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Final Reflection

This blog has given me a space to think more critically and process the ways in which the media (such as news reports, films, etc) I am consuming every day as well as events offered around me can relate to concepts of multiculuralism. I have noticed that I have, in the past (maybe even sometimes now, as this is definitely a work in progress), stayed more surface level and on the side of summarizing when it comes to talking about cultural events. I can recognize that have been afraid I would say something incorrectly, or felt as if I did not have the authority to speak about certain things. I recognize now that this is something that can be damaging in some cases because it means I am not using my privilege as a platform to advocate for others when I have the chance. I do, however, want to ensure that I do not transition into speaking for or over anyone who is part of a marginalized group, so I have still been treading lightly in using this and will work on being better at utilizing my privilege. I understand that there will be no personal progress and I really cannot participate in activism on a productive level if I am unwilling to leave my comfort zone. For me, this begins with recognizing the way many things are centered in Whiteness, meaning that literally everything and everywhere were made to be my comfort zone. I tried to avoid a focus on feminism throughout my blog, because though this is something that I consider incredibly important and is a large part of my identity, I also view it as something that I have always been very comfortable talking about. I wanted to venture outside of identities that are my own, rather than repeating worldviews I have been thinking about for years.

I noticed there has been a theme of looking into harmful stereotypes within my posts, and I believe my thoughts being on this particular topic this may be due to the ways Donald Trump talks about anyone who is not a straight, white, able-bodied male. The rhetoric that has been spread within the last two years during both his campaign and presidency has been incredibly harmful in the ways it has supported white nationalism ("fine people on both sides") and pushed for policies based in racism (travel ban and the end of DACA). I know that for many it wasn't a surprise that someone who held white supremacist ideals was voted into office, because they have faced racial discrimination wherever they go. I realize that is was a privilege to hear someone say something hateful and think to myself, "There is no way anyone is actually going to believe that to be the truth." This privilege is rooted in the way that if someone were to believe these untrue generalizations, it would not directly affect me. This is not to say that I was not aware of discrimination or privilege or that I was apathetic, but I was able to look at Trump as simply an idiot most times, rather than someone who was threatening my safety. I thought I was being progressive within my viewpoints when I thought there was no way the United States would vote for a leader who is an embodiment of racism, sexism, ableism, etc. I realize now that I was being willfully ignorant of the issues going on in our country, because I wanted to believe things were better than they are. I allowed myself to believe some of the things that were taught to me within my elementary education, like everyone being the same as well as not thinking critically about the ways in which history has been whitewashed. Thinking about history in the ways it was taught to me, rather than realizing many of the biases and acts of silencing within the United States education system previously stopped me from realizing that unfortunately, America was built on the backs of those who are still marginalized today. This class changed the way that I viewed many aspects of my life, as well as gave me the resources to recognize that I am not only part of several problematic institutions, but also benefit from them.

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