Blog Post #3: Settler Colonialism and Cultural Genocide
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"
Some major key takeaways for me are the following:
1. White IS America. I've only been living in America for a few years but I know for a fact that this country is comprised of different races and that being an American doesn't mean you have to be white. However, one thing that I've deduced from seeing recent events accompanied with the U.S. history -- what I've learned from the article of "Deculturalization" is that U.S. history is characterized by a long tradition of discrimination and bigotry. That in the earlier times, it's important to understand that for some Americans, racism and democracy are not conflicting beliefs, but they are part of a general system of American values. Unfortunately, although a lot has changed in this country in terms of these beliefs/ values, I believe that racism and bigotry still has a strong hold in the system and you have people in the ruling class who still believe in this ideology. What's changed is that now they're smarter and know that America can't operate and flourish as a "white only" country and so they make use of other races to harp on this American dream. They let people of color be in control of certain things but at the end of the day, they're the ones who have the ultimate power and control. (See concept of The Buffer Zone; page 4)2. Racism is prejudice plus power. I grew up having an idea of what racism is and how it affects/ impacts people's lives. One thing I didn't understand was how racism (and bigotry) played a huge part in the U.S. history and how it has taken for granted the many lives of people of color (particularly African-Americans) and how even up to this day, it's still happening.
3. Cultural Genocide through the process of Deculturalization. This is one of the things that I find very appalling and inhumane. The things I read in the article "The Indian Boarding Schools" and how kids were forced, abused and manipulated to strip off/ forget their own culture and beliefs just so they can fit the mold of society and be known as "civilized". Unfortunately, same with a lot of systems and policies, despite the incremental improvements on our education system, there are still students (people of color) who are being deprived of knowing and understanding the real history of America and the involvement of their people/ ancestors and culture in this country.
One good example I can think of is the Providence Student Union (PSU). Here is a video of a testimony from one of the members/ students from the rally that PSU organized back in 2016 as they demanded the district to offer ethnic studies to high school students. They launched the #OurHistoryMatters campaign, which hopes to fix the lack of representation of the district's primarily Latino, Black, Southeast Asian, and American Indian population in the school system's curricula.
Hi Jim,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to bring in the concept of Model Minority here, because the past few months have shown how fragile the idea is. When we talk about police brutality, it seems us Asians are able to escape the reality that is for Black folks in America. Yet when COVID-19 became prevalent in the US, it showed how easily it can shatter before us, primarily for East/Southeast Asians. I believe that one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed within the Asian American community is Anti-Blackness sentiment. I really appreciate your post and hearing your thoughts - the testimony you were able to link is also very powerful!!
JIM!!!! You went in on this post! I appreciate you so much. Cultural Genocide is extremely infuriating in this country because we are taught in school since we are tine that "America is the greatest country in the world" "We are the defenders of freedom and rights of expression" I keep thinking about how many times in my lifetime human rights violations have happened in other countries and the United States tries to save them or stand on the side of the oppressed while simultaneously oppressing every individual and culture that doesn't conform to their rigid ideals. The hypocrisy and audacity is real and present. This world is scary.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughtful post, Jim, and for the important connections you are making to your own biography and all you are learning/experiencing in the YDEV MA program. Importantly, deculturalization was not just about 'civilizing' Indigenous people but about weaponizing education as a way to destroy Indigenous cultures in order to dispossess them of their land. It used cultural assimilation as an instrument for advancing the accumulation desires of white settlers. And this continues today of course, in a same-different kind of way.
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