I'm taking this anthropology/community service class at Emiliana Zapata, where we do our service work. The class definitely has the potential to be great. We discuss poverty, racism, and how to effectively help a community. The class is strictly discussion based, and the professor continuously encourages heated debates.  The first day these debates were completely reasonable, after an economics major from our group argued FOR sweat shops. But even when we all agree the professor still tries to get us to argue... and then everyone ends up repeating things over and over just so they can get their participation points (this is assuming we get participation points... I have no idea where I stand or how I am graded). Last week when we discussed where racism emerges I shared my viewpoint. All I said was that humans are biologically wired to protect their own kind in order to procreate. This is why we are biologically prove to be attracted towards our own race. I didn't add that last part to my argument, but its true. I did say this however- the biological reason I would jump in front of a bus to save my brother over a random stranger isn't because I love him or know him more (love you Zack!), it's because I would want his genes to be carried down over someone who does not possess my genes. Then I explained that although race is a social construct, and technically we are all the same race, the truth of the matter is that most people don't look at homo sapiens from an evolutionary standpoint and simply see someone of a different race as the other.  While it is not correct, its the reality of the situation. And this is a possibly theory as to why people will protect or prefer someone of their own race over  another.

While this is a whole other discussion on its own, my point is that it is difficult to truthfully express my opinion in this class. Reason being, the following day, while taking a walk with someone in my class (of minority status mind you) suddenly I had the label, "racist" being thrown at me for my views expressed in the class the previous day.
          "So you would save a white person over me?"
          Sigh. "No, because I recognize the fact that we are all equal. All I am saying it is instinctual to protect a person that is viewed as your kind rather than as an outsider. I don't view other skin colors as outsiders."
         "That's still kind of racist."

I guess the whole situation is very interesting because we are all coming from very different backgrounds and have been trained to think very different due to our majors.  This kid is a psychology major, a social science that tends to take a different path than anthropology. Even my anthro classes will criticize the psych field as over generalizing and not looking at human action as a result of a social construct. Its a much deeper discussion, and I by no means am saying that Anthropology pwns (owns) Psychology, but it makes sense that given his academic upbringing, he would automatically diagnose me rather than looking at the situation of racism on a much bigger picture. It is a very interesting mix to have so many different majors in a discussion-based class. Just look at the Econ major who says "Sweat shops give people jobs."

Because we have such different backgrounds and different opinions, they often times indirectly criticize one another. One bi-racial student who is closely tied to her Indian heritage says she finds it sad when people who do not actively practice in the customs of their ancestors and therefore have no sense of identity. "When you can't identify with your background you are invisible. It's very sad." She describes being seen as invisible by society because she has to check "OTHER" when filling out a form that requires her to put her race.

When I brought up that I believe you should identify yourself with the customs of which you partake in people got pretty upset. I have Romanian blood and yes, I think garlic is pretty tasty, but I do not speak the language nor practice the customs. Does this mean I am invisible? Does this mean I do not have an identity? According to some members of the class yes, but when I tried explaining that one, I always check the race box, "prefer not to answer," and that I identify myself as an American, because I speak English, am learning Spanish, go to American schools, and love cheeseburgers, I suddenly had a kid with a white mother who was adopted from El Salvador very offended and asking me what he is.

The first thing I noticed with the class was that if I didn't want to upset the teacher, I would have to suck up to her. Expressing our concerns or obstacles when discussing how our community service is a big no-no. For an hour and a half of the class we can only say, "how good to feels, I just love helping people, I look forward to going." Okay, obviously this is true, but is this at all productive or a valuable use of class time. I also have to write 3 pages a week on "How my community service is going." AKA, not how it is going, but how I am feeling. This week I have to write a reflection on one of the readings she assigned. A reading that talked about how people without money in America are seen as valueless and mindless people. This image, according to the reading is created by the other class of people, the people with money. And then it goes on to blame the media for a couple pages. No real evidence, facts, or deep philosophical reasonings, just "this is what I feel, this is how it is." We have been warned that if we want a good grade we need to suck up to our professor as much as possible.

Anyways, sorry for the rant, I guess I'll get back to my homework, hopefully post some more later!

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