Jim's Blog - FNED502

Examined Life by Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor This short film and topic about dis/ability hits close to home given that I work with this population. I've been in the field of human services serving and supporting people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) for more than 2 years now. I just have to say that although working in this field can be (and is) very challenging, meeting the individuals I've supported all these years have changed my life for the better. It made me more aware of the differences and uniqueness that each of us possess and how kindness can open up a whole new world of possibilities. Lastly, it made me understand that someone's dis/ability doesn't make them less of a human being compared to others who don't have it.   What we don't know and what is different is scary One of the things in the film that I really felt a huge connection with was when Sunaura Taylor talks about...

  For my final paper, I want to examine and highlight the continuing struggle to respect black lives in America. I want to know (and try to explain) why even after hundreds of years and several decades after the civil rights movement, black Americans are still on the losing end of the battle in terms of their fight for justice and equality. The recent killing (murder) of George Floyd rattled the nation and has inspired what a lot of people are calling an American uprising. I want to dig deeper and talk about the root of the problem in our society. I want to find out (give an explanation) why given the fact that we know that: 1) Killing of black people is wrong and has been an on-going problem (crime) and 2) White supremacy (ideology and systems) promotes and perpetuates systemic racism and injustice for black Americans -- that a lot of people in this country still think (and believe) otherwise and/or tend to look the other way. And why we have we res...

I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin and Race in America) by Raoul Peck   The girl in the image was 15YO Dorothy Counts. This was the reaction and treatment she got as she was walking to school in Charlotte, NC. People say that a photograph paints a thousand words -- well, this one certainly does. This young girl was faced with mockery, hatred, confusion and disgust by people just for the reason of her going to that school. I wish I was there at that moment in time because I would've done something. I wouldn't have let her experience all that pain by herself. Sadly, I know for a fact that not everyone who sees this image would feel the same way I'm feeling -- the hurt, pity, anger, disgust and the urge for social justice. And for this reason alone.. it proves that something is wrong in our society. Racism and discrimination felt and experienced by black folks still remain to be real (and evident) and for anyone who thinks otherw...

Spring, J. "Deculturalization", Bollinger, M. "The Indian Boarding Schools", and Nagle, R. "Native Americans Left Out of the US Coronavirus Data and Labelled as Other"   As someone who grew up in a foreign country (the Philippines), I remember the days and years I've spent wherein I dreamed about moving to America and living the "American Dream". Back home, America is the place to be. You want a better life (aka greener pasture)? You want to be "free" to be who you are and live your best life? Then you go to America because it is the "land of the free". Fast-forward to 2020 and here I am in the U.S. living my "American Dream" for about 5 years now. After reading all these materials, I couldn't help but ask myself, was it everything I imagined it to be? Well, being a gay Chinese immigrant, I'd say that I had/ have my share of challenges and fear but I guess in totality, I'm doing "okay...

In Sickness and in Wealth (2008) by Larry Adelman   Mind blown. This was my overall reaction from watching this film. After finding out that this film was made in 2008, I couldn’t help but shake my head out of deep frustration. I had this mixed feeling of anger and “WTF” moments wherein it felt so weird that a lot of the things/ messages and predictions these experts said back in 2008 have now to come to existence That in 2020, we are now in a world facing a predicament that could’ve been avoided (maybe?) or if not, handled more efficiently and effectively. What’s worse is that more than a decade after the film was made, the problem in America’s inequity in social, political and economic systems/ policies remain prevalent (and most likely has worsen) in several parts of the country.   A key takeaway that I got from this film is that: in America, wealth equals health. Here in this country, health is dependent largely on the individual’s assets and resources. Unf...

Hi, my name is Jimson Chua Jr., you can call me Jim for short. I work as a residential director at Seven Hills Rhode Island where I manage group homes for people with developmental disabilities. I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines and I moved here in the U.S. about 5 years ago. I am in the Youth Development (YDEV) MA program at RIC. In my leisure time, I like going to the gym/ working out and being physically active. I like to binge-watch TV shows and movies. I also like being in the water and doing karaoke (Yes, I love to sing and dance). Lastly, I love to travel -- one of my life goals is to be able to travel the world.   Given my background, I don't have much experience on how the education system works here in the United States. I'm personally learning through my experiences here at RIC and by being in the MA program. I'm excited to learn more about the field of education -- it's history, successes, struggles, etc. and how I c...