The final presentation

My final presentation of Grad School world happened on Monday.
Our topic was originally Social Conscienciousness in Schools.
Eventually it evolved into: Activism in Schools, Consciousness-Education-Action.

What we covered:

Personal accounts of "ism" victimization in schools/school settings.
Privilege
The Fake Mantras of Racial Dynamics in the United States (aka "I am color blind")
Institutionalized Racism/other isms

Consciousness-Education-Action: in terms of our presentation, we contend that it's a cyclic continuum. Consciousness and Education being internally focused - especially as Social Workers we have to be conscious of cultural, institutional, and systematic issues caused by racism, sexism, elitism, etc. and education is the way to learn more and be able to ask more questions. Action was the external part where we have to help educate and increase consciousness of colleagues, teachers, staff, students, etc.

Uncomfortable Language (aka offensive language)
Labels
The differences and histories of the terms Hispanic vs Latino vs Mexican American vs Chicano
Eurocentrism (in curriculum, in teaching style, in competition aka social darwinism and capitalism)
Model Minority Myth
The 3 levels of relationships in human services

Cultural Values (native vs "western")
And we ended with a song "Resist" by the lifesavas

We felt the need to address this because the majority of the folks in our classes have been white females and though we are coming to the end of a 2 (for some 3) year journey, many are still not aware of these issues. Case in point - a very limited (abit offensive)"gang workshop" last week that included a slide show of some images of murals and street art that was misinterpreted as "GANG" related. Also, of interest, the Mexican gangs and Asian gangs weren't even included in the presentation. Uh, we're in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Know the community.

Anyway, our teacher thanked us for the "guts" to discuss these issues especially because issues of racism, especially systematic, are extremely difficult to discuss anywhere. I never thought of it that way. I felt we were helpful.

I walked around later on in the day between classes enjoying the sun, the warmth, the mediating breeze and I just felt LIGHT. I think because 1) one more assignment had been lifted from my shoulders and 2) I felt we educated some folks (aka Action).