to religion, status, class, and even language." I found this interesting because I've always known race to be an important ideal and divider that I jus always assumed that that's how it has been since the beginning of time. So it was refreshing to discover that that wasn't the case.
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