"It's not all about the individual and how much they try. There's something in place that's stopping them from achieving their goals." I agree with this quote, and disagree with the people who say otherwise. In all single stories, there is a truth. But it is not complete. It is definitely about hard work to get what you want -- but even this, what you want, which could be less than you deserve -- is enforced by the societal systems, institutional and environmental, that govern our daily lives. Evaluating systems of oppression, in racism, classism, sexism, and from an intersectional perspective helps shift our focus to the real problem: the roots. The roots shape the individual, and their identity.
"Studying race is contrary to American ideals." I disagree with this quote because America's founding, all presidents will agree with, was based upon the idea of the American dream, that anyone should be able to achieve anything if they work. But because I agree with the above quote that there is something in place that stops individuals from achieving their goals, systems of racial oppression and injustice, bias that we often are not conscious of in critical aspects of who gets what and how today (like in the justice system), I say that the American dream is incomplete without looking at race. America has always been a place of diversity, a place of refugees, immigrants, welcoming all -- persecuted, oppressed, sick, poor; of all races. And recognizing the impacts of these in the struggle to live the American dream, to be Americans, is critical. The freedom to learn your identity is also important in finding yourself in the world, also synonymous with an American ideal.
"When you grow up in a poor area, you don't have the same chances as everybody else." This quote is powerful because of its truth that people ignore, or fail to see because of circumstances. Everyone deserves the same chance, but not everyone comes into the world with it. This is why education should do the job of giving people that equal chance, through mentoring and empowerment of youth. People who are poor have to work to support their families, often do not have help at home to get them through their studies, or have resources necessary for achievement. I have always had a computer at home, and parents who have time to help me, but some of my friends do not, and this is not fair. This is classism, and it goes hand in hand with racism -- youth of color who are poor are especially burdened by societal stereotypes that go with their race, hindering success.
"We are being told we’re not part of America and not part of this culture." This quote makes me wonder what America really is, if these Latino students are being told they are not part of America. Is American culture white culture? I am frustrated with those people who do not embrace Mexican culture, Nigerian culture, Chinese culture, for example, as American culture. Again, it is roots that empower people to achieve. America is all this, and it is this mix that people should embrace.
Mexican-American students feel passionate about their high school's Ethnic Studies program and its preservation. It gives them a sense of empowerment and family, while giving them meaning in education that they were not necessarily receiving before and helping the students to achieve. When Arizona politicians look to eliminate the program on the basis of color-blindness, apathy, and lack of perspective, they respond with fire. The students go to prepare testimonies to uphold their school's program when a bill proposing to reject it passes through committee, bring legislators into their classroom to hear what the Ethnic Studies program is like, engage and orchestrate symbolic awareness events, and advocate for change in ideas among legislators through protest and marches. Their solidarity to uphold freedom to learn information that will help their lives is beautiful.
I think the documentary is more about the Ethnic Studies program itself, that is, an effort to decolonize minds, to empower youth. This rises greater out of a movement towards censoring curriculum and colonizing minds. It shows the hypocrisy of the efforts of legislators to pass a bill that would censor curriculum. A female state legislator said that the goal was to empower youth through education. The Ethnic Studies program was doing it, and education norms were not. The decolonization was powerful in the protest, and it showed an effort to keep Chicano culture alive.
The César Chávez quote is all about empowerment and pertains directly to the decolonization efforts of Mexican-American adults and students in the movie. The knowledge that they learn in their Ethnic Studies class is precious because it shows them that they do not have to be oppressed anymore. They can move past obstacles in solidarity and education. I love the quote, and think it is very powerful. When an idea takes root, it cannot leave. Change can reverse oppression. It makes me think about moving from innocence and apathy towards experience, as youth trying to make impact in the world.
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