Edward Fishman, 4/14/21, Period 5, Day B

 Edward Fishman  

4/14/21    

Period 5 

Seniors 2021

Socio-political Consciousness

• What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

Being a straight white male, I often see on the internet that I have had a significant advantage in my life over my peers, referred most commonly as "white privilege." This is the idea that because of the color of my skin and the actions of those that came before me with the same skin color, society gives me an easier time to live my life. It's a weird feeling being told that you have it better off than others because that is certainly not the way I view my life. Throughout my experience being alive I have faced multiple challenges whether it be bullying or mental health issues, none of which could be helped with the fact that my skin is lighter than others. The idea of white privilege also comes attached with a hate towards white people. This is what I have trouble understanding, if the goal of movements across the country is to bring our races together, why foster even more hate? Racists are not born, they are made. Many children in urban areas don't care whatsoever what you look like as long as you are kind and a good person.

• How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

Being from a big city myself and integrating with many different cultures when I was young, helped me expand my view on these issues. Racism is still a prevalent problem in America as seen with the recent George Floyd and Daunte Wright cases. However fighting these problems with more violence will only lead to a worse outcome for both sides. Everyone in this country wants to walk the streets without fear of being targeted or even worse killed for something they have no control over. In my house, if there was a problem between 2 people, we would sit and talk to each other. In this situation however, both sides feel as though the time for talking is over and that action needs to be taken. This ideology will just lead to more fighting and furthers the divide between people. What needs to be done now can only be done at a national level, through congress and the senate. With such a huge amount of government funding going to the military every year, it leaves very little for police to be properly trained and vetted, as well as for the youth to be educated on the country's history with the goal of never repeating what happened before us.