Race, Class, Gender Journal Word Count (Excluding

Race, Class, Gender Journal

Word Count (excluding title and works cited page): 1048

Race, Class, and Gender is an anthology of articles that express various interpretation and insights of the relationship between race, class, and gender and how these things shape the lives of people and society. The topics and points-of-view offered in the anthology are vast and interesting. They offer a strong historical and sociological perspective on such issues as prison populations, the working poor, or the life of Muslims in the United States. This journal is my personal reflection after reading this book. How did the reading make me feel? Did any of the readings make me feel uncomfortable? Was there any part of the book that rang true with me? Were any of the articles disturbing, shocking, surprising, or impressive? Finally, an original poem will be included in response to the experience of reading Race, Class, and Gender.

How did the reading make me feel? My initial approach to this book was one of a student. I began reading it somewhat detached and objective, as if I were reading a standard history book. The topic of race, class, and gender interests me but only at a distance. To me, these were things other people had -- the way that a Texan visitor has an adorable accent, but you do not. As an Irish, middle class woman, my own experience of race, class, and gender has been rather uneventful and, perhaps, sheltered from the difficulties that others experience as a result or reaction to their cultural context. However, as I read more I began to see the issues more clearly and I became engaged. I began to see some commonality between the stories whereas each fought to reject some dehumanizing aspect of particular cultures, or sub-cultures to recognize and uphold a more universal and innate human dignity and worth.

Some of the readings did make me feel uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. At times, the readings were uncomfortable in the sense that I wanted to stand-up against the injustice being elucidated, at other times the discomfort stemmed from a belief that the injustice was being over emphasized, magnified, or was presented in a very narrow-minded way. For example, in Gallagher's article "Color-Blind Privilege: The Social and Political Functions of Erasing the Color Line in Post-Race America," puts forth an analysis of the history of color/race discrimination and a current attitude among white populations that race discrimination is a thing of the past. Gallagher suppose that the commercialism of race-related symbols, such as hip-hop music, or baggy pants has contributed to a false sense of race equality. While I see his point, I think the article was long-winded, redundant, and over simplified. Does the existence of race-related poverty undermine the advances that minorities have made in the public eye? Isn't it better today, then it was 40 years ago? Isn't it a good thing that African-American sports figures, for instance, can enjoy their wealth publically? Americans have come a long way since the days when the Brooklyn Dodgers refused to sit next to Jackie Robinson. It makes me sad to think that progress is never enough.

Another, perhaps unintended, aspect of this article that I bothered me was the noted attitude found in the American culture that it is a good thing to give up one's cultural identity. The idea is that sameness means equality. If we wear the same clothes and listen to the same music then we are equal in society. In this, Gallagher made some keen observations. Ultimately, he recognizes the attitude that if cultural symbols are shared, then that becomes a sign of equality and he challenges the reader to think beyond the surface and see what is happening at more basic levels such as housing and education.

One article that I truly enjoyed was "From A Native Daughter" by Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask. Though her experience of family and culture and my own are vastly different, the underline principles and understanding of the meaning of family and culture are believe are universal. The heart of her message is to promote the value and encourage the preservation of culturally rich stories and traditions. This concept rings true with me. As an Irish-American, who lives a radically American lifestyle, I always know that I am Irish first. I know my family history and I find strength in that. My mother taught me how to make a bed and fold a towel. Her mother taught her. These little and seemingly unimportant traditions connect me to my past. I think this is what Dr. Trask was getting at. The way we do things, the songs we sing, the stories we tell connect us to our past and to one another. In this way, her article is vastly different than some of the others.

Dr. Trask's article was also very helpful in that she proposes concrete strategies to implement her ideas. She does not merely complain and put together data to support her theories but she speaks in a way that is organic and comprehensive. She says, "If it is truly our history Western historians desire to know, they must put down their books, and take up our practices: first of course, the language, but later, the people, the aina, the stories, and above all" Trask continues, "the stories." The commercialism that is prevalent in our society, as noted above, hides this kind of deep rooted meaning of race, culture, and gender.