Civil Rights Response Paper

One of the most popular and polarizing topics in the United States today is the subject of race and race relations. I have always had opinions about this subject, but I never felt comfortable sharing them with anyone, especially not in a classroom setting. This is not to say that I have outrageous claims and I am afraid of my opinions, but rather that I am aware of the tension that these discussions bring. All it takes is one spark to start a wildfire, and I did not intend to be that spark.

 

I originally did not even want to take HONR 3790 Topics in Honors: “For All the World to See:” The Civil Rights Movement in History & Memory. I wanted to take a class that dealt with monopolies, regulation, and capitalism, but the class met at a time that was not compatible with my schedule. The regulations class was a safe choice. The class was aligned with my major and I wanted to learn more about the American economic environment. Since I was not going to be able to fit it into my schedule, I had to look elsewhere. I hesitated about the Civil Rights class because I assumed that there would be heated race debates on a daily basis, and I did not want to be involved. However, I thought that the class could serve as a learning experience. With all the business and accounting courses I had taken during my time at UNC Charlotte, I decided it was time for something different. I wanted to branch out into a new area of coursework that would broaden my horizons, and this was the perfect class.

 

After I signed up for the class, I knew I was going to be uncomfortable in the beginning. During the first class meeting, I sat there and I did not make comment. However, the class was different than expected. The professor was not trying to summon my inner white guilt, my classmates were not fanatical and angry, and I was not as nervous and uncomfortable as I imagined I would be. Throughout the semester, I began to contribute to class discussions more than I ever thought possible. I was no longer afraid to speak up in class and give my opinion on events from the Civil Rights Movement or even something happening in American society today. I learned that I should be comfortable sharing my opinion with others, even if the topic is very sensitive. Prior to taking this Civil Rights course, I could never see myself getting involved in a discussion about race relations in the United States. However, my stance on that has definitely changed as can be seen in this excerpt from a response paper from that class:

 

“In the documentary, “Ethnic Notions,” we can get a firsthand look at how African Americans were portrayed at this time. There were a few basic characters that were supposed to describe these people as a whole: the mammy, the pickaninny, Uncle Tom, the sambo, and the zip coon. If we look at these caricatures closer, what do they say about African Americans? Here are a few characteristics aligned with these caricatures: lazy, dark skin, bugged eyes, large lips, boisterous, unintelligent, happy, savage, and irresponsible. The process of taking these heinously fallacious labels and placing them into cartoons made the process of detruding African Americans much easier. These caricatures and images implied that African Americans were second-class citizens. Portraying these people as savages told white America that they were superior. Walter Lippmann, the man who introduced the term “stereotype,” said that they were “fixed impressions” that “we carry about in our heads” (Ewen & Ewen, pg. 4).  As the proliferation of racist images propagated through American society, more and more people looked down on African Americans, deeming them unworthy of equal treatment. Since these images and representations of African Americans said that they were unequal and out-of-control savages, they also served as an unjust justification for the mistreatment of these people, too.” (Response Paper #1)

 

Before this process of self-actualization, I would never write or say anything like that. Even if I was thinking about it, I would never include it in a reflective essay and would never say it in a class discussion. I was not comfortable with my opinions and I was afraid of how people would respond. I did not want to cause any problems or have anyone be angry with me. I am thankful that this process of self-actualization has taught me to be comfortable with my opinions. There is nothing wrong with expressing how you feel, especially in a class discussion. Adjusting to this way of thinking is something I went through in this Civil Rights class, along with the Body Image class I took as a sophomore. These are two subjects that are still a little bit uncomfortable for me to talk about, but I am getting better at expressing my opinions. To a certain degree, I am no longer afraid to speak up during discussions. This confidence regarding expression has branched off into other areas of my life, including Bible studies. I now actively participate in three weekly Bible studies and one monthly Bible study, something I would never have done previously and it is leading me closer and closer to the self-actualization I seek. With my esteem deepening, I found myself ready and willing to move further into self-actualization.