Saturday, March 26, 2005: Papers in review - Racism

Every once in a while, I have a habit of looking over one of the many papers that I have written during my adventures in education. One such paper I just finished reading that I wrote while attending Trinity Western University. The paper is entitled "The Ethnic Background of the Doersken Family", a paper that was required for the family counselling classe. No don't worry, I am not going to retype the paper.

I remember the exercise well, as I was to write a genogram as part of my assignment. I remember a cold sweat coming over me as information on my family background consisted of stories and nothing more. To dig into family psychological, social, and personal information was and still remains a taboo that can not be broken. So with further consultaion with the prof. no mercy was shown.

What was interesting however, that when I read this paper of what was discussed in the report, still holds true even today. Such information was and is not obtainable from family members as all too often family and personal secrets have gone to the grave with the passing of each person. What did come out though was my own indignation about the assignment which was every effectively expressed in the last two and a half pages. (By the way, I recieved 88% on this paper)

The last two and a half pages dealt with racism and the assumptions made by the authors of the text books used for the program. The authors assumed that all white males were rasist. My reaction to the concept was expressed in one paragraph. Now that I read it, I can't believe I didn't soften the rhetoric.

example -> "This writer has become offended by organizations, text books, and studies that assume every white person is a racist. This assumption is just as evil and wrong as racism itself. To assume that someone is a reacist because of their skin colour, is just as erroneous as racism itself....Such assumptions are improper, promote racism, and assist in the destruction of the individual who is forced to believe that they are racist so that someone else, or some organization can have a whipping dog to beat." <- and I got away with that in my paper.

As I think more of this paper, and the anger it created in me, I couldn't help but think of my childhood. I had a friend that was Hong Kong. I've had two neighbouts that were Negro, the family that ran the corner store were Italian. I had a friend in college that was from Jamaca, and two others that were from Kenya. I have had Korean and Japanese friends, my cousin's wife is of Chinese decent. My life's experience has been filled with people of a vast variety of enthic backgrounds. Because I am a white male, I am suppose to be a racist?

As transcribed in my paper, I didn't learn what racism was until I entered highschool. I didn't learn more about racism until I entered university. Racism was never apart of my life until I was educated about it, and pushed into it while attending Trinity Western University of all places. What I mean by pushed into racism had nothing to do with the student population, but rather by professors who assumed the matter like the authors of the text books and by the teachings and expressions by members in the university's administration as seen and demonstarted in their policies.

This was also expressed in my paper -> "It was not until university that this writer was taught and told he had to think in colour and gender, in order to fit into the packages that professors and others wanted to create. Once classes were over, so was the packaging." <- this packaging in colour and gender also extended to lifestyles while at Trinity.

Now don't get me wrong. I believe that I recieved a good education, expensive, but good. I also learned a lot about myself and everything else that was required. I also learned that I had it in me to obtain the marks needed to graduate. Even my Geography teacher from highschool who lives in the same building I presently live in couldn't believe that I have three degrees. He also is aware of the high standard of education expressed by Trinity Western and the fact that I have a Master's degree.

As we live in a world of assumptions, we are being packaged into small boxes before we have a chance to tear at the wrappings to free ourselves from these assumptions. The conclusion to my paper is short, but speaks volumns that the professor couldn't argue with. To recieve the grade that I did while falling short of what was required in the paper demonstrated that not only the act of assuming but also packaging should not have been apart of the ideology of the univeristy.

I will leave you with the conclusion that I wrote, and I hope I haven't borded you.

"In conclusion, this writer has experienced discrimination and racism and therefore knows what it is. As the cartoon character Poppey the Sailorman would say 'I am what I am, and that's all that I am.' This writer is left handed, I can't help that, even though in grade one I recieved a spanking from the teacher in front of my classmates for using my left hand. This writer is an amputee, I can't help that, even though I have been refused jobs that I am qualified for. This writer is a white male, I can't help that, even though I am refused an application for employment.

I am left handed, and I am an amputee, and I am a white male. These are the things that God has given me, to do the best I can with what I have. To deny any of this would be to deny God, Who made me. To be ashamed of my heritage, my culture and what I am, would be ashamed of myself, my family, and my God."


Thanks for reading my posting. I know many of my articles are long and often seem boring, but I am glad that if even one person reads them, I have accomplished my task of communicating with friends.