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Reflective Essay On Class Racism

Decent Essays

I think the class that had a profound effect on me was my woman’s study class. Our professor who is a DREAMER told us that he would be putting us in uncomfortable places because he wanted us to have an in-depth understanding of class racism and discrimination. One of the main themes of the class focused on a book called The New Jim Crow. It was very interesting to see the author a black woman go through a realization that the mass incarceration system was really just a way to strip mostly minorities of basic rights all citizens enjoy for the rest of their lives. We visited the culinary union during a debate and it was really hard to see he worry and anger people felt toward Trump because they didn’t feel like he was a candidate who would have any of their interests in mind. I think one of the main things that he said we could do to further social justice was to not be passive racist. What he meant was that he had to actively work to end it by standing up to it and furthering agendas to end it. Over my life I would consider my class a sliding scale. I’ve been homeless, at poverty level, working class and upper middle class when I was married. My biggest fear when I divorced was whether or not I was going to be the typical older divorced woman starting over facing poverty. The one thing money does for you is allow you to access better schools, employment, housing and you’re not subjected to crime and violence. When I was homeless and trying to get assistance I was denied because my name was still on our house in Alaska even though I was in California. I think that made quite an impression on me because I didn’t want help forever just for a month or two till judge could force my soon to be ex-husband to continue supporting me as we had agreed. One of the happiest moments of my life was when I got my vascular degree in 2012. Unfortunately a prior back injury forced me to face possible disability unless surgery was successful. I really never thought I would be on the verge of lifting myself out of poverty to possible disability. Fortunately for me the surgery has made me functional but the field I choose was just too physically damaging to do it long term. My experience taught me that people look down on you

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