Post-Reading Week2

I would define race and ethnicity as ideas that the human race created in order to be able to belong to somewhere and also be able to seperate people into different groups based on looks and cultural aspects. The fact that they are social constructs makes it easy for people to become confused and use each word in the wrong context. I used to think that they meant the same thing until I took this class. I always asked someone what race they were and never really used the word ethnicity. Confusing between these words can easily happen especially when they are so closely related. Race is more defined in a way that it basically means a person is a certain race based on what we assume from their physical appearance. Ethnicity is defined by looking at the persons beliefs and whether or not they fit into certain groups. I definitely believe that everyone should be able to define their own race and ethnicity because it should be defined by who they FEEL they are not by what society THINKS they are. It can mean the world to some people to be able to define their own race and not have to live by what people say they are just because they look a certain way. People always connect biology with race because of the assumptions that the meaning of race is basically how a person looks. It's crazy to think that just because a person looks a certain way then that is what they are. It is even more crazy to me to think that just because a person looks a certain way then that means they can do certain things too. Stereotypes have gotten to the point where people are thinking they are true for everyone. Most people don't even bother to ask what race or ethnicity I am. They always just assume I am mexican just because I have tan skin. I have had people just start talking spanish to me assuming I would understand it. Although I am mexican, I do not speak spanish. I have also had people just assume that I can play soccer and that I am really good at it just because of the fact that I am mexican. Stereotypes like this make me frustrated sometimes because people may surprise you. Just because a person looks a certain way does not mean that that is who they are. 

Word Count: 406

Post-Reading Week 1

    Horne's argument against teaching Ethnic Studies in Tucson Unified School District seems a little bit contradicting to me. He argues that teaching Ethnic Studies classes such as raza studies separates students and teaches them ethnic chauvinism. He say's that we try to teach kids that it's not about what race he/she came from that it's about his/her character and what he/she can and can't do. This point in his argument right here seems to really make me think because he mentions individualism and how they teach us to treat others as a individual, but yet taking a class that focuses on your own race is unacceptable? Isn't learning about your own ethnicity and where you came from a part of being individual? The social studies classes that I have been in throughout my years of middle school and high school have seemed to focus more on white history and barley touch on other ethnicity histories. I think having classes that focus on certain ethnicity's provide students with the opportunity to learn about where they came from and learn a little bit about who they are. There is more than one race in this world and the thought of not allowing students to learn about their own race seems absurd to me. If the classes were only meant for the people of that race to take them then that’s a different story, but these classes are open to whoever wants to take them and aren’t restricted to one race only. If an African American student learned about Chicano studies, they can learn about other cultures and find that they have similarities. I think the classes are good because it teaches you to step out of your comfort zone and also opens your mind to different cultures around the world.  Horne also kept mentioning the same thing over and over about how we shouldn’t be teaching kid’s about the downsides of history because it causes them to only focus on those things such as being oppressed. When asked a question his go-to answer was that it would cause students to start thinking about oppression. Michael, on the other hand, felt that in order to celebrate our country for all its glory, we have to also learn about the down sides too. The classes being taught in school now do not teach a well rounded curriculum where we are able to learn about the full truths of history.  I think Michael had a better developed argument on why we should allow ethnic studies classes because he had a lot of valid reasons that contradicted Horne’s argument. Horne definitely did not seem open minded to other opinions and kept on assisting that ethnic studies classes would divide students up and cause them to be in favor of their own race. 

Word Count: 466

Pre-Thinking Blog Week of Sept 3rd

     When I think of Ethnic Studies I would think it is a class about learning about ethnicities. For example, learning about what defines your ethnicity and who you are. I am not exactly sure what Ethnic Studies is. So far I have learned that it is not just about defining ethnicity it also focus on issues that deal with problems of ethnicity and race. You learn about the difference between what ethnicity and race means. The class can also focus on problems different ethnicities have or are facing throughout the existence of this world. The possibilities are really endless. I think everyone can benefit from taking an Ethnic Studies class because it can be eye opening to issues around the world that have not yet been dealt with. It is also just good for everyone to learn a little bit about different cultures and ethnicities to have an open mind about people around the world. I think people who do not know a lot about their ethnicity or heritage can definitely benefit from this class as well. The class might be able to help answer some unanswered questions for that person and helped them get in touch with the place and heritage that is a part of them and always will be. For instance, I do not know a lot about my heritage and feel that it is important to learn as much as I can because it is who I am. If people do not learn where about where they came from and their ethnicity I feel that at some point later on in the future everyone will start to lose touch with who they really are. Then what is to become of our diversity on this Earth? or just in America alone? I also feel that this class can be helpful to everyone because it is good to know the difference between the meaning of race and ethnicity. Some people who aren't knowledgeable about these words can use them in the wrong text and possibly offend someone. With this class, people can be more knowledgeable about the things that they say. People can become more cautious about being offensive to other ethnicity's and treating everyone with respect. I hope at the end of this semester I will be able to elaborate more on what exactly and Ethnic Studies class is. I also hope that I will take something valuable away from this class that I can use to help me move forward in my future. 

Word Count: 415