Race
SCHOOL:
Growing up I can't specifically remember a time where we talked about race and racial identity. I grew up in a predominately white town and did not have a black teacher until college. Talking about race and racial identity sometimes makes me uncomfortable, its a hard topic to openly talk about and I could not even tell you why. It is probably because we did not discuss it like we should have growing up.
COLLEGE:
When I began my studies at RIC, I began to be surrounded by other racial identities. College was the first time I was really exposed to this. Being in youth development these topics are discussed a lot and I still find myself getting anxious and hesitant to speak about the topic of race.
"Even though most of my students voluntarily enroll in the course as an elective,
their anxiety and subsequent resistance to learning about racism quickly emerge."
Personally, it is great to keep learning about the topic of race because it is not something I often think about. I see myself as white but I never related that to race. White has always just been white to me, just something I checked off on a form when asked.
I am definitely more confident than I used to be when it comes to speaking on the topic but I still get nervous to define it sometimes and heres why...
WHY I"M UNSURE
I get nervous on language. I'm not always sure what the correct term is that I should use and I do not want to say something that will offend someone. My goal is not to offend anyone but I get nervous someone will think I am and not understand that I am still learning how to speak on the topic.
"I really wish the White students would talk more. When I read these articles, it
makes me so mad and I really want to know what the White kids think. Don't they
care?"
Sometimes it is easier to observe these topics and listen and absorb the information because I am not always sure how to say what I am thinking and again I get nervous to offend someone without meaning to.
