Comments for Addicted to Race - beyond diversity buzzwords http://www.addictedtorace.com Fri, 28 May 2010 12:18:48 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Thank you and goodbye from Carmen Van Kerckhove by Agnese http://www.addictedtorace.com/2010/05/21/thank-you-and-goodbye-from-carmen-van-kerckhove/comment-page-1/#comment-361968 Agnese Fri, 28 May 2010 12:18:48 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=268#comment-361968 Hello, I enjoyed the podcasts, thanks for doing them and making them informative and smart and fun! Good luck with your new project - stay passionate! With the kindest of regards - Agnese Hello,
I enjoyed the podcasts, thanks for doing them and making them informative and smart and fun!
Good luck with your new project – stay passionate!
With the kindest of regards –
Agnese

]]> Comment on Thank you and goodbye from Carmen Van Kerckhove by Allison http://www.addictedtorace.com/2010/05/21/thank-you-and-goodbye-from-carmen-van-kerckhove/comment-page-1/#comment-361617 Allison Tue, 25 May 2010 23:34:08 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=268#comment-361617 Carmen, Thanks for feeding my mind. I've really enjoyed your posts and the teleseminar series last year. Take care. AP Carmen,
Thanks for feeding my mind. I’ve really enjoyed your posts and the teleseminar series last year.

Take care. AP

]]> Comment on Thank you and goodbye from Carmen Van Kerckhove by Peter http://www.addictedtorace.com/2010/05/21/thank-you-and-goodbye-from-carmen-van-kerckhove/comment-page-1/#comment-361444 Peter Mon, 24 May 2010 08:18:22 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=268#comment-361444 Carmen, thank you for what you have shared with us on your blog, and best of luck with the karate school - a hands-on way of epowering people! Peter, Sweden (adoptive dad of two beautiful daughters from Oromia, Ethiopia) Carmen, thank you for what you have shared with us on your blog, and best of luck with the karate school – a hands-on way of epowering people!

Peter, Sweden (adoptive dad of two beautiful daughters from Oromia, Ethiopia)

]]> Comment on Taking a hiatus by John http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/12/09/taking-a-hiatus/comment-page-1/#comment-353894 John Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:11:11 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=266#comment-353894 This is a really loooooooooong hiatus. How much longer? This is a really loooooooooong hiatus. How much longer?

]]> Comment on ATR 124 – Anti-Asian bias, Top Model colorface, large black women, hair hatred by Kim http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/11/02/atr-124-anti-asian-bias-top-model-colorface-large-black-women-hair-hatred/comment-page-1/#comment-352604 Kim Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:34:10 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=253#comment-352604 With regard to issues of identity, we've been discussing normative race privilege of whites in the U.S. in my intercultural communication course. A comment, I believe made by Tami, in the podcast regarding the perceived anti-Asian bias of affirmative action policies in the college admissions process stood out to me. If I understood correctly, she mentioned that opposition based on the PERCEPTION that whites and Asians are not getting accepted to elite academic institutions might reflect "people not wanting to let go of their own privileges." This made me wonder if affirmative action has created an expectation of "minority privilege" that Asian Americans, who are opposed to affirmative action, may have developed, leaving them with a sense that they are not getting their fair share. Does this mean that a sense of entitlement is not necessarily unique to normative groups? With regard to issues of identity, we’ve been discussing normative race privilege of whites in the U.S. in my intercultural communication course. A comment, I believe made by Tami, in the podcast regarding the perceived anti-Asian bias of affirmative action policies in the college admissions process stood out to me.

If I understood correctly, she mentioned that opposition based on the PERCEPTION that whites and Asians are not getting accepted to elite academic institutions might reflect “people not wanting to let go of their own privileges.” This made me wonder if affirmative action has created an expectation of “minority privilege” that Asian Americans, who are opposed to affirmative action, may have developed, leaving them with a sense that they are not getting their fair share.

Does this mean that a sense of entitlement is not necessarily unique to normative groups?

]]> Comment on ATR 123 – Latino in America, Halloween, Chinese adoptees, racist kid by Thomisa http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/10/26/atr-123-latino-in-america-halloween-chinese-adoptees-racist-kid/comment-page-1/#comment-352595 Thomisa Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:27:31 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=252#comment-352595 The “Addicted to Race” segment of episode 123 about "homeland tours” really spoke to me. When listening to this segment, I was reminded of my sister, Anna. Anna was given up for adoption by her birth mother without my dad’s knowledge. I did not meet Anna until she was 21 years old when she contacted my dad. My family reluctantly entered into a relationship with Anna. This relationship became somewhat strained when my dad requested she take a DNA test to prove she was his daughter. The DNA test confirmed their relation and she has been an important part of my life ever since. I have often wondered what my life would have been like if Anna had not been adopted. I think it is hard not to imagine what could have been in these sorts of situations. Fortunately, Anna’s adoptive parents are wonderful people who provided her with an excellent childhood. This segment focused on the purpose of these visits. Were these “homeland tours” designed as a Public Relations stunt to create better images for these countries? Or, were these countries genuinely hoping to provide these women with valuable insight into their heritage? I have to admit I am not overly concerned with the purpose of these visits. I do feel these countries own these women an apology for essentially discarding them. Tami made an interesting point in stating these countries are welcoming these women to return because they are now equipped with Western resources that can benefit their countries. Regardless of the intent of these countries in creating “homeland tours,” I encourage these women to take advantage of these visits. As Judith N. Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama (2010) asserted in Intercultural Contexts in Communication, “Ethnic identity involves a shared source of origin and history… Having an ethnic identity means experiencing a sense of belonging to a particular group and knowing something about the shared experience of group members” (p. 185). In considering my own experience with adoption and this discussion of ethnic identities, I believe these “homeland tours” could provide these women with the opportunity to develop and nurture their ethnic identities. The “Addicted to Race” segment of episode 123 about “homeland tours” really spoke to me. When listening to this segment, I was reminded of my sister, Anna. Anna was given up for adoption by her birth mother without my dad’s knowledge. I did not meet Anna until she was 21 years old when she contacted my dad. My family reluctantly entered into a relationship with Anna. This relationship became somewhat strained when my dad requested she take a DNA test to prove she was his daughter. The DNA test confirmed their relation and she has been an important part of my life ever since.
I have often wondered what my life would have been like if Anna had not been adopted. I think it is hard not to imagine what could have been in these sorts of situations. Fortunately, Anna’s adoptive parents are wonderful people who provided her with an excellent childhood.
This segment focused on the purpose of these visits. Were these “homeland tours” designed as a Public Relations stunt to create better images for these countries? Or, were these countries genuinely hoping to provide these women with valuable insight into their heritage?
I have to admit I am not overly concerned with the purpose of these visits. I do feel these countries own these women an apology for essentially discarding them. Tami made an interesting point in stating these countries are welcoming these women to return because they are now equipped with Western resources that can benefit their countries.
Regardless of the intent of these countries in creating “homeland tours,” I encourage these women to take advantage of these visits. As Judith N. Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama (2010) asserted in Intercultural Contexts in Communication, “Ethnic identity involves a shared source of origin and history… Having an ethnic identity means experiencing a sense of belonging to a particular group and knowing something about the shared experience of group members” (p. 185). In considering my own experience with adoption and this discussion of ethnic identities, I believe these “homeland tours” could provide these women with the opportunity to develop and nurture their ethnic identities.

]]> Comment on ATR 124 – Anti-Asian bias, Top Model colorface, large black women, hair hatred by Cynthia Brewer http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/11/02/atr-124-anti-asian-bias-top-model-colorface-large-black-women-hair-hatred/comment-page-1/#comment-352553 Cynthia Brewer Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:43:03 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=253#comment-352553 In listening to the recording of “Addicted to Race” I think a good point was made that because of our privilege, White and Asian students have an opportunity to go to many schools that it is not the end of their educational career if they are not admitted due to affirmative action. We do have the option of many educational opportunities. I think there is definitely some truth to that. I do believe that as a white student, I do not face description in the educational arena. White and Asian students are not underrepresented in our colleges. I think the real issue is in primary education however. If people of color are given the same educational advantages when they are growing up, the higher education issue becomes nonexistent. The schools in lower economic areas vs. privilege economic areas are definitely segmented according to race and quality of schools and teachers. As a society, we are ignoring the real issue. Standards testing where state funds are distributed by the test results of the students in the public schools continue to exasperate the problem. If a student body is already disadvantaged, they will suffer even more under this system. The allocation of funds will be much less, thus a continuation of lower quality education. Allocation of funds by percent of property tax has the same problem of providing a larger amount of funds to schools in good, predominately white neighborhood. The areas that have more latch key kids due to both parents in the labor force or single parent households should have more community programs and after school tutoring, etc. to promote advancement. I think we are not adequately addressing the true sociological issue by providing affirmative action at the university level rather than looking at the grade and high school level of education. Our book speaks of “normative” (text pp 189) identity as the bar to measure all our identities to in America. Whether someone is seeking social acceptance in business, education, hair, or social matters we have cultural norms that help us attain acceptance. These norms in general are white. Speech, fashion, etc. of white culture are held as the standard. I think that there is some minor loosening of these standards, but they are still fairly rigid. Our American society has expectations of a “desirable” look. This applies to whether you are considering weight, skin color, fashion, and hair styles. The more you deviate from what our society views as desirable the less desirable that look is seen to be. For instance, if you are white you can get away with having messy hair more and have to field less social pressure than if you are of color. We see outward sign of religion in the same light. (text pp 192) It is an acceptable norm to wear a cross but not to wear articles of religious clothing if you are Jewish or Sikh for example. We perpetuate a culture of submitting to the white culture norms. What are some of the other ways does society dictate beauty standard? In listening to the recording of “Addicted to Race” I think a good point was made that because of our privilege, White and Asian students have an opportunity to go to many schools that it is not the end of their educational career if they are not admitted due to affirmative action. We do have the option of many educational opportunities. I think there is definitely some truth to that. I do believe that as a white student, I do not face description in the educational arena. White and Asian students are not underrepresented in our colleges. I think the real issue is in primary education however. If people of color are given the same educational advantages when they are growing up, the higher education issue becomes nonexistent. The schools in lower economic areas vs. privilege economic areas are definitely segmented according to race and quality of schools and teachers. As a society, we are ignoring the real issue. Standards testing where state funds are distributed by the test results of the students in the public schools continue to exasperate the problem. If a student body is already disadvantaged, they will suffer even more under this system. The allocation of funds will be much less, thus a continuation of lower quality education. Allocation of funds by percent of property tax has the same problem of providing a larger amount of funds to schools in good, predominately white neighborhood. The areas that have more latch key kids due to both parents in the labor force or single parent households should have more community programs and after school tutoring, etc. to promote advancement. I think we are not adequately addressing the true sociological issue by providing affirmative action at the university level rather than looking at the grade and high school level of education.
Our book speaks of “normative” (text pp 189) identity as the bar to measure all our identities to in America. Whether someone is seeking social acceptance in business, education, hair, or social matters we have cultural norms that help us attain acceptance. These norms in general are white. Speech, fashion, etc. of white culture are held as the standard. I think that there is some minor loosening of these standards, but they are still fairly rigid. Our American society has expectations of a “desirable” look. This applies to whether you are considering weight, skin color, fashion, and hair styles. The more you deviate from what our society views as desirable the less desirable that look is seen to be. For instance, if you are white you can get away with having messy hair more and have to field less social pressure than if you are of color. We see outward sign of religion in the same light. (text pp 192) It is an acceptable norm to wear a cross but not to wear articles of religious clothing if you are Jewish or Sikh for example. We perpetuate a culture of submitting to the white culture norms. What are some of the other ways does society dictate beauty standard?

]]> Comment on ATR 125 – oppression olympics, capitalism, Morehouse by Keith http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/11/09/atr-125-oppression-olympics-capitalism-morehouse/comment-page-1/#comment-341634 Keith Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:15:51 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=254#comment-341634 yup. yup.

]]> Comment on ATR 125 – oppression olympics, capitalism, Morehouse by Keith http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/11/09/atr-125-oppression-olympics-capitalism-morehouse/comment-page-1/#comment-341377 Keith Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:51:14 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=254#comment-341377 Seems they are taking a break. Seems they are taking a break.

]]> Comment on Taking a hiatus by karen http://www.addictedtorace.com/2009/12/09/taking-a-hiatus/comment-page-1/#comment-339247 karen Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:38:26 +0000 http://www.addictedtorace.com/?p=266#comment-339247 Thanks for this update!!! I've been checking and checking and wondering when the next episode will be up and running. Thanks for this update!!! I’ve been checking and checking and wondering when the next episode will be up and running.

]]>