Final Reflection

This class, African American Family, has had a profound effect on my life. I cannot say that it is one particular article, film or discussion. They all seem to be magically woven together, just like our lives. Yes, I have learned statistics, data, and aspects of the African American culture that I would not have known. I have read numerous articles on finding a mate and struggles of marriages, lack of competent African American psychologists, the importance of faith and the church, struggles of young women of color who dislike their skin tone, the pathology of privilege and more importantly, the oppression of the African American people.

I have sat in this class, often fighting back tears, as I listen to the amazing stories of struggle and triumph of my peers. Sitting in a classroom, where I am the minority, has been enlightening and eye opening. I found myself often unable to participate in discussion, not because I wasn't welcomed, but because I had not had the experience of being a person of African American descent.  I frequently found myself feeling intense pain for my classmates as they shared their struggles of adjustment to the academic environment, the lack of preparedness, the inability to get needed help from professors, and trying to be an agent of change for their friends and family in their hometowns.

Because of the classroom environment that Dr. Gilbert creates, respectful, emotional and sometimes painful discussion occurs. It is in those moments, hearing the stories of others, that have been the most impactful for me. And what will I do with it?  As I head to grad school, I hope to continue to raise awareness of privilege and fight for equality for the oppressed and hopefully impact the lives of, if not many, at least one other person. I will continue a dialogue with friends, strangers, peers and classmates about the Tim Wise film, his work on "white privilege" and also what I have learned about the negative stereotypes that African Americans have faced and continue to deal with on a daily basis.

I look forward to hearing and seeing what my peers in African American Family will do with their lives. They are all bright, articulate young men and women who have a passion for change, social justice and bringing awareness. The future looks bright for each of them and I know they will do great things to further the cause for change.