Author: Rodolfo Acuna
Book: OPR
Year: 2004
Summary:
This chapter is about how American occupation affected Mexico and its people. Acuna addressed how Americans don't want to aknowledge that the U.S. has an imperialistic history and how the Southwest was unjustly seized from Mexico. Acuna argues that "...Mexicans in the United States are still a colonized people, but now the colonization is internal - it is occuring within the country rather than being imposed by an external power". (Heldke and O'Connor 2004, pg 90) Mexicans are looked down upon and are treated as the inferior servants of the United States. This theory arises from the fact that many Mexican Americans are the children of immigrants who came to the United States to work as cheap labor. Also, the school system within the colonies were designed to teach Mexican children about Anglo-American history, not Mexican history. Acuna concludes by informing readers that his goal is to not bring tension and seperation among the Mexican and Anglo-Americans, but to bring awarness and understanding to help the Mexican American and immigration community.
My thoughts/reactions:
I liked the author's point of not trying to seperate the two groups through history but unite them by the understanding of history and current events. It's important for all Americans to learn about the history of different groups in the United States and how past actions and events influenced and made up the events and issues of today.
Currently, there is a large amount of ignorance and scape-coating toward the Mexican American and immigrant community. Mexican immigrant workers are portrayed as drug criminals who will leech of the country's resources. The United States government and public are taking extreme actions against immigrant workers by building a wall throughout the border and holding protests. Technically, these protesters and the U.S. government are trying to keep Mexican immigrants off of land that was rightfully theirs.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Foreword and Introduction
Book: Conquest- Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide
Author: Andrea Smith
pages: XV-6
Summary:
Winona LaDuke tells her experience as an Native American woman. She explains how Native women are one of the least valued human beings in the country. She describes a term called, "ethno-stress" which is what most Native American suffer from. She describes it as "you will wake up in the morning, and someone will be trying to steal you land, your legal rights your sister will be in jail, your public school Anglo-dominated school district will be calling about your children's conflicts with teachers or their spotty attention, and your non-profit organization's funding is getting cut by a foundation because you are no longer a priority". (Smith 2005, pg XVII) She raises a really tragic and complex theory of women of color feeling pressured to not report rape or violence against them by colored men, in order to retain a solid face against racism. She informs readers that the book is about how colonialism and patriarchy use sexual violence as a tool against Native American women. The first chapter is how sexual violence deemed some people rapable and how it was able to continue further by sterilization abuse and racism. The second chapter is about events in U.S. and Canadian American Indian Boarding schools. The third chapter is about racism and sexism is a form of sexual violence against Native Americans. Chapter four examines how sexual violence was used as an initiative to stop Native Americans from reproducing. Chapter 5 is about medical experimentation on Native Americans. Chapter 6 is about Native American spirituality's being used as ground for sexual exploitation. Chapter 7 is about how we can end gender violence. Chapter 8 is about how we should end violence by acknowledging the faults of the United States government.
My thoughts/reactions:
This seems like a really good book to read because it examines how sexual violence is used as a tool of oppression. I agree with her point of colored women feeling like they will weaken the racial front if they report violence being commited by colored men. People of color, especially colored males, already have a negative view in the media and public. It seems like the victims have to decide which is more tolerable of the two demeaning, tragic acts: racism or sexual violence. Sexual violence is a horrible, horrible tragedy to happen to anyone, and no government, institution, or human being should take part in it or defend it.
Author: Andrea Smith
pages: XV-6
Summary:
Winona LaDuke tells her experience as an Native American woman. She explains how Native women are one of the least valued human beings in the country. She describes a term called, "ethno-stress" which is what most Native American suffer from. She describes it as "you will wake up in the morning, and someone will be trying to steal you land, your legal rights your sister will be in jail, your public school Anglo-dominated school district will be calling about your children's conflicts with teachers or their spotty attention, and your non-profit organization's funding is getting cut by a foundation because you are no longer a priority". (Smith 2005, pg XVII) She raises a really tragic and complex theory of women of color feeling pressured to not report rape or violence against them by colored men, in order to retain a solid face against racism. She informs readers that the book is about how colonialism and patriarchy use sexual violence as a tool against Native American women. The first chapter is how sexual violence deemed some people rapable and how it was able to continue further by sterilization abuse and racism. The second chapter is about events in U.S. and Canadian American Indian Boarding schools. The third chapter is about racism and sexism is a form of sexual violence against Native Americans. Chapter four examines how sexual violence was used as an initiative to stop Native Americans from reproducing. Chapter 5 is about medical experimentation on Native Americans. Chapter 6 is about Native American spirituality's being used as ground for sexual exploitation. Chapter 7 is about how we can end gender violence. Chapter 8 is about how we should end violence by acknowledging the faults of the United States government.
My thoughts/reactions:
This seems like a really good book to read because it examines how sexual violence is used as a tool of oppression. I agree with her point of colored women feeling like they will weaken the racial front if they report violence being commited by colored men. People of color, especially colored males, already have a negative view in the media and public. It seems like the victims have to decide which is more tolerable of the two demeaning, tragic acts: racism or sexual violence. Sexual violence is a horrible, horrible tragedy to happen to anyone, and no government, institution, or human being should take part in it or defend it.
Miscegenation as Nation-Building: Indian and Immigrant Women in Mexico
Author: Natividad Gutierrez
Book: Unsettling Settler Societies
pages: 161- 188
Summary:
This chapter was about the different races that inhabited Mexico and the land's new social ladder and customs. The arrival of the Europeans and other immigrants marked the rising population of the mestizo, those who are bi-racial. According to the chapter, 90% of the population consisted mestizo, while only 9.8% made up the native population. The mestizo population was made up from the relationships of immigrant men and indigenous women. One's place of birth and race were the factors that comprised the social ladder. Those born in Spain were called 'peninsulares' while those who were Spanish American were called 'creoles'. The peninsulares held the highest positions in both political and religious offices, while the creoles held the intermediate and lower offices. The mestizo class comprised of a mix of European, African, Chinese, and Japanese men with indigenous women. Some aristocratic Indian women had marriages with the "conquistadors" or European land owners. Those who were a mixture of African and native descent were called mulatto. However, the chapter reports that the population grew by the addition of rape of the indigenous women.
Social status even determined the type of clothing and jewelery that a woman wore; fine clothes and jewels were only worn by Spanish women to display their high status. Origns of birth also determined the type of religous education and vows that a woman could take. Women from Spain and creoles had the opportunity to take religous vows and attend special religous institions while mestizo or noble Indian women attended seperate religous institions. The rest of the women recieved minimal religous education or opportunities. Suprisingly, at one point women of all social statuses joined togeather at one point to proest the Diaz administration. They made attained a political voice and took action: "For the first time, women also found anit-establishment newspapers and journals in order to make a political contribution to rebuilding the nation. They also contributed to the debate concerning the protection and defense of the country....". (USS 1995, pg 170)
My thoughts/reactions:
I enjoyed reading about the different statuses of women and how they affected the customs and traditions of Mexico. The chapter claimed that Spanish women were the ones to sustain Spanish customs, religion, and status in the new land. That part of the chapter reminded me of Professor Margo's comment of women being used as tools to revitialize a nation's ideals and prominent race. I thought the part of the women uniting against the Diaz administration was an amazing accomplishment for them because they were able to cross race and class lines.
It seems like Mexico had a really long social ladder comprising of the different races and birth statuses. I was suprised to find that 90% of the population was mestizo. Reading this part gave me the notion that Mexico was sort of like the United States where there was a large population of immigrants. This makes me wonder if there was a lot of racial tension between the different immigrant groups.
Book: Unsettling Settler Societies
pages: 161- 188
Summary:
This chapter was about the different races that inhabited Mexico and the land's new social ladder and customs. The arrival of the Europeans and other immigrants marked the rising population of the mestizo, those who are bi-racial. According to the chapter, 90% of the population consisted mestizo, while only 9.8% made up the native population. The mestizo population was made up from the relationships of immigrant men and indigenous women. One's place of birth and race were the factors that comprised the social ladder. Those born in Spain were called 'peninsulares' while those who were Spanish American were called 'creoles'. The peninsulares held the highest positions in both political and religious offices, while the creoles held the intermediate and lower offices. The mestizo class comprised of a mix of European, African, Chinese, and Japanese men with indigenous women. Some aristocratic Indian women had marriages with the "conquistadors" or European land owners. Those who were a mixture of African and native descent were called mulatto. However, the chapter reports that the population grew by the addition of rape of the indigenous women.
Social status even determined the type of clothing and jewelery that a woman wore; fine clothes and jewels were only worn by Spanish women to display their high status. Origns of birth also determined the type of religous education and vows that a woman could take. Women from Spain and creoles had the opportunity to take religous vows and attend special religous institions while mestizo or noble Indian women attended seperate religous institions. The rest of the women recieved minimal religous education or opportunities. Suprisingly, at one point women of all social statuses joined togeather at one point to proest the Diaz administration. They made attained a political voice and took action: "For the first time, women also found anit-establishment newspapers and journals in order to make a political contribution to rebuilding the nation. They also contributed to the debate concerning the protection and defense of the country....". (USS 1995, pg 170)
My thoughts/reactions:
I enjoyed reading about the different statuses of women and how they affected the customs and traditions of Mexico. The chapter claimed that Spanish women were the ones to sustain Spanish customs, religion, and status in the new land. That part of the chapter reminded me of Professor Margo's comment of women being used as tools to revitialize a nation's ideals and prominent race. I thought the part of the women uniting against the Diaz administration was an amazing accomplishment for them because they were able to cross race and class lines.
It seems like Mexico had a really long social ladder comprising of the different races and birth statuses. I was suprised to find that 90% of the population was mestizo. Reading this part gave me the notion that Mexico was sort of like the United States where there was a large population of immigrants. This makes me wonder if there was a lot of racial tension between the different immigrant groups.
Gendering, Racializing, and Classifying: Settler Colonization in the United States
Author: Dolores Janiewski
Book: Unsettling Settler Socities
pages: 132-160
Summary:
This chapter foretells the history of the people different that lived in the United States. According to Janiewski: " Contained within its historical evolution are the three kinds of settler colonies identified by scholars: mixed settlement, plantation, and pure settlement". (USS 1995, pg 132) The chapter reviewed how class, race, gender, and citizenship affected how people were treated and perceived in the shared country.
Native Americans had their own customs and class system before the arrival of the Europeans. Women were the main the producers and controller of agriculture goods. They also shared equal status as men by being able to make decisions, taking on leadership roles, and some women even fought in wars. The arrival of the Europeans marked a period of constant war and deaths by diseases according to the chapter "Wars such as the Pequot War in 1637, Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 which originated in settler conflict with the Susquehannahs, Doegs and Piscasttaways and Metacom's War in 1675-76 'demonstrated that some of the coastal tribes were prepared to risk extinction rather than become a colonized and culturally imperialized people' as well as that they 'were doomed whether they chose war or peace' (Nash, 1974: 127, 135; Morgan, 1975:250-1)" (USS 1995, pg 136) Many Europeans wanted the Native Americans to assimilate into western society.
The chapter then explains the Mexican American experience in the United States. According to the chapter "the Spanish Colonizers thus established the first racially and class-stratified societies within the boundaries of what would become the United States". (USS 1995, pg 137) Spanish settlers were on top of the hierarchical ladder, then it was Native American women married to Spanish settlers, the African Americans slaves, then Native Americans. The intermingling of Native and the Europeans caused a relapse in women's rights and influence. Before European influence, women were allowed to own property and marriage was known to be a union between two families instead of a "single patriarchal household". (USS 1995, pg 137) In 1871 Congress decided that the government did not have to withhold past treaties or negotiate with the Native Americans because they were no longer considered to be independent nations.
The African American experience went through close examination. African slaves were brought in from Africa as the main form of labour for southern colonies. In the north, "slaves retained the right to own property , bequeath and inherit legacies, and work for their own benefit during their free time". (USS 1995, pg 138) Relationships between African American men and European women were illegal however, relationships between European men and African women were tolerated.
My thoughts/reactions:
This chapter presented a lot of good points of how gender, class, and race determined how people were treated socially and politically. The information about marriage laws was especially enlightening because it illustrated the ideals and customs of the society. Especially the part of European women and African men can't have a relationship but European men and African women can. Even though inter-racial marriage is no longer outlawed today, society is still trying to accept gay marriage.
Book: Unsettling Settler Socities
pages: 132-160
Summary:
This chapter foretells the history of the people different that lived in the United States. According to Janiewski: " Contained within its historical evolution are the three kinds of settler colonies identified by scholars: mixed settlement, plantation, and pure settlement". (USS 1995, pg 132) The chapter reviewed how class, race, gender, and citizenship affected how people were treated and perceived in the shared country.
Native Americans had their own customs and class system before the arrival of the Europeans. Women were the main the producers and controller of agriculture goods. They also shared equal status as men by being able to make decisions, taking on leadership roles, and some women even fought in wars. The arrival of the Europeans marked a period of constant war and deaths by diseases according to the chapter "Wars such as the Pequot War in 1637, Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 which originated in settler conflict with the Susquehannahs, Doegs and Piscasttaways and Metacom's War in 1675-76 'demonstrated that some of the coastal tribes were prepared to risk extinction rather than become a colonized and culturally imperialized people' as well as that they 'were doomed whether they chose war or peace' (Nash, 1974: 127, 135; Morgan, 1975:250-1)" (USS 1995, pg 136) Many Europeans wanted the Native Americans to assimilate into western society.
The chapter then explains the Mexican American experience in the United States. According to the chapter "the Spanish Colonizers thus established the first racially and class-stratified societies within the boundaries of what would become the United States". (USS 1995, pg 137) Spanish settlers were on top of the hierarchical ladder, then it was Native American women married to Spanish settlers, the African Americans slaves, then Native Americans. The intermingling of Native and the Europeans caused a relapse in women's rights and influence. Before European influence, women were allowed to own property and marriage was known to be a union between two families instead of a "single patriarchal household". (USS 1995, pg 137) In 1871 Congress decided that the government did not have to withhold past treaties or negotiate with the Native Americans because they were no longer considered to be independent nations.
The African American experience went through close examination. African slaves were brought in from Africa as the main form of labour for southern colonies. In the north, "slaves retained the right to own property , bequeath and inherit legacies, and work for their own benefit during their free time". (USS 1995, pg 138) Relationships between African American men and European women were illegal however, relationships between European men and African women were tolerated.
My thoughts/reactions:
This chapter presented a lot of good points of how gender, class, and race determined how people were treated socially and politically. The information about marriage laws was especially enlightening because it illustrated the ideals and customs of the society. Especially the part of European women and African men can't have a relationship but European men and African women can. Even though inter-racial marriage is no longer outlawed today, society is still trying to accept gay marriage.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Abstract: How the Media Covers School Shootings
School shootings are horrible atrocities that make the country stand still. We, as a society, question the cruel fate of events that occurred in places that are supposed to be safe. We especially question the student who committed the crime. The media and experts look at a dozen different factors that could attribute to such extreme acts: did the student have mental problems, past traumatic history, history of violence, etc. However, what happens when the media and the public take factors such as the person’s gender or race into consideration? When these sort of events happen, there country could feel alot of remorse, but also strong backlash.I will be examining the media coverage and following events of two school shootings: Columbine High School and Virginia Tech.
The perpetrators of the school shootings are mostly males. Jackson Katz has a theory that masculinity is a major factor in school shootings (http://www.ibrattleboro.com/article.php/20080416100143489). Boys feel like they have to prove themselves in order to be real men. Katz has a point that if it is the environment that these boys live in that causes them to lash out, then there should be more school shooters who are women. In many cases, teen shooters have a history of being teased or left out of the group. This must make some boys feel vulnerbale, powerless, and desperate.
How the media and public covers the perpetrator's personal story reflects society's standards. When the Columbine shooting occured, no one took the boys' race or ethnicity into account. When you type their names into internet social network groups like facebook, you get a page that honors their memory and expresses sympathy for them. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2334223570) This is not the case for the Virginia Tech shooting, in many of the media clips, there was a highlight that the perpetrator was an Korean immigrant. When you type in his name on facebook, you get a page with groups that are expressesing hate and even intolerance. (http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=seung%20cho&n=-1&k=200000010&s=10&hash=d046a3d903ce8b5905b100a7aa3ce638)
The perpetrators of the school shootings are mostly males. Jackson Katz has a theory that masculinity is a major factor in school shootings (http://www.ibrattleboro.com/article.php/20080416100143489). Boys feel like they have to prove themselves in order to be real men. Katz has a point that if it is the environment that these boys live in that causes them to lash out, then there should be more school shooters who are women. In many cases, teen shooters have a history of being teased or left out of the group. This must make some boys feel vulnerbale, powerless, and desperate.
How the media and public covers the perpetrator's personal story reflects society's standards. When the Columbine shooting occured, no one took the boys' race or ethnicity into account. When you type their names into internet social network groups like facebook, you get a page that honors their memory and expresses sympathy for them. (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2334223570) This is not the case for the Virginia Tech shooting, in many of the media clips, there was a highlight that the perpetrator was an Korean immigrant. When you type in his name on facebook, you get a page with groups that are expressesing hate and even intolerance. (http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=seung%20cho&n=-1&k=200000010&s=10&hash=d046a3d903ce8b5905b100a7aa3ce638)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The Fractious Politics of a Settler Society: Canada
Book Title: Unsettling Settler Societies
Authors: Daiva Stasiulis and Nira Yuval- Davis
Pages 95- 129
SUMMARY:
I believe the author wants to relay the lost history of Canada and uncover that that Native Americans were an advanced society.
WHY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF OPPRESSION, POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND RESISTANCE?HOW DO YOU POSITION TO THIS ARTICLE?
Through the pages you see the stripping of women's influence and power. In Native American custom, family orgins was traced through the female line however, that changed with European influence as family orgins were traced through the male line. I thought it was also interesting to read that the Metis class hid their Native American ancestry. To me, this tells me taht they were either ashamed or saw that it was more beneificial to claim that they were European.
ARE THERE THREAD OF THIS PIECE THAT 'SPEAK' IN FAMILIAR WAYS TO ISSUES, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES IN YOUR OWN LIFE? EXPLAIN.HOW ARE THERE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUPS/ INDIVIDUALS UNDER DISCUSSION AND OTHER MINORITIZED/ OPPRESSED?
I hear from friends that they feel like there is a gap between those who are bi-racial and those who are full. Some people who are mixed race feel like they are seperated from their ethnic community. I know some people who are bi-racial that identify with only one side of their ethnicity.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE? WHY? WHY NOT?
I agree with the main arguments made because it offers a different side of history that students don't learn about.
Authors: Daiva Stasiulis and Nira Yuval- Davis
Pages 95- 129
SUMMARY:
This chapter relayed information of the lifestyle and mingling of the people who lived in Canada. Aboriginal people of Canada had their own class system which was less patriotical than the European class system. In fact women were able to own land, control and produce resources, and have power over their family. In fact, their goods were vital trade items. Lineage was traced through the female line and some women were allowed to be chieftains.
British settlers arrived to Canada hoping to search for raw materials to send home to their mother country to become wealthy. With them they took "British ideas, goods, fashions, institutions, and cultural and economic practices". (USS 1995, pg 97) In order to survive in a new land and attain raw materials like fur, these newcomers had to depend on and collaborate with the Aborginal people. Their arrival was detrimental to the Native peoples, they were not immune to the various diseases that the Europeans brought with them. This caused a serious decline in their population. The women helped out the Europeans by teaching them how to preserve their food, produce shoes and canoes, interpret and teach languages, and providing guaidance of the land. The chapter reports that there was marriages between Native women and European men to attain economic ground and ".... to secure influence for traders through Aborginal kinship networks, and to provide Natives with access to posts and provisions". (USS 1995, pg 103) The union produced a population called Metis, which created a new social class amongst the Aboriginal peoples. Curiously, the Metis people considered themselves as a "New Nation" and usually their Indian ancestry was kept quite. The chapter goes on to describe the arrival of European women and how they were used to sustain European purity and custumes. From here the land and culture of the Aboriginal peoples is stripped more and more.
I believe the author wants to relay the lost history of Canada and uncover that that Native Americans were an advanced society.
WHY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF OPPRESSION, POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND RESISTANCE?HOW DO YOU POSITION TO THIS ARTICLE?
Through the pages you see the stripping of women's influence and power. In Native American custom, family orgins was traced through the female line however, that changed with European influence as family orgins were traced through the male line. I thought it was also interesting to read that the Metis class hid their Native American ancestry. To me, this tells me taht they were either ashamed or saw that it was more beneificial to claim that they were European.
ARE THERE THREAD OF THIS PIECE THAT 'SPEAK' IN FAMILIAR WAYS TO ISSUES, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES IN YOUR OWN LIFE? EXPLAIN.HOW ARE THERE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUPS/ INDIVIDUALS UNDER DISCUSSION AND OTHER MINORITIZED/ OPPRESSED?
I hear from friends that they feel like there is a gap between those who are bi-racial and those who are full. Some people who are mixed race feel like they are seperated from their ethnic community. I know some people who are bi-racial that identify with only one side of their ethnicity.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE? WHY? WHY NOT?
I agree with the main arguments made because it offers a different side of history that students don't learn about.
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