June 6, 2013
by cathryn_edelstein
0 comments

Anti-racism activist Tim Wise

Blog Post by Avery Cohen

Last Monday, I had the privilege of seeing anti-racism activist Tim Wise speak on campus. Earlier in the semester I read Wise’s “White Like me”, a memoir that explores the author’s own experience as being a recipient on white privilege. White Privilege, as defined by the Emerson TALKS is a “Racial inequity that focuses on the benefits of access to resources and rewards that Whites receive by virtue of their skin color as well as the disadvantages that people of color experience. Examples of this include the ability to surround oneself with individuals of the same racial group, being approached by the police without suspicion of wrongdoing based on race, the expectation that one does not speak for his or her entire race, and the ability to be promoted without the assumption it was based on affirmative action.”

Wise is undoubtedly a gifted polemicist and thinker. What really struck me about his talk, though, were the parallels made to some of the case studies we discussed in Emerson Talks. In Session 5 “Jobs and Internships”, we ruminated over Case 2 for quite a bit. I’d say this particular case was the most overt manifestation of white privilege I encountered throughout my participation in Emerson Talks. The case recounts a situation in which five Caucasian individuals by the names of Emily, Kate, Emma, Cody, and Tanner filled out resumes and cover letters for the same position. Five Black individuals by the names of Nia, Jada, Maik, DeShawn, and Andre did the same. After the applications were examined, Emily, Kate, and Tanner were called in for interviews. My entire group without a moment’s hesitation agreed this was an instance of White Privilege.

At first glance, this was rather jarring. With summer imminent, cover letters and resumes are fresh in my mind, this case study came at an opportune time. Perhaps it was the ubiquity of situations like this that proved unnerving. This wasn’t an aberration, but rather symptomatic of a much larger issue. A study done from the Cambridge-based National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that a black-sounding name remains an impediment to landing a job. After responding to 1,300 classified ads with dummy resumes, the authors found black-sounding names were 50 percent less likely to get a callback than white-sounding names with comparable resumes.

Yesterday, I received an official internship offer from the company of my choice. Elation was tempered by a strong dose of realism, as my mind inevitably reverted back to the case study I’d examined only a week before. I couldn’t help but wonder; would the name DeShawn grant me the same privilege as the name Avery?

I’ll never know.

Situations like this are why we need Emerson Talks. The self-reflection and awareness that programs like Emerson Talks begets is essential. That first initial jolt of discomfort—the one I felt at the case study—are the first steps in affecting change.

May 24, 2013
by cathryn_edelstein
0 comments

Being Biracial: Too Black for White Kids and Too White for Black Kids

By Naomi Parker

In hindsight, it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact moment in time when things changed; when your moods or opinions changed. Or more importantly, how your outlook on life changed. The easiest way for me to pinpoint the moment in my life when I stopped being angry with the racists I was encountering, but more so sympathetic, was to make a list of all these encounters.

· Was it that time in grade school when a white classmate of mine yelled “move nigger!” to me on the playground?

· Or the time my best friend in third grade, who happened to be a black student, told me we could no longer be friends after she discovered I was “being raised by white people”?

· Was it the time an elderly, white family member told me I was “too dumb” to attend school with white students?

· Or how about that time in high school when a classmate said I was “black and stupid”. I asked him, “Am I stupid because I’m black or because I’m black,I’m stupid?” He intelligently replied with, “yes”.

· What about when a kid told me “chocolate students shouldn’t be sitting up in the front of the bus”?

· Or when I was 15 years old on a different school bus and younger, white students threw rocks and spit at me. Then processed to tell me “Do you know why the palms of black men are lighter, almost white? I’ll tell you, it’s because there is a little bit of good in even the most evil people”.

· How about more recently, in a class my first year of college, when a student told me “you come from a middle class family, you aren’t a real black person”?

When I look back at my direct encounters with racism, I noticed hatred, but I also noticed how lucky I am. I have never been beaten, robbed, or threatened. And more importantly, I have been educated. I recall coming home angry, crying, punching pillows, and screaming. But it’s important to notice that these aggressive, angry outbursts were almost putting me on the same level of those people. I was acting out in a way that wasn’t going to accomplish any change. Sitting at home crying wasn’t going to create any more of a difference than students yelling out racial slurs. One top of it, this anger wasn’t healthy. I was letting these individuals destroy me, when in reality, they were the ones that were destroyed. Most of these people had been brainwashed into believing that minorities were subhuman, in their eyes we weren’t equal. Whether their parents or the media had wired their minds to think this way, they have automatically closed off themselves to some of the brightest, most creative people I have ever met in my life. I also wonder how someone can live with so much hatred in his or her heart. Everyday they are forced to walk, talk, and interact with minorities. And the entire time, they sit there in disgust.

In retrospect, it wasn’t one specific moment that changed my outlook; it was all these events put together. After each encounter, I became stronger and it allowed me to think about what had happened, reflect on it in a sense, and grow from that experience. All these people have given me a strong backbone that has benefitted me in multiple situations, and because of that, I am grateful. I am grateful that a person was brave enough to speak their mind (hurtful or not) because in the end, it has contributed to the person I am today.

April 28, 2013
by cathryn_edelstein
0 comments

What Emerson TALKS has meant to me

Alex Lynn, 2015, Participant

I came into this room filled with students, mostly older juniors and seniors, and sat myself down with a bit of nervousness. Little did I know, I need not to be worried, as Mario, Kirsten, and ZT (the facilitators) took care of us. The first night was full of introductions, ice breakers, and finally the hard stuff: the issues at hand. Personally, I am not one who likes controversy, as I feel many Americans may be, but this was a new type of workshop that really broadens one’s horizons.
Emerson Talks truly does broaden the view of the younger student. Growing up, I never really understood to what depth diversity influences our homes, schools, and careers. Here, I learned to not be afraid of a little controversy but instead to use it. One must not only hear, but listen, to their peers and ask questions to dig deeper because with the knowledge of multiple perspectives, we can resolve these issues. This workshop can bring your general education class to life. Throughout these six weeks you will learn not only about local and global problems but also get more acquainted with your fellow Emersonians of all majors and backgrounds.
It’s time that the world steps up and faces the hard issues. Emerson Talks is the foundation of this, talking through issues; however, our next step must be action. This step need be taken by the passionate individuals of our generation. As Margaret Mead once said “never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

April 10, 2013
by cathryn_edelstein
1 Comment

Third genders are alternative genders that have their own space and gender roles

Jenny Woodford, 2013, Participant

Third genders are alternative genders that have their own space and gender roles. Third genders have specific names and often have withheld sexuality. Third genders are difficult to classify, it is hard to say whether or not third genders are totally separate from male and female roles. Some examples of third genders are the Hijras of India/Pakistan, Sworn Virgins of Albania, Toms and Dees of Thailand, Kathoeys, and Two Spirits.
After learning about different third genders in varying cultures, through classes and through discussions within Emerson TALKS, I can say that I do agree with the concept. I agree with these ideas because I believe they are real to those people who live as a third gender. It is not my place to say whether or not such a thing is true or exists, because I am not a person living as that gender. I do, however, believe that these third gender concepts are very culturally influenced. For example, it would be very unlikely to find a person born and raised in Iceland claiming to be a Hijra, because in Icelandic culture many people have not been raised aware of what a Hijra is. I believe that when some of these people take on the role of some of these third genders, it is because it is culturally allowed and somewhat accepted (in a way).
I believe that some males who grow up in India or Pakistan and feel disconnected with their gender, act and dress, as females are completely valid. It is very similar to cross dressing or drag in American culture. I believe that gender is not black and white and everyone falls somewhere on a scale. It is no ones place to judge or place blame upon another person because they cannot place them into a neatly organized gender box.
I believe I hold these values because I am fortunate enough to have had the experience of having a very close friend who is transgender. I am sure that before I knew him, I would have had very different views. However, I am very grateful that I have had the opportunity to get to know him on a very personal level and learn the most intricate depths of transgender issues. I think that once I could understand the concept of transgender, I was able to accept any kind of gender lifestyles. It is truly up to each individual to decide their gender for themselves – and if they are happy, no other opinion matters.

March 21, 2013
by caroline_pallotta
0 comments

Look For The Signs

By Andrea Garza Erdmann

If you have been keeping up with social justice on Emerson College’s campus and online, then you probably know Kappa Gamma Chi’s new campaign against domestic violence: Emerald Empowerment has recently begun.

Yet, while their events are about to happen, the issues of rape, racism and violence have formed part of the Emersonian discourse for a while now. Through the efforts of Isis Magazine and the publications of Facebook groups like Emerson Confessional, the discussion of these issues have burst forth. As all these reports are coming to light a new Facebook group is born: Emerson Stopping Sexual Assault. The title is self-explanatory, students joining to stop sexual assault and to reform on campus policies. Unfortunately, sexual assault, domestic violence and partner abuse are plagues that exist outside of Emerson as well.

I have not been a victim of domestic violence, partner abuse or sexual assault. I do, however, know several survivors who have been. In November 2012, the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography), a governmental Mexican agency, published that in 2012, 47 of every 100 women (15 years or older), had experienced physical, sexual and/or financial violence during their current or past romantic relationships. When looked at numerically, it means nearly half of the female population in Mexico suffers partner abuse. And the ubiquity of this violence makes it infinitely more challenging to change perceptions about them.

When I saw that statistic I was shocked. I could not believe my home country practiced so much violence against women. I always knew Mexico was a sexist country-because I had experienced it–the favoritism that there is toward males in various aspects of society, from the personal to the professional life. But domestic violence always seemed to me a distant story, something that happens to a woman on TV or maybe an acquaintance. Not to my mother, my cousin, and certainly not to my friend.

But unfortunately it did, and it does happen to her and no one in our group of friends really noticed until recently. Some of our friends had witnessed the verbal abuse, when he would yell at her over Skype conversations. I had seen the side effects of the psychological one, when she thought she deserved to be yelled at, but strangely enough, we never saw it as violence. The verbal abuse was attributed to the guy having a bad temper, and the psychological one to our friend being melodramatic. I guess I refused to see these signs as violence because I was scared. I hated the guy for giving her a hard time, but abuse never crossed my mind. And then one day it hit me: he’s abusing her. It was difficult coming to this realization, but the instant I did it all made sense, and I suddenly saw all the signs. I am ashamed I did not notice before because this has been happening for years. Now I can’t stop thinking of the “what if”. What if I had never noticed? What if she broke up with him and then went to have another abusive relationship? What if it’s been happening to other friends?

Being here in the U.S. has opened my eyes on that negative aspect of my culture, of the patriarchy we practice and on how common domestic violence is. So common in fact even the news reports on television are tasteless, watered down, and barely cover the importance of addressing this national issue. But this is not only a problem in Mexico, it’s worldwide. Unicef’s “Global Report Card on Adolescents 2012” reported that in India, 57% of male adolescents thought it was justifiable to hit their wives, while 53% of females thought so too. Domestic violence, as I said before, is an epidemic all around the world, and in some cultures it may be harder to see, even if it’s blatantly obvious and practiced in broad daylight.

For me, the first step to realize my friend was being abused was by thoroughly analyzing her relationship with her boyfriend. It made me feel like I was being critical and hating them as a couple because I was being a jealous friend. But when I started asking myself the following questions it all became clear: Does he yell at her? Does he humiliate her? Do they have to “get even”? Does he manipulate her? And how? Are there hurtful guilt trips? Insults? Does he put her down? And above all, the most important question to answer: Does she think she deserves such treatment? It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact someone you know is being abused, and the road to healing is long, plagued with hardship and tribulation. But it is, invariably, necessary.

We are someone’s friend. We may know someone who was raped, beaten, abused, and insulted. We may be that someone, and we may need a helping hand. So look for the signs and be a friend.

If you would like to get more educated on Emerald Empowerment go here: http://www.kappagammachi.com/emerald-empowerment.html

Statistics from Mexico:
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/885295.html

Statistics from India:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-25/india/31398208_1_domestic-violence-spousal-violence-centre-for-social-research

We want to hear your take! Let us know in the comments below!

March 14, 2013
by caroline_pallotta
0 comments

Diversity At Emerson College

By Navidra Hardin

By now, most people are aware of the controversy surrounding the use of the “N” word in Quentin Tarantino’s recent blockbuster, Django Unchained. The film’s racial slurs offended a large amount of movie-goers and, for some, brought the burn of racism.

Let’s just talk about the meaning of the “N” word for a minute. For our generation, the word is known as a derogatory term for Black individuals. For the generations before us, however, the “N” word serves as a reminder of a time when “colored” Americans and “white” Americans could not sit together and be served at the same restaurant, a time when Black children were unable to receive the same education as white children, a time when moral injustice ran our country.

While it is important to understand that Django Unchained is just a movie and not real life, it is equally important to realize that racism is still very much present in our society.

Last week, the all too infamous “N” word was found written on the door of an elevator in The Little Building. Right here, in the walls of Emerson College, racial insensitivity exists. Now, no one knows for sure if the culprit is actually a racist person or if he or she had an extremely brainless moment (which we have all had at some point). However, we know that people were hurt by this. Most of all, we know that there are students who feel unsafe and scared in their residences right now.

Isn’t it ironic that we are witnessing prejudice behavior and discrimination in the same month that America pays tribute to Black History? Isn’t it also ironic that this incident happened at Emerson- the place that champions activism, diversity, and inclusion?

According to the admissions department, 14 percent of Emerson’s student population is made up of racial minorities and while that number may be small, it should not reflect our attitudes about racial sensitivity and inclusion. Yes, we are aware that Emerson is home to some of the best multicultural groups like EBONI, AASIA, and AMIGOS, but that is not the issue! Those multicultural groups are great but they also tend to have no diversity in their membership. Here is the reality: a school that consists of all black students lacks the same diversity that an all-white populated school lacks. So, in retrospect, having a club with all black members doesn’t solve anything for the school as a whole. What we need to do is build a bridge that could help Emerson students understand different lifestyles, cultures, and forms of expression. We need to create a safe space for dialogue—a place where questions can be answered and students can learn.

It is time for us to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror. We have the reputation of being the feminists, the LGBTQ allies, the environmentalists, the world peace-seekers—do not let “racists” end up on that list.

What do you think? Comment below and follow us on Twitter @emerson_talks.

March 7, 2013
by caroline_pallotta
1 Comment

HBO’s Girls Proves We Are Not Post-Racism

By Mehak Anwar

I recently started watching HBO’s hit show Girls, a series about four women in their early 20s, and the nuances of their allegedly normal but clearly interesting-enough-to-be-on-TV lives. Before I started watching, I’d already read several positive reviews about how the show depicted “real girls” who had “real problems” with their “real lives.” As the show progressed, one thing became apparent to both the critics and to me – the girls on the show were all white.

If you’re a fan of Girls, you’ve likely already heard this argument, and if your fandom intersects with your tendency to peruse the internet, you’ve likely read several articles about either a) why we should care about diversity and its presence in pop-culture or b) why everyone’s being hypersensitive about the race issue and just because there are no girls of color doesn’t mean the show isn’t all inclusive of the modern 18-24 year old girl. Lena Dunham’s character just happens to exist in a world where only white people exist, right?

The paradox of Girls is that it tries to simultaneously normalize the world in which the characters exist while excluding a large portion of girls who actually do exist, primarily non-white girls. While it’s possible for someone to have a community entirely made up of white people, it’s extremely problematic to portray that as something that’s normal (not to mention it’s highly unlikely especially in an urban setting like New York City). By this logic, the girls who don’t adhere to any normalcies highlighted in the show should be considered abnormal, and abnormalities are always somehow marginalized and considered “lesser” than the norm. By excluding women of color, Girls is creating and reinforcing the old idea that if you are not white, you are not the norm – and they are reinforcing that though the idea is old, it’s by no means obsolete.

I’m not saying that just because there are no queer, brown girls with stretched ears and facial piercings on Girls the show is invalidating my existence. No show should be expected to represent everyone, because societies where all minorities and subcultures are represented don’t exist either. But a show that pitches itself as the real and all-encompassing portrayal of a certain demographic should work towards being inclusive within that demographic and to show that no colored girls exist within the normal realm of girls is not only racist, but it’s factually incorrect.

Agree? Disagree? Comment below! And be sure to follow us on Twitter @emerson_talks!

March 4, 2013
by caroline_pallotta
1 Comment

So, I Guess I Am A Terrorist

By Navidra Hardin

It was just like any other day I had spent in New York City with my friends—crowded sidewalks, busy streets, and of course, food everywhere. At the end of the day, I walked down a subway station ready to take my ten-minute train ride back to Jersey. As I went through the turnstile, a middle-aged businessman man walked passed me in such a rush that I barely heard his remark.

“You must be a terrorist,” he said.

On the train ride back, I couldn’t stop thinking about those words. I felt like a fool more than anything. New York City was a place where I could fit in perfectly…or so I thought.

But that wasn’t my first brush with prejudice. My first time was during the spring of 2002. I was busy wasting another Saturday afternoon playing Gameboy on my porch. A group of older kids from another neighborhood were playing in my block. One of them approached me and asked, “Hey, are you Muslim?” I didn’t know how to answer that question, so I just told him no. “Are you related to Bin Laden?” he asked with the rest of his friends laughing and egging him on. They soon began to walk away but just before he left, the same boy turned to me and gestured the act of slitting my throat. My 8-year-old mind couldn’t process the meaning behind the boy’s actions. When I told my mom about it, she said, “Everyone thinks we’re like the people who were behind 9/11.”

Our family? Behind 9/11? At first, I thought my mom’s faith was the reason why I got bullied, but no one could have magically guessed that my mom is Muslim right off the bat, right? After all, I had my dad’s last name—a Hindu name. So, I soon realized that the assumptions being made of me were based just on the way I look. My dark-skinned, hairy, Indian-looking appearance doesn’t sit comfortably with Americans who are used to seeing similar types of people burning the American flag on TV.

By now, I have learned that, no matter how hard I try, there will always be people who won’t like me because of my appearance. Sadly, it’s a reality that I am forced to confront every day. The other reality is that I honestly can’t fully blame average Americans for their intolerance.

How can I make the argument that Islam is not terrorism when the mainstream media says differently? How can I say that Islam is a religion of peace when movies like Taken or shows like 24 portray every “bad guy” as a Muslim extremist? How can I prove that my family and I are moral people when local news outlets report that Muslims are rewarded for suicide bombings with 70 plus virgins in the afterlife?

In December, an Indian man in New York was pushed to his death in front of a moving train by a woman who claimed that she hates all Muslims and Hindus for what they did to America on September 11, 2001. The innocent man came to America thirty years ago to pursue the same happiness everyone else seeks. Instead, he was reminded, just as I constantly am, that America will never embrace him simply because of who he is.

We want to hear from you! Comment below and follow us @emerson_talks

February 28, 2013
by caroline_pallotta
1 Comment

Diversity in our Government and Courts

By Mario Delado

Richard Blanco, a gay Cuban-American poet, was chosen as the inaugural poet for President Barack Obama’s second inaugural ceremony on January 21, 2013. President Obama is not only the first African American president elected in the history of the United States, he has brought many other firsts along with him. He has changed the face of many fundamental American institutions, especially in the judiciary system and the executive branch, including his cabinet.

For the first time, there are three women serving on the Supreme Court of the United States, including the first Hispanic judge in its history: Justice Sonia Sotomayor. President Obama has so far nominated eight openly gay judges to serve on federal courts, three which have been confirmed, as opposed to there having been only one openly gay federal judge before his presidency.

Obama also made a bold move when he appointed the first transgender person. Her name is Amanda Simpson, and she was appointed to a senior advisor position in the Department of Commerce. He also nominated Eric Holder, the first African American Attorney General in US history, and Hilda Solis, the first Hispanic woman to ever serve on a president’s cabinet, as Secretary of Labor.

In essence, President Barack Obama’s election has not only changed the face of American politics, it has also set the standard for following presidencies; having diverse individuals being represented at different levels of power throughout the US government is a fair representation of the US populace as a whole.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

February 25, 2013
by caroline_pallotta
3 Comments

Are All Names Created Equal?

Written by Ching Chi (GiGi) Huang

Yes, we all craft our resumes without imagining that we emphasize our age, gender, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disabilities, and the HR department can’t take these elements into account when making hiring considerations. We don’t put our photo on our resumes, no matter how pretty or handsome we are. Why do we do this? Because people want to avoid discrimination.

Many young Chinese and Taiwanese students tend to choose an English name when attending American classes. The reason isn’t because we are discarding our culture or background, but because this can help speakers of other languages pronounce and remember our names more easily and help us to feel more international. As Kenneth Mattsson, Assistant Director in the Emerson College Career Center, said, Asian students are always confused about which name they have to put on their resumes. Their Mandarin name, their English name, or both?

Chinese and Taiwanese students have this question for two reasons: First, we worry interviewers won’t know how to pronounce our given names. Also, we don’t want to jeopardize interview opportunities if companies know that we are not white American. This problem is not unique for international students. According to an article from the National Bureau of Economic Research, “Job applicants with white names needed to send about 10 resumes to get one callback; those with African-American names needed to send around 15 resumes to get one callback. This would suggest either employer prejudice or employer perception that race signals lower productivity.” If African-Americans whose mother language is English deal with this issue, I wonder how Asian names would compare with whites of the same educational background and skills.

If you want to connect with me on LinkedIn, you can only find me when you type “GiGi Huang” not “Ching Chi Huang.” Why? I have a HR background from my undergraduate studies, and I know that no matter how much we emphasize being fair about hiring practice, we still make some decisions without fairness. I want U.S. interviewers to see me as competitive a job candidate as natives.

Which name you will put on your resume? Your given name or your English name?

Share your thoughts below!