I chose this title because I used to tell people that I was Native American and that "Running Feather" was my name. People would often believe me because I look kind of Native American-like since my father is an indigenous person from Peru. I realize that by doing this I am being disrespectful to Native Americans and their culture.
I felt a strong connection to Miranda's text when she wrote about speaking up and being a minority. When she analyzed the white college student's viewpoints and her own. She wrote about how minorities are generally quiet and shy. I feel that I fit into this category. In part I do not want to speak because I do not want to be judged. I do not want my actions to be taken as from being "Mexican." I want to represent only myself, but I feel that I in part speak for my "race."
I feel that it is interesting to note that "self-hatred" is associated with minorities. I can relate to this as well. I did not like how I looked or what my culture was. I believe this is because I wanted to assimilate to the world around me. I wanted to be like everyone else, so I put my culture aside.
I can relate to what you are saying because I am a minority as well. I know that I am often times quiet and shy when I am in class but I am the opposite when I am with friends and family. I believe the reason for this is because when I am around people that I am not familiar with, I am afraid that what ever I say will be judged as well. Some thoughts that run through my head are often questions like, "What if people think what I say is stupid" or "What if the answer to my question is obvious?"
ReplyDeleteAs for self-hatred, I can understand how some minorities can associate with that. While, I am a minority, I don't believe that I have ever felt that way about my own culture because that was how I was raised. My own culture is something that I will always be able to relate to and be the most familiar with. I think just being a U.S. citizen and a student most of my life has already assimilated me enough to the American culture.
To respond the issue about minority, I have the same feeling as you do. But I think that a person does not have to be shy just because he or she is the minority. Everyone in the classroom are there to gain knowledge. When there is a question in mind, we should just raise hand and ask, no matter you belong to the minority or not. And if a person laughs at your question which he or she thinks is stupid, then he or she shows no respectful manner. Then we can just ignore his/ her comments.
ReplyDeleteI can also relate to what you are saying even though I am not a minority because I am more of the shy and quiet type. I am also very quiet when I am by myself but when I am with my friends I feel more comfortable and talk more.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your feelings about being a minority, I personally am not a minority, but in several other occasions such as sports events i have been the minority. I think everyone can be a minority in some ways and in different settings, which is why we all can somehow relate to Miranda and her situation and troubles she faces in her classes at college. In this way we all can admire her for the way she acts and for the amount of courage she shows to stand up for what she believes in.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who's from South America and he himself doesn't want to be mistaken as Mexican either not because it's unfavorable but because it's an identity thing. I can understand that and it makes it especially harder when you're bicultural or even multicultural, particularly in America.
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