Comments for http://swirlinc.wordpress.com a national multi-ethnic organization that challenges society's notions of race through community building, education, and action Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:49:54 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The False Positive by Leotis Martin http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive/#comment-74 Leotis Martin Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:49:54 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-74 I guess I have difficulty understanding whether those who acknowledge academic success are truly being sincere or patronizing. This stems from my experience in NY independent schools where there was a certain exoticism attached to an "articulate minority" (a little less extreme than in public schools in terms of isolation, but the disbelief was more pronounced). I understand that some people are just expressing emotions based on limited cultural interactions, so I guess the key is respecting an acknowledgment as just an observation, with the implication of an insult simply based on the context of the conversation... I guess I have difficulty understanding whether those who acknowledge academic success are truly being sincere or patronizing. This stems from my experience in NY independent schools where there was a certain exoticism attached to an “articulate minority” (a little less extreme than in public schools in terms of isolation, but the disbelief was more pronounced). I understand that some people are just expressing emotions based on limited cultural interactions, so I guess the key is respecting an acknowledgment as just an observation, with the implication of an insult simply based on the context of the conversation…

]]> Comment on The False Positive by JS http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive/#comment-44 JS Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:18:56 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-44 I don't know it you can quite assume that Acquaintance means #1 or #2 actually. I think they might be recognizing all the obstacles a member of a disenfranchised minority would be up against perhaps even including the need to direct most of their skills toward survival versus say gaining acceptance into [insert institution of private learning here.] Basically, I don't think that ALL the people expressing this kind of sentiment are trying to articulate that, but perhaps some are. What would be a better way to acknowledge the accomplishment of academic success (specifically academic success, since I definitely agree that's not the only success to be had!) to someone who had more obstacles to overcome than most people for their degrees that DOESN'T insult the people and the communities that they came from? This is part of a conversation that comes up a lot in my own personal life, so I'm honestly wondering how someone could communicate that. I don’t know it you can quite assume that Acquaintance means #1 or #2 actually. I think they might be recognizing all the obstacles a member of a disenfranchised minority would be up against perhaps even including the need to direct most of their skills toward survival versus say gaining acceptance into [insert institution of private learning here.]

Basically, I don’t think that ALL the people expressing this kind of sentiment are trying to articulate that, but perhaps some are. What would be a better way to acknowledge the accomplishment of academic success (specifically academic success, since I definitely agree that’s not the only success to be had!) to someone who had more obstacles to overcome than most people for their degrees that DOESN’T insult the people and the communities that they came from? This is part of a conversation that comes up a lot in my own personal life, so I’m honestly wondering how someone could communicate that.

]]> Comment on Making the 2010 Census Count by erasmusinfinity http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/making-the-2010-census-count/#comment-43 erasmusinfinity Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:25:37 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=405#comment-43 What would you suggest we put in box #9 as a means of working toward justice? Something that we are not? Only a part of the many things that we are? What would you suggest we put in box #9 as a means of working toward justice? Something that we are not? Only a part of the many things that we are?

]]> Comment on The False Positive by Joshuah http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive/#comment-39 Joshuah Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:23:35 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-39 Hear, hear my friend. I have consistantly argued with people about this issue of the immigrant experience and success versus that of historical minorities in America. The comment "well, I don't see why people from [insert country] are able to come here and make something of themselves while minorities in America are still struggling. It means one is harder working". I like to point out that, yes, immigrants from India tend to do better because the people immigrating are doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, public administrators. They have an established professional class and educational basis. Compare them to the immigrants from the Sudan or Somalia who aren't doctors and you see the differences. Now, amplify those differences by years of structural oppression and one might glean the reasons certain minorities struggle. One comment: some forms of Affirmative Action do define who is to be effective. In the federal government there is something known as the "Indian Preference". When anyone applies for a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or any other agency that deals with Native Americans they are told: Qualified non-Indian applicants will only be considered in the absences of qualified Indian applicants". This is due to the extra-constitutionality of Native peoples and the fact that Natives are the only ethnicity/group of people mentioned specifically in the constitution. Hear, hear my friend. I have consistantly argued with people about this issue of the immigrant experience and success versus that of historical minorities in America. The comment “well, I don’t see why people from [insert country] are able to come here and make something of themselves while minorities in America are still struggling. It means one is harder working”. I like to point out that, yes, immigrants from India tend to do better because the people immigrating are doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, public administrators. They have an established professional class and educational basis. Compare them to the immigrants from the Sudan or Somalia who aren’t doctors and you see the differences. Now, amplify those differences by years of structural oppression and one might glean the reasons certain minorities struggle.
One comment: some forms of Affirmative Action do define who is to be effective. In the federal government there is something known as the “Indian Preference”. When anyone applies for a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or any other agency that deals with Native Americans they are told: Qualified non-Indian applicants will only be considered in the absences of qualified Indian applicants”. This is due to the extra-constitutionality of Native peoples and the fact that Natives are the only ethnicity/group of people mentioned specifically in the constitution.

]]> Comment on The False Positive by Jasmine Buttolph http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive/#comment-38 Jasmine Buttolph Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:58:21 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-38 Amazingly insightful! I am impressed by the eloquence and bravery with which you delivered a message often overlooked. I hope the people who really need to read this ... do! Amazingly insightful! I am impressed by the eloquence and bravery with which you delivered a message often overlooked. I hope the people who really need to read this … do!

]]> Comment on The False Positive by Twitter Trackbacks for The False Positive « [swirlinc.wordpress.com] on Topsy.com http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive/#comment-37 Twitter Trackbacks for The False Positive « [swirlinc.wordpress.com] on Topsy.com Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:10:25 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-37 [...] The False Positive « swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive – view page – cached Me: “Well, I’m originally from South America, but I grew up in the Bronx…” — From the page [...] [...] The False Positive « swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/the-false-positive – view page – cached Me: “Well, I’m originally from South America, but I grew up in the Bronx…” — From the page [...]

]]> Comment on Act Now! Stand with Atlanta’s LGBT Community by Marc Shaw http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/act-now-stand-with-atlantas-lgbt-community/#comment-35 Marc Shaw Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:27 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=354#comment-35 Hey, I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog!.....I"ll be checking in on a regularly now....Keep up the good work! <A> :)</A> - Marc Shaw Hey, I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog!…..I”ll be checking in on a regularly now….Keep up the good work! :)

- Marc Shaw

]]> Comment on Making the 2010 Census Count by All-Encompassing Mixed Race and Multi-Racial Body of Literature and Multi-Media « Memory, Learning, Culture, Networks, Spaces, Ecology, Expertises http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/making-the-2010-census-count/#comment-33 All-Encompassing Mixed Race and Multi-Racial Body of Literature and Multi-Media « Memory, Learning, Culture, Networks, Spaces, Ecology, Expertises Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:29:30 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=405#comment-33 [...] http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/making-the-2010-census-count/ Counting race matters because it makes visible the ways in which race determines haves and have nots. Without hard numbers, advocates and communities are not equipped with the “evidence” they need to paint the picture of what’s really happening. I leave the following yet unanswered questions for those of us in the multiracial community: will we play into the hands of those arguing that our increasingly complex racial rainbow means that race is irrelevant and thus shouldn’t be considered? Or will we stand in solidarity with others in communities of color working to ensure that we are counted and thus get our fair share of resources and political power? So long as our communities get shuffled to the bottom, it’s more than racial imagination we need. It’s justice. [...] [...] http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/making-the-2010-census-count/ Counting race matters because it makes visible the ways in which race determines haves and have nots. Without hard numbers, advocates and communities are not equipped with the “evidence” they need to paint the picture of what’s really happening. I leave the following yet unanswered questions for those of us in the multiracial community: will we play into the hands of those arguing that our increasingly complex racial rainbow means that race is irrelevant and thus shouldn’t be considered? Or will we stand in solidarity with others in communities of color working to ensure that we are counted and thus get our fair share of resources and political power? So long as our communities get shuffled to the bottom, it’s more than racial imagination we need. It’s justice. [...]

]]> Comment on Separate and Unequal: A structural analysis of educational inequality in America by Midas http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/separate-and-unequal-a-structural-analysis-of-educational-inequality-in-america/#comment-30 Midas Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:55:42 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=383#comment-30 Wow Garrett!! Wow Garrett!!

]]> Comment on The Swirl Blog – giving voice to our community by Kelli Garner http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/the-swirl-blog-giving-voice-to-our-community/#comment-29 Kelli Garner Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:50:21 +0000 http://swirlinc.wordpress.com/?p=323#comment-29 Really nice posts. I will be checking back here regularly. Really nice posts. I will be checking back here regularly.

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