The View From Here

Earlier this summer in one of my classes I was having a conversation with some of my classmates about who knows what but then the confederate flag comes up as a topic. I did what I could to listen without giving my opinion right away, which is something I've been trying to better these days. However, one classmate likened the removal of the confederate flag to ninja turtle costumes. Yup, ninja turtle costumes. Let me explain...she said that she felt that the immediate reaction of removing the confederate flag in South Carolina as being an over-reaction. She continued to say that if someone was wearing a ninja turtle costume while shooting people dead , it shouldn't mean we'd ban ninja turtle costumes. Thus, meaning that just because the shooter had photos of himself with the confederate flag doesn't mean the flag should be removed. **Mouth drops open** It was then that I couldn't not say something, and proceeded to tell her that the confederate flag has alway...

A few weeks ago in a class focused on crossing cultures and diversity, my classmate turned to me and asked, "Why does race matter?" She asked this after I explained how Chinese adoptees when starting college are often confronted with the realities of their ethnic and racial identity. I have to confess that it was disconcerting to hear her ask such a question (or perhaps it was more of a statement) after weeks of studying and reading about diversity and about racism (and other -isms) and under the tutelage of a Black woman. Bottom line, cultural competence won't come from information or class assignments. Somehow, more must be done for those who are privileged and in the majority to develop an anti-racist identity by delving into who they are and how their racialized notions will make or break a therapeutic alliance. The fact that this classmate would discount the reality and importance of race makes me wonder how she can ever work with those who are different from her a...