#this post is specifically addressed to white americans but the sentiment applies to white progressives from elsewhere

[retourpresdetoi]

white yaoi website I know but. white progressives on here tend to treat BIPOC experiences and oppression as hypothetical, or as divorced talking points. and i don't know how to explain to y'all that this is real shit real people go through every day, not "what if" scenarios you can use to bolster your smug internet thesis.

government action oppressing black and brown people isn't new. it isn't some distant evil that we need to prevent, it is here NOW! BIPOC in the states suffered under the first trump term, suffer currently under biden, and will continue to suffer no matter which fascist is elected. the global south will continue to be pillaged. congolese are dying in mines right now. sudanese are being killed right now. people are cooking alive in India and Mexico alike, right now. palestinians are being bombed. right. now. now now now.

i am asking you to consider this deeply when you tell people to vote for a party that continues to not care if BIPOC live or die. a party that kills people who look like us, our families, across the world. i am asking you to consider this deeply when you, yourself, vote. do you vote with BIPOC in mind, or are you only voting to preserve your white comforts? what do our lived experiences mean to you? what do our lives mean to you? and i want you to ask yourself what you, personally, are doing to continue to fight against the american fascist machine. voting cannot be enough. politicians will not save us. they will not save you.

yes, vote. vote in your local elections. vote for your school board and your council members and your representatives. research nearby mutual aid networks. offer support and understanding and fucking acknowledgement to the black and brown people in your communities. care about BIPOC experiences- our pain, our joy, our art and our love and our lives. care about what we have to say. care about us. please.

[studentofrhetoric-blog]

Part 1, Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

International News:

--- "Satellite imagery of North Korea's main nuclear test site taken over the weekend indicates that Pyongyang could be in the final stages of preparations for a sixth nuclear test, a U.S. think tank reported on Tuesday. Washington-based 38 North, a website that monitors North Korea, said the images from Saturday showed the continued presence of vehicles and trailers at the Punggye-ri test site and signs that communications cables may have been laid to a test tunnel. Water was also being pumped out and was draining downhill "presumably to keep the tunnel dry for monitoring or communications equipment," it said. "The combination of these factors strongly suggests that test preparations are well under way, including the installation of instrumentation. The imagery, however, does not provide any definitive evidence of either a nuclear device or the timing of a test." A lack of activity elsewhere at the site "may mean that test preparations are in their final stages," the report said, although it added: "Since North Korea knows the world is watching and is capable of deception, caution should be used before declaring that a nuclear test is imminent.""

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-nuclear-report-idUSKBN16Z274?il=0

--- "The Scottish parliament on Tuesday backed a bid to hold a new independence referendum in 2018 or 2019, but the British government immediately rejected the proposal. The stand-off further complicates the United Kingdom's political situation just as years of daunting negotiations on the terms of its exit from the European Union are about to begin...The Scottish legislature in Edinburgh voted by a majority of 69 to 59 to give First Minister Nicola Sturgeon a mandate to formally seek permission from the British parliament in London to prepare for a referendum in late 2018 or early 2019."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-scotland-idUSKBN16Z2AD?il=0

Domestic & International News:

--- "United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has appointed former South Carolina Governor David Beasley to run the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP), at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed slashing funding for the world body and its agencies. Beasley will replace another American, Ertharin Cousin, who has been the WFP executive director since 2012. Washington was the top contributor to WFP in 2016 with $2 billion, a third of the agency's budget."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-un-idUSKBN16Z2O8?il=0

--- "Ash Carter, who until January was U.S. defense secretary, said on Tuesday he did not see major changes in the campaign against Islamic State since President Donald Trump took office, amid accusations the U.S. military may be relaxing rules protecting civilians. "I don't see overall major changes and I certainly hope they stay on the path that we set because I think that's the right path," Carter said at a forum at Harvard University, in his first public address since leaving the post. Carter declined to speculate about the investigation into an explosion in Mosul believed to have killed scores of civilians, even as he stressed the importance of probes of such incidents. The U.S. military has acknowledged a possible role in the incident but also says Islamic State could be to blame."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-carter-idUSKBN16Z31L?il=0

--- "The U.S. Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly backed the expansion of NATO to allow Montenegro to join the alliance, hoping to send a message that the United States will push back against Russian efforts to increase its influence in Europe. The long-delayed vote was 97-2 in favor of Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. That was well above the two-thirds majority needed in the 100-member Senate to ratify Montenegro's membership. There was no immediate confirmation of whether President Donald Trump would formally deposit the instrument of ratification, the last step in the U.S. ratification process."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nato-montenegro-idUSKBN16Z2UG?il=0

Domestic News:

--- "A Republican-controlled committee of lawmakers approved a bill on Tuesday to allow a congressional audit of Federal Reserve monetary policy, a proposal Fed policymakers have opposed and which faces an uncertain path to final approval. Democrats uniformly spoke against the proposal during a meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, suggesting the bill would face stronger resistance than in the past. "We should not in any way hinder their independence," said Representative Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat, echoing the sentiment of Fed policymakers who say they could come under political pressure to avoid making unpopular decisions such as raising interest rates to slow growth and control inflation. The next step for the bill would be a floor vote by the entire House, where Republicans hold a solid majority. Republican President Donald Trump expressed support for audits of the U.S. central bank during his election campaign, but it remained unclear whether the White House would back the proposal."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed-congress-idUSKBN16Z2GJ?il=0

--- "U.S. President Donald Trump told a group of senators on Tuesday that he expected lawmakers would be able to reach a deal on healthcare, without offering specifics on how they would do it or what had changed since a healthcare reform bill was pulled last week for insufficient support. "I have no doubt that that's going to happen very quickly," Trump said at a bipartisan reception held for senators and their spouses at the White House."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-obamacare-idUSKBN16Z34Z?il=0

--- "Leaders of the largest police union in the United States have warned President Donald Trump that he could endanger public safety if he follows through with cuts in federal grants to immigrant "sanctuary cities," the union's director told Reuters after a White House meeting. In a move that concerned the Fraternal Order of Police, one of Trump's biggest supporters in the 2016 election campaign, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Monday that the Justice Department would restrict grants to jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities...The Justice Department plans to restrict sanctuary cities from using grants from the department's Office of Justice Programs and Community Oriented Policing Services, both of which send grant money to local and state police departments. Pasco said the union does not support the policies of sanctuary cities, but its executives are concerned that cuts in funding could hurt police departments in those areas. Trump told the group that the policy on sanctuary cities was a work in progress and that he would work with the union to make sure public safety would not be affected, Pasco said."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-sanctuary-police-idUSKBN16Z34D?il=0

--- "Officials from so-called sanctuary cities met in New York on Tuesday to discuss their response to threats from the Trump administration to cut off some funding to cities and states that fail to assist federal authorities in arresting illegal immigrants...Tuesday's meeting in New York marked the second straight day of brainstorming on the immigration issue by leaders of some of America's biggest urban centers. Public officials, liberal activists and academics from around the country shared information on a host of issues. Topics discussed included when and how to challenge requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold illegal immigrants under arrest, for separate local offenses. Attendees came from California, Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Washington State and elsewhere."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-sanctuary-idUSKBN16Z2M4?il=0

--- "The Kansas Senate gave final approval on Tuesday to a bill expanding eligibility for Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) even though the measure faces a likely veto by Republican Governor Sam Brownback. The 25-14 Senate vote followed the House's 81-44 passage of the bill last month, with the vote totals falling short of veto-proof margins in both Republican-controlled chambers."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kansas-medicaid-idUSKBN170019?il=0

--- "The U.S. House voted on Tuesday 215-205 to repeal regulations requiring internet service providers to do more to protect customers' privacy than websites like Alphabet Inc's Google or Facebook Inc. The White House said earlier Tuesday that President Donald Trump strongly supports the repeal of the rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission in October under then-President Barack Obama. Under the rules, internet providers would need to obtain consumer consent before using precise geolocation, financial information, health information, children's information and web browsing history for advertising and marketing. Last week, the Senate voted 50-48 to reverse the rules in a win for AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc. The White House in its statement said internet providers would need to obtain affirmative "opt-in" consent from consumers to use and share certain information, but noted that websites are not required to get the same consent. "This results in rules that apply very different regulatory regimes based on the identity of the online actor," the White House said."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet-idUSKBN16Z2JI?il=0

--- "For years the national political organizations of both Democratic and Republican state attorneys general observed an agreement not to target the other party's incumbent office-holders in elections. That hands-off stance ended this month when Republican AGs voted to abandon the agreement and spend money to help unseat Democrats in other states, according to the Republican Attorneys General Association. The decision has not been previously reported. The move comes as Democratic attorneys general in states across the country have assumed lead roles in opposing some of Republican President Donald Trump's policies. State AGs in Washington and Hawaii successfully sued to block Trump's executive orders restricting travel from some Muslim-majority countries, and California's attorney general has pledged to defend the state's environmental standards. Republican attorneys general who supported the change reasoned that AGs should join other national political campaigns which target incumbents, two sources familiar with the closed door process said. Additionally, a desire by some to roll back same-sex marriage and the potential for increased corporate contributions played a role in the decision, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the deliberations. The so-called 'incumbency rule' observed by the state attorneys' party fundraising arms reflected a rare bit of bipartisanship in the polarized environment of U.S. politics, aimed at promoting cooperation across state lines on issues of common interest, such as consumer protection."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-republican-ags-exclusive-idUSKBN16Z1A5?il=0

--- "A Republican-controlled congressional panel rejected a bid by Democrats on Tuesday to obtain President Donald Trump's tax returns, despite warnings that Trump's business holdings could pose conflicts of interest as Congress turns to tax reform. At a sometimes fiery 2-1/2-hour hearing that careened from lawmaker concerns over political corruption and national security to privacy rights and tax accounting, the House Ways and Means Committee voted 24-16 along party lines to oppose a Democratic resolution that sought the release of 10 years of Trump's tax returns to the House of Representatives. While the hearing was under way, House Republicans separately turned back a Democratic attempt to force a floor vote on Trump's tax returns. Committee Republicans accused Democrats of using the tax-writing committee for political grandstanding. "This resolution is a procedural tool being utilized – and I think, abused – for obvious political purposes," panel Chairman Kevin Brady said.   Democrats said they were exercising proper congressional oversight and accused Republicans of protecting Trump."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-taxreturns-idUSKBN16Z332?il=0

--- "President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an order to undo Obama-era climate change regulations, keeping a campaign promise to support the coal industry and calling into question U.S. support for an international deal to fight global warming. Flanked by coal miners and coal company executives, Trump proclaimed his "Energy Independence" executive order at the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency. The move drew swift backlash from a coalition of 23 states and local governments, as well as environmental groups, which called the decree a threat to public health and vowed to fight it in court. The order's main target is former President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan, which required states to slash carbon emissions from power plants - a key factor in the United States' ability to meet its commitments under a climate change accord reached by nearly 200 countries in Paris in 2015. Trump's decree also reverses a ban on coal leasing on federal lands, undoes rules to curb methane emissions from oil and gas production and reduces the weight of climate change and carbon emissions in policy and infrastructure permitting decisions. Carbon dioxide and methane are two of the main greenhouse gases blamed by scientists for heating the earth. "I am taking historic steps to lift restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations," Trump said at the EPA."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-energy-idUSKBN16Z1L6?il=0

--- "President Donald Trump's call for $1.5 billion this year to help build a wall along the border with Mexico could be in jeopardy as fellow Republicans in Congress weigh delaying a decision on the request. Republican Senator Roy Blunt, a member of his party's leadership, told reporters on Tuesday that money for the wall likely would not be coupled with a spending bill that must pass by April 28 to avoid shutting down federal agencies whose funding expires then. Blunt said the must-do funding "comes together better" without Trump's additional request for the border wall and military programs and could be considered "at a later time." Democrats are threatening to block the bill funding federal agencies from April 29 to Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year, if money for the border wall is included. They object to one of Trump's premier 2016 campaign promises, saying it is poorly planned and that there are other border security measures already constructed or under consideration. When he ran for president, Trump pledged Mexico would pay to build the wall, designed to keep illegal immigrants and drugs from entering the United States. The Mexican government has said it will not do so. The initiative has also faced resistance among Republicans, including lawmakers representing some border towns. The federal government would have to purchase land in many locations in order to construct the edifice, which could make construction costs soar."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-wall-idUSKBN16Z31R?il=0

--- "The impact of the new Trump administration's effect on the economy remains too uncertain for the U.S. Federal Reserve to react or begin recasting its outlook, Fed Governor Jerome Powell said on Tuesday. Asked about the collapse of the healthcare bill last week, Powell said that uncertainty about "the scope, the timing and the contents" of President Donald Trump's policies were making it difficult for Fed policymakers to assess what they might mean. "It is difficult to incorporate effects from policy when it is so uncertain what the policy may be. So I don't incorporate any effects for now," Powell said. "Until things become clearer, it is difficult to assess." Since Trump's election, Fed officials have debated how his campaign promises may change an economy many policymakers feel is on a sturdy course. Depending on how those policies are designed and when and if they are approved, the programs Trump promised during the campaign - tax cuts, massive infrastructure spending, tough trade rules, tighter limits on immigration - could boost growth, lead to higher inflation, or throw the global economy into a trade war."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed-powell-idUSKBN16Z2YF?il=0

--- "Ford Motor Co on Tuesday said it would invest $1.2 billion in three Michigan facilities and create 130 jobs in projects largely in line with a previous agreement with the United Auto Workers union, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump touted a "major investment" by the automaker on Twitter. In January, Ford scrapped plans to build a $1.6 billion car factory in Mexico and instead added 700 jobs in Michigan following Trumps criticism that centered on trade and investing in America. Ford said on Tuesday it would spend $850 million on a planned upgrade of a plant in Wayne, Michigan, for the Ford Bronco, an SUV model, and the Ford Ranger - a mid-size pickup truck. The company will also invest $150 million and create 130 or retain jobs at an engine plant in Romeo. Both projects were part of 2015 negotiations with the UAW, when Ford said it would invest $9 billion in U.S. plants over four years. Ford also said it would invest $200 million in a data center in Flat Rock to support advances in vehicle connectivity and future developments in autonomous vehicles, but it will not result in any new hourly jobs. The move comes at a time when U.S. new car and truck sales are at an all-time high and investors are watching closely for signs of a possible downturn in the highly-cyclical industry...The announcement by Ford on Tuesday comes less than two weeks after Trump visited Detroit to promise more auto jobs for Michigan and other Midwestern U.S. states. Trump pounced on Ford's announcement before the company could release its plans on Tuesday. "Major investment to be made in three Michigan plants," Trump posted on Twitter early Tuesday. "Car companies coming back to U.S. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!" Trump has at times promoted job announcements at the White House that had been previously planned or announced. Last week he praised an investment decision by Charter Communications Inc that the company announced before he was elected."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-ford-jobs-idUSKBN16Z19M?il=0

--- "U.S. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill sought on Tuesday details from the nation's top opioid drugmakers on their sales and marketing practices, as lawmakers step up efforts to tackle the country's deadly opioid crisis. The Missouri senator's investigation comes amid an epidemic of opioid addiction, with 91 Americans dying everyday as a result of overdose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This epidemic is the direct result of a calculated sales and marketing strategy major opioid manufacturers have allegedly pursued over the past 20 years to expand their market share," McCaskill, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote in a letter to the drugmakers. McCaskill asked Johnson & Johnson, Mylan NV, Purdue Pharma, Insys Therapeutics Inc and Depomed Inc for internal estimates of the risk of abuse, addiction and overdose of opioids."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-opioids-probe-senator-idUSKBN16Z2EL?il=0

--- "U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said on Tuesday he will not divulge - even to other members of his panel - who gave him intelligence reports that indicated President Donald Trump and his associates may have been ensnared in incidental intelligence collection. Asked by an ABC News reporter whether he would inform the other committee members about who gave him the reports he viewed on the White House grounds last week, Nunes said: "We will never reveal those sources and methods.""

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-nunes-idUSKBN16Z2TZ?il=0

[bpbarnes-blog1]

Intergroup Dialogue: White Racial Identity

Social Identity:

Before enrolling in intergroup dialogue, I had a shallow understanding of my white racial identity. For the most part, the time I spent reflecting on my race was limited to checking a box on standardized tests, medical forms, and job applications. I identify as a white female. More specifically, I consider myself Caucasian, which I understand as a classification that is synonymous with white. In terms of ethnicity, I know that my ancestors come from a range of European countries such as Belgium, Germany, and Scotland, but I do not strongly identify with any of these nationalities. My parents and grandparents all come from Michigan, which is as far back in my genealogy that I know off hand. Therefore, I consider myself American. However, prior to taking this course, the concepts of race and ethnicity were not salient in my daily life. I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, went to a predominantly white, all-girls high school, and I now attend a predominantly white university. Up until this point in my life I have had the privilege of ignoring race all together. The deceit of colorblindness—that we should not dwell on race, but rather see people for “who they are” instead of the color of their skin—served as an excuse that allowed me to obliviously go about my daily life without seeking out perspective on modern-day racism.

I have always been passionate about social justice, and I decided to take this course as a response to the lack of diversity in my life. Over the years, I’ve felt that I have been missing out on perspectives from people of different races, genders, religions, and socioeconomic statuses. I figured that this course could offer me experiences and insight that I may have missed out on in the past. However, upon being placed in the White Racial Identity Dialogue, I was doubtful that I would gain new perspectives among a class of all white students. As the course comes to a close, I realize I could not be more mistaken. I have learned how important it is to acknowledge whiteness and explore what it means to be white in contemporary society, just as it is equally important to acknowledge being black, Hispanic, Asian, or any other race.

The insight that I have gained on the topic of white privilege has changed the way I perceive my daily life. At the beginning of the semester, I participated in an activity that visualized the institutionalized oppression that operates in society today. Each student held a note card that was connected with string, forming a giant web: The Web of Oppression. One by one, we read the notecards, which contained examples of cultural and institutional oppressions that minorities experience. I had never thought twice about many of the facts on the notecards, given that as a white person, they never put me at a disadvantage. I learned that I live in a country that caters to my race in every aspect. For example, school systems teach white history. Whites created the ground rules for what is considered standard, acceptable grammar and dialect. Children’s books, films, and the media are dominated with white heroes and role models. Whites are more likely to forego typecasts, whereas Asians might actively experience subjection to common stereotypes in which they are picked first for study groups because they are “good at math” but are picked last during sports. Similarly, Black students might experience subjection to common stereotypes that place them in the butt of jokes about which foods they like or what their profession will be, whereas whites get to decide these things on their own. The list continues. After we read the notecards, we reflected on the activity. We discussed how as whites, we were the ones upholding the web. Even if a few students dropped their cards, the web was still intact, held up by the other students’ notecards.

Not only was this activity a white privilege wake-up call, but it was also a lesson on the idea that no hierarchy of oppressions exists. The activity demonstrated that pouring resources into fixing one problem does not eradicate the entire web of deep-seated oppression. Audre Lorde (1996), a self-proclaimed “black feminist lesbian warrior”, warns of the danger in prioritizing forms of oppression declaring, “I know I cannot afford the luxury of fighting one form of oppression only. I cannot afford to believe that freedom from intolerance is the right of only one particular group.”  With people of multiple identities experiencing disadvantages on various levels, I wondered how we could possibly address solutions to such widespread oppression—an issue I am continuously exploring. This activity shook me awake; I realized that as an in-group member of white racial identity, I experience unprecedented racial privilege in multiple spheres of my life. White privilege is ingrained in society.

Moreover, this insight has increased my awareness of the active role white privilege plays my life. Zúñiga et al. (2007) point out that, “in the process of developing awareness at multiple levels, participants become clearer and more reflective about the meaning of their social identities and their groups’ relationship with other groups.” I noticed this take effect in my own life as I began to analyze my daily interactions with whites versus my interactions with people of color. I realized how often primarily white faces surround me on campus—in my classes, at the library, at coffee shops—and how few times I find myself in situations that position me as a minority. McIntosh (1992) describes the effect of white privilege stating, “In proportion as my racial group was being made confident, comfortable, and oblivious, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable and alienated. Whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence.” McIntosh’s idea that whiteness serves as a shield of protection is exemplified in my life by the fact that I was unaware of the racist flyers posted around campus earlier this fall until the topic was brought up in dialogue. While black students walked to class feeling afraid and unsafe, I was shielded from such distress due to the color of my skin. Even after learning about colorblindness in class, I did not truly realize the extent to which I held colorblind beliefs until putting it in the perspective of a movement that is taking place here on campus. In Halstead’s (2016) article, he explains that racism has taken a more subtle form in the present-day. We often participate in racism by omission, even by failing to see where it exists (Halstead, 2016). The fact that white people like myself are privileged enough to claim ignorance on issues that are so deeply affecting black students that attend this very university speaks to the extent of the racist campus climate.

Similarly, I became attuned to how often whiteness grants me access to comfortable situations. Johnson’s (2007) idea of the “luxury of obliviousness” or “the ease of not being aware of privilege” resonated with me as I read about examples of basic human rights that all people deserve. According to Johnson (2007), these are things such as feeling protected in public, feeling a notion of belonging, and feeling comfortable contributing in the work place—all sentiments that I have been accustomed to my entire life. McIntosh (1992) would argue that white people are actively taught not to see these privileges. Yet in the midst of dialogue, the more I have been forced to think about the comfortable access I’ve had to safety, inclusiveness, and authority, the more I have been actively noticing whiteness protect me from distress in my everyday life. For example, the University of Michigan is a predominantly white school, placing me in a “privileged” group because of the color of my skin. Generally in my classes, I never consider my race in relation to my likelihood to participate in a discussion or lecture, unless in the context of a racially charged conversation. Yet now, I have begun to take note of the ease and regularity I feel in the midst of small everyday instances such as raising my hand to speak in a class. I’ve come to realize that not everyone feels safe and confident in sharing his or her views, and it is an unearned privilege that I’ve taken for granted up until enrolling in this course. If I imagine myself as the only white face in a classroom, I realize that this environment would likely suppress my comfort and willingness to speak up. Eventually, I began to apply this insight to analyze identities in my life other than just race, noticing how my levels of comfort shift throughout various environments.

Not only has Intergroup Dialogue taught me about my white racial identity, but it has also shed light on the way that intersectional identities contribute to our experiences with privilege in society. This was best exemplified when we played a board game in which each participant took on the identities of a specific character. I drew the card of a Black female character with citizenship in the U.K. My character was able-bodied, part of the middle class, and identified as bisexual. Each player would roll the dice and then read a card that posed a real-life situation. The card would require players to move forward or backwards on the board based on how the situation advantaged or disadvantaged members of certain identities. My character came in dead last place, as she was continuously disadvantaged in social, political, and economic situations as result of her sexuality, gender, income, and race. I found myself comparing my intersectional identities to the situations on the playing cards, and I began to understand how being straight and white often times places me at an advantage while, on the other hand, being a woman sometimes places me at a disadvantage. It was fascinating to see how each character progressed throughout the game in relation to their varying identities. Straight white males came in first place in each group, followed by males containing alternative identities, and white females. The exercise highlighted how not one identity outplays the others, but rather each identity interacts on various levels to create situations of privilege versus disadvantage.

At the beginning of the course, I was doubtful about the amount of diversity an all white group could offer, but as the class progressed I began to realize how each participant is unique based on different identities relating to gender, religion, sexuality, ability, family-life, upbringing, and regional roots. In my opinion, some of the most meaningful moments of dialogue took place when students admitted to sharing a personal experience they had never discussed with anyone else. This speaks to the extent that the experiences students share have affected them, and displays the trust they put in the confines of our dialogue. Information about the intersection between family relationships, sexual orientation, mental health, physical health, childhood, and schooling all in relation to white racial identity changed my perspective on the students around me. However this information did not lead me to judge my peers, but rather the opposite. I felt as if I had subconsciously judged the other students prior to getting know them, but after hearing everyone’s experiences unfold I had to back track and erase the preconceived notions I had initially developed.

Group Interaction and Communication:

Since beginning my experience in Intergroup Dialogue, I have tremendously improved my communication and group interaction skills. Not only have I had the opportunity to practice speaking up and sharing my personal life experiences with a group people, but I have also benefited from actively listening to my peers while exercising the LARA/I method of communication. The principles of dialogue have allowed me to harness my communication skills to effectively bridge differences and seek to understand others. Before taking this class, I would often find myself so wrapped up in my own opinions that I could not focus on hearing another side of the story. However, this course has challenged me to practice actively understanding where others’ insight comes from, which in turn has helped me develop a well-rounded, open mind. The idea that experiences are personal and therefore they cannot be deemed “right” or “wrong” is a concept that has changed the way I communicate. I now consider how others’ identities shape their experiences, which is ultimately reflected in their opinions. I have become more thoughtful in formulating my own opinions, and I’ve learned that I now prefer to be informed on both sides of a story before I speak up on an issue.

Working in ICP groups taught me how to effectively collaborate with my peers while remaining organized and on top of our assignments. We were required to assign roles to each group member throughout the course of the project, whether these roles pertained to facilitating our out-of-class discussion, completing sections of our write-ups, or researching specific target areas of our topic. Choosing the topic for our project required that we work through varying opinions in order to come to an agreement. We organized logistical details by choosing times and locations to host our out of class meetings, as well as preparing what to discuss, write, and research. Luckily, my group got along well and experienced minimal setbacks. The more we worked together outside (and inside) of class, the more trust we built within our group. We were able to rely on one another to complete an assigned portion of the project, or to show up on time and ready to work outside of class. The IC Project gave me experience actively practicing communication and group interaction skills outside of the classroom, which inspired me to further implement my abilities in everyday social settings.

Exploring Differences and Disagreements:

While the principles of dialogue encourage pro-social communication, they also provide strategies for effectively engaging in hot button conversations. During one class, our dialogue began to turn into a debate about whether or not taking a knee during the National Anthem to show support for the Black Lives Matter Movement is appropriate or not. Some students felt that taking a knee during the National Anthem was disrespectful to war veterans and Americans in general, while other students felt that the public display was necessary in order to make a statement. At times, the opposing viewpoints made me feel as if I was engaging in an argument rather than a dialogue. In the midst of back-and-forth banter, it was difficult not to become defensive of my perspective and frustrated with others for not understanding my point of view. However, I was able to diffuse frustration by relying on the “empathy question” referred to by McCormick (1999): “How would I feel right now if I were the other person?” Reflecting on this allowed me to be more open to others emotions, remembering that the whole purpose of dialogue is to understand different perspectives. Furthermore, I realized that I struggle with confrontation and am not usually one to pick a fight, so I tend to quiet down when someone voices a conflicting perspective. I’ve learned a solution to this can be taking a step back to collect my thoughts, which allows me to more confidently articulate my point and remain in the conversation as opposed to quieting down.

From this “debate,” I learned how important it is to leave some time before jumping into the next point. I did not feel that I contributed significantly throughout the dialogue because I could barely get a word in. Pausing before responding leaves time to reflect on what you want to say or what has already been said. It is a time to make sense of the other person’s perspective, and to rephrase what to say so as to speak from experience. Still, there were times when someone spoke out to oppose my viewpoints in which I began to feel my hot buttons being pushed. However, this did not last long. I was able to pause and remember that everyone’s perspective is unique and pertains to their identities and upbringing. Remembering this always helps me calm down and focus on the purpose of dialogue: to be enlightened by different perspectives.

Challenges and Rewards:

Reflecting on the course of the dialogue, I recognize the many challenges and rewards that accompany the learning process. Yankelovich (2001) explains the magic of dialogue and explains that, “constant readiness is the key to success” because,  “you never know when an opportunity for spontaneous dialogue may arise.” He insists that we must feel comfortable applying principles of dialogue in the midst of casual encounters by “treating the other as an equal in every respect, being willing and able to listen empathetically; and being willing and able to bring your assumptions and those of other participants into the open without becoming judgmental (Yankelovich, 2001). While this may be challenging, our relationships will transform and our minds will become more open as a reward.

I remembered to practice Yankelovich’s tips over Thanksgiving, and as a result, my family was impressed with my ability to maturely participate in discussions about relevant social and political issues. However, I found myself feeling judgmental as I internally took note of all the times that my relatives were not practicing principles of effective dialogue during sensitive conversations. In times like this, I experience moments of fear that I will become angry and lose sight of the skills I have acquired in dialogue. Despite that it is not always easy, I hope that in the future I consciously continue to practice active listening and empathetic perspective taking. I hope that I continue to feel confident and comfortable speaking up when I am faced with a politically sensitive topic. Furthermore, I hope that I can share what I have learned with others and inspire them to become more aware of their privilege. Most importantly, I hope to engage others and myself in taking action to improve society as a response to the modern racism that we have learned about throughout the semester. I have already begun to see a change in the way I interact with others, and I look forward to applying the principles of dialogue throughout my future relationships.

Future Implications:

In a time of such rapid change and astonishing controversy, I feel that I could not have been luckier to participate in Intergroup Dialogue. Going forward, dialogue will stay active in my life as I practice serving as an ally to the marginalized. This entails taking action—however Park (2013), emphasizes how “white anti-racists often fall into the trap of viewing change through activist work rather than as organizers, as teachers, and as members of communities of  ‘ceaseless agitation’ and change.” I will reflect on the times that false assumptions have been made about my own identity, and I will challenge members of my communities to analyze their identities as well (Gordon, 2014). Park’s (2013) argument outlines the idea that white anti-racists tend to take action for the wrong reasons—for self-interest, aspiring altruism, praise, and celebration of ourselves as “good white folks.” It is crucial to keep this in mind and to move away from talking and towards listening. Being an ally for social justice, I will work with those who are oppressed not just for them. I will enable the marginalized to become leaders by actively contributing to their visions as a participant in student organizations here on campus. I will avoid giving advice but rather take on a learning role, and I will be receptive to critical feedback (Gordon, 2014).

One of the topics we discussed that struck a chord in me was the Being Black at the University of Michigan (BBUM) movement here on campus. I am ashamed that I did not know about BBUM until we talked about it in class, but I now realize that as Friedman (2016) argues, it is time to be more than just ashamed. I found Friedman’s article particularly eye-opening, perhaps because I identify as a liberal leaning white person—the identity she specifically addresses. I resonated with feeling uncertain about how my help as a white person might be received by black protest organizers. Friedman’s (2016) writing kept my feelings in check and gave me a new perspective arguing, “Some low-level alienation at a Black Lives Matter event is nothing compared to a lifetime of being relegated to outsider status by the systems that run this country.”  This article helped me realize that just because I am liberal and believe in social justice, this does not exempt me from feeling uncomfortable in the act of contributing to protests, and these feelings are what restrain me and so many others from actually taking action to make a change.

Ultimately, I can conclude that learning about the BBUM campaign in the context of dialogue will have a lasting impact on me as it has opened my eyes to racism on this campus that I had never truly internalized. If you had asked me how I felt about the racial tension on campus before exploring this topic in dialogue, I probably would have acknowledged that it exists and that I truly believe it is immoral, but then concede by claiming that I don’t know how to fix it or what I could do to help. I now understand that if I actually want to eradicate racism in this nation it takes more than feeling ashamed and uncertain, and it takes more than simply keeping up with news and staying informed. I feel that I have a role to play in improving the campus climate here at U of M, and that role entails taking action to collaborate with people of different races instead of just feeling sorry for them, feeling guilty on my own behalf, or not paying mind to issues of race at all. 

References

Friedman, A. (2016, August, 3). It’s Time to Get Over Your White Feelings and Start Taking Action for Black Lives.

Gordon, N. (2014). A Message to Aspiring Allies.

Halstead, J. (2016, July 28). The Real Reason White People Say 'All Lives Matter'

Johnson, A. (2007). Chapter 2: Privilege, Oppression, and Difference. The Forrest And The Trees: Sociology as Life, Practice, and Promise.

Lorde, A. (1996). There is No Hierarchy of Oppressions.

McCormick, D.W. (1999). Listening With Empathy.

McIntosh, P. (1992). WHITE PRIVILEGE AND MALE PRIVILEGE: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies. Race, Class, and Gender: An Anthology.

Park, Suey. (2013). Challenging Racism and Problems With White Allies.

Yankelovich, D. (2001). Transforming Casual Encounters Through Dialogue.

Zúñiga, X., et al. (2007). Educational Goals of Intergroup Dialogue.