Category: ECS 110

i)
The two stories that I chose: Drew’s Self Story and Jessica’s Earliest Realization. Both stories share one aspect in common: they both explore differing cultural, pigmentation, and appearance realization, and this similar aspect relates to my own self story. As an example, three similar quotes “I met an odd stranger, who stood out from the rest. He was a young Aboriginal male”, “Melody had a different face structure, her body was shaped so differently, and her skin was significantly darker than mine”, and “I had participated in their activities I believed that I was a part of their race, even though I had a different skin colour.” All three quotes connect by explaining the author’s individual realization, about differing skin pigmentation, culture, or appearance. This resonated with me because all three stories share the ‘Normative Narrative’: aboriginal people wear stereotypical clothing, have brown skin, and have a, radically, differing culture. In fact, an aboriginal could appear ‘White’, culturally appear ‘White’, dress ‘White’, but still be genetically aboriginal, so I think, we need to be more aware, of other people’s ancestry, history, and family.
As an example, “researchers concluded from the over 2,000 interviews, “it is the shared perception among First Nations peoples, Métis and Inuit, across cities, that they are stereotyped negatively”(Clark, pp. 2). Although, the stereotypes are not negative, absolutely, they do clump all aboriginals into a similar group, and this could help reinforce negative stereotypes. Another example, “Contemporary forms of racial discrimination oftentimes are subtle and unintentional” (Clark, pp. 2-3). Stereotyping aboriginals subtly and unintentionally is discrimination racially, so the best way to stop this ‘Normative Narrative’, is to recognize and amend yours or its actions. This type of subtle stereotyping is called ‘Microaggressions’; as an example, “Racial ‘Microaggressions’ most often are unintentional and indirect and often-times invisible to perpetrators” (Clark, pp.2-3)
ii)
The fourth story I chose: Danica’s Why are they Different. This story differs from other stories because of perspective. The other three stories were at a perspective, from a ‘White’ appearing author. However, this story was written at a perspective, from a darker skin coloured author. As an example, “My skin was a darker pigment than many of my classmates”. This author writes about struggling, with the realization of having darker pigmentation than her classmates. This story was fascinating because of the change in perspective. Interestingly, this author does not consider herself aboriginal, so this story disrupts the ‘Microaggressions’ ‘Normative Narrative’, because it focuses on her noticing a difference, in her own pigmentation when compared to other people. As an example, “nor had any desire to embrace my family background and personal identity” and “I desperately wanted to understand what skin colour meant and why it was so varying among the people in my classroom.” Notice how she does not group, other people into categories based on pigmentation, culture, or appearance? As an example, “The ongoing construction of white racial identities has socialized whites to conceptualize their world in ways that favor their positions within it” (Solomona, pp. 2). The ‘Microaggressions’ ‘Normative Narrative’, has normalized ‘White’ people into being normal or un-peculiar, and this is reinforced by some ‘White’ teachers. People should not question their own normality based on mere differences.
As an example, “‘Aboriginal people are not the only people here.’ This comment, ‘Aboriginal people are not the only people here,’ suggests that it would be wrong to privilege Aboriginal history, knowledge, and experience in the teaching of one high school course in Canadian history and social studies” (St. Denis, pp. 1-2). This quote highlights an issue: that we should integrate and assimilate aboriginal history, people, and culture. Hopefully by now, we understand that and why ‘Microaggressions’ are a ‘Normative Narrative’, because the point of disrupting ‘Microaggressions’, is to prevent discrimination, racism, and inequality, not assimilate other people and cultures. The idea is to still recognize our own differences, but at the same time, we accept everybody’s normality and humanity. Kind of like appreciating our differences, while still seeing everybody as normal, instead of stereotyping people based on pigmentation, culture, and appearance.

References

R. Patrick Solomona , John P. Portelli , Beverly‐Jean Daniel & Arlene Campbell (2005) The discourse of denial: how white teacher candidates construct race, racism and ‘white privilege’, Race Ethnicity and Education, 8:2, 147-169, DOI:10.1080/13613320500110519

Clark, D. Anthony, Kleiman, Sela, Spanierman, Lisa B., Isaac, Paige & Poolokasingham, Gauthamie, (2014). “Do You Live in a Teepee?” Aboriginal Students’ Experiences With Racial Microaggressions in Canada. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, v. 7, 112 – 125. DOI: 10.1037/a0036573

St. Denis, Verna, “Silencing Aboriginal Curricular Content and Perspectives Through Multiculturalism: “There Are Other Children Here”” (2011). Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi). 268. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/aprci/268

I felt the cloth from the rug. I saw the glare from the T.V screen. I watched Power rangers and transformers, while daydreaming about being a hero. I thought of all my family, that I would impress, and of all my friends, who would aspire to be a hero like me. I was seven years old and full of courage. However, I understood cause and effect, and I knew that I would have consequences for my actions, but I still enjoyed the thrill of excitement and adventure. I disliked boredom and motionless wastes of time. I was very difficult to put to bed because I would always sneak out. I would, constantly, be up until 2 or 3 in the morning, from a very young age.

              When I and my Mother moved to Weyburn, the first action we did was get to know our new neighbours. Our neighbours were two females. One was a single Mother, the other was her daughter. I and her daughter became very close friends; we hung out quite a lot. We played video games together, played with her stuffed animals (we mixed soap opera with action packed fighting), went on imaginary adventures, and finally, collected Yu-gi-oh cards (back when they were popular). We had another male friend, who lived shortly up the hill from us. He sometimes came to play with us. This lasted until grade four, because eventually, we started to drift into our stereotypical gendered social groups.  This was caused by others claiming we liked each other. However, this was not the case; I only viewed my friend as a human being, which I enjoyed a friendship with. Eventually, I could not talk to her anymore because I was afraid of people getting the wrong idea. This ‘Social Conditioning’ ruined a normal human friendship, between two normal healthy human beings.

              I remember seeing multiple groups of single gendered people, males with males and females with females on the playground. I started to recognize a great majority of my friends were male. I started to question why society dictated it this way. I never had any close female friends again until high school, but they were never genuine because they wanted romance, not friendship. Every time this happened, I pondered about my first female friend, and I questioned why two different gendered people, could not be just friends? I saw masks being applied, jealousy, sexism, and finally, depression. I asked myself, why does human nature lead people to lie and manipulate just to reproduce? I remember the time before I recognized my own and other peoples gender, and I remembered the laughter, the happiness, content friendship, and finally, peace.  I wondered what life would be like, if everybody just saw each other as human beings without a gender, but this only brought more curiosity and fascination. I felt a cold wind of excitement, as I realized that I could learn and read about other people with different genders. I thought maybe I could understand why society functions this way.

The snow covered the ground. The city lights, barely, flickered through the window because of the back alley. The cold winds blew against my window, and ice started to form from both sides of the glass. The furnace in the apartment building was broken, and the landlord was two months late, from the date he promised for it to be fixed. My room was cold and damp; I had a small electric heater, which generated heat slowly. The hallways were bare and freezing at – 45 degrees Celsius.  I ran the tap of my shower, and the heat collided with the cold air, which created a cloud of fog. I noticed an old tree that barely stood up, and I wondered if that tree felt poor. I had very little to eat, just some cheese and wine. I wore my winter jacket and pants to bed so that I would not freeze. In order, to drawn out the screams and banging, from my schizophrenic neighbor, I used ear plugs. It helped with tolerating the screaming and banging on the walls and my door. My apartment was cheap and affordable, but many disadvantages came with the cost: the constant knocking at the drug-dealer’s door, which was down the hall; to the constant police raiding and searching of my many neighbors.  How could I forget the broken furnace, which was two months late being fixed?

 I remember being the only co-worker being laid-off, after being the only co-worker putting in overtime and aid. I remember being talked down to, by older senior employees. I remember starving for four days, while in high-school and after graduation, so that I could afford rent and bills. My pockets were clearly empty. I could barely afford my own rent, for the place without heat for two months. I looked outside while it was snowing. An old man sat outside, he was an alcoholic. I felt sympathy and fear because the only difference, between us, was his alcoholism and homelessness.

I watched a rich man and women, drive up to the grocery store with their brand new vehicle. The air, suddenly, started to warm up. I remember owing the government $1000 in taxes for three, whole, years straight. Yet I, rarely, ever visited the doctor. I watched as arrogant and egotistical individuals, flaunted their wealth during social gatherings; like their wealth meant very little. I heard some relatives complain about paying back $3000 in taxes, while making over $500, 000 a year; however, I struggled to pay back $1000 in taxes in three years, while making only $24, 000 a year. I watched a poor old tree that, barely, had life, wither away during those three years. Sadly, I felt a connection to that tree. While I was outside, I used the last bit of my water, in my water bottle, to water the tree. I watched the tree slowly die during the months to come. A half dead leaf fell to the ground, and I wondered if this was foreshadowing….

A treaty person is someone who is included in or responsible for a treaty. This includes all people who received and give in a treaty, so all members included: ‘whites’, ‘brown’, ‘black’, members, negotiators, etc…. This notion or belief leads me to understand myself, as someone who gave and received in a treaty, because speaking for myself, my father was aboriginal; although physically, I am ‘White’ because of my mother, my aboriginal side of the family gave up what they had, while the ‘White’ side of my family received and benefited from this trade.

An extraordinary quote from the article Racism – It’s a Canadian Thing “accept that racism must be challenged relentlessly, not papered over.” This quote highlights an important message, that ‘racism’ should be accepted, acknowledged, and challenged, because far too often, racial minorities suffer the worst. For example, Aboriginal plebs earn an average of $19,000, while ‘White’ plebs earn on average of $33,000. Why do Aboriginals earn less compared to ‘Whites’? Well, Aboriginals are viewed negatively due to their accent, racial, cultural, and finally, ‘socio-economic’ status. The most appalling information that I have learned, is that African-Canadians and Aboriginals represent 34% of the incarcerated population. Despite only being 7.3% of the total population. Why are so many ‘Brown’, and ‘Black’ individuals incarcerated? Most likely, for the same reason why they earn less because of the negative stigma, that is attached to them.

I am beginning to see ‘racism’ as a global and systematic issue, instead of as a local issue. ‘Racism’ is starting to appear more like an insecurity mechanism. It seems like genetic differences, tends to appear threatening and domineering towards others. Systematically, it is impossible to eradicate, globally. However, reducing the overall total number of ‘racist’ individuals, should start a ‘Tea Pot Effect’ that, gradually, pushes ‘racism’ lower into the minorities. Hopefully, eradication will follow after this. ” In order to change stories, society must change, first [sic]” ( King, 2003). Systematically though, I have always viewed ‘racism’ as an institutional tool, used by socialist right wing thinkers (which is usually the majority group, of their respective nation) to keep power, but what should Canadians do, to reduce and fight our own systematic and global ‘racism’? Should we be persuasive and influential, or hostile and aggressive?

‘Racism’ is a Canadian problem systematically, locally, and provincially.

I was young and curious. I lived for the interesting and adventurous aspects and moments in life. It was a hot and warm summer day, and I was pondering about the actions and appearances of others. I remember starting grade one. The class was very different and void of familiarity, from my old school in Moosejaw. I cared for little to nothing, at the time.

I met an odd stranger, who stood out from the rest. He was a young Aboriginal male. He was spontaneous and loyal. We became very close best friends. I noticed that he was different from others racially, but in a way, we were both different and misunderstood. I was fascinated with human nature and emotion, while he was hyper and energetic. We both were neglected from the small society, that most people would call a classroom. However, I did notice that more white classmates, gave me attention compared to him. Our friendship was, implicitly, peculiar and frowned upon. From this point on, I realized that some people, had a disadvantage in society based on their skin colour and race. The thought appeared illogical and irrational, but was evident from my interactions and observations.

Eventually, I moved to Weyburn where I, currently, reside. He stayed with me and my Mother for the summer, but afterwards, I never saw him again. To this day, I wonder where his life took him. Hopefully, it was down a peaceful path.

Dry ground, sub-tropical heat, and humid moisture; the sky was polluted with light and clouds. I felt the effects of naturally warm water, with a clear transparent reflection looking back. I remember being surrounded with towering trees and nature, but very little wildlife. Although nice, this was not home. The clay based back roads and snake shaped rivers, in the flood plains decorated with Cyprus knees and pine trees. This physical image never produced nostalgia. Memories of, briskly, cold winds, snow like sand dunes, abundant wildlife and nature, endless clear and fresh skies, and finally, Tim Horton’s coffee. These memories brought me nostalgia.

The plane ride was long and tiring, but the bitter lethargy was worth the wait. I walked out of the airport, I felt the rough, stern, and silent, creeping, cold hit my face. However, I felt at ease and home. The evergreen trees that stood tall and proud, with a mighty and extraordinaire resilience; reminded me of my own proud citizenship. The snow covered ground marked an important aspect of Canada, that the temperature was right for hockey. A distasteful sport I must admit, but this very aspect of Canadian culture was, apparently, significant. The politeness, that Canadians are famous for was, surprisingly noticeably, instant. Although, no matter how much this reminded me of home, I still never felt, truly, Canadian. The objects, artifacts, and visual imagery never provided me with content, because most of these ideas are subjective, verily. Staring out into the snowy city, one very cold and dark night, I pondered about Canada as a whole.

The cold and chilly night, with pollution on the ground; the city lights shine above the dim shade. This reminds me of a bright mask that covers reality. I think back, in my memories of my life; towards what I actually see, when I take off my patriotic glasses, and I see alcoholics in the bar, rampant racism being uttered indirectly and directly, old high-school friends being shot and stabbed over drugs, incompetent white men having power over competent women, homophobic slander being accepted and used, people dying because of their fear for medicine and science, religious sociopaths, and finally, hypocrisy. The moment that I stood looking out my window towards the snowy city, I realized that I was starting to, finally, become Canadian. During this moment I realized, that accepting yourself for what you, truly, are applies to your national image, also. During this moment I understood, what Canada really was as a whole, not just the positive aspects, and this discovery of philosophy inspired me to try to change those defective aspects, from within Canada’s social culture as a whole. The moment I, truly, felt Canadian, was the moment that I started to view Canada as a whole, instead of just cherry picking certain positive aspects. I still watch the snow mask the ground, before it melts revealing its true self to me. I still hope that one day, Canada can look as beautiful as it does in the spring permanently.

Hello. My name is Brandon. I, currently, live in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. I, actively, work as a Warehouse Technician, while working and studying in four academic courses. I am working towards acquiring an ‘Education Degree’ (middle years specialization). I, possibly, am a bit of a workaholic. However, I do not just spend all of my time working, because I have passions that take up a lot of my time, too.

I have passions with learning, observing, and reading new ideas. I hope to develop and grow, throughout this course as an individual, because all topics, from the practical and rational to the artistic and creative, interest me.

I hope to learn and share new ideas, with each and every student in this course!

My professional image: the image is from ‘ECS-100’.