Saturday, September 08, 2007
one more thing (again)
Sometimes I like to read the blogs of my friends, and pretend like they are a letter from that person to me especially. I like that. It makes me feel like I'm home.
Cultural Issues class - reading response
I am in a class which looks at cultural issues (essentially in higher ed, but it ends up about being in the world). This class is a GREAT class. We are going to be forced to look at ourselves and our world with new eyes and I love that.
Each week we have to write a reading response. I may not post my response regularly, but this week seemed like it would cause us all to think about what messaging we are producing and seeing.
My entry is intentionally "unfinished" - we don't have space in our reflection writing to really finish any of this work, but its just to get us thinking and help our prof know where our head is. I hope to continue thinking about this issue this week.
Blessings, Tiffani
Here follows an edited version of my response:
I came to my desk to write about stereotypes and prejudices. When I was reading yesterday, I thought I would be writing about ethics. I may still try to write about both those things… but my first order of business is the new Baylor homepage (www.baylor.edu). I don’t remember ever looking in depth at the photos on the old BU homepage (and I haven’t even done this work yet on my own department’s page). However, as I was reading about assumptions and stereotypes (i.e. “Whites are smarter than African-Americans.”), I happened to load up the internet. This wasn’t the first time I saw the new BU homepage, but I guess my reading just happened to make me look at it with more critical eyes.
I first saw a white male, with the words, “Be Strong and Courageous.” I decided to see what other messages we were sending. There was a white woman graduating (with “be transformed…”), white people in a computer lab (“give me wisdom and knowledge”), an African American male in his Baylor Line jersey – clearly running onto the football field with “live by the spirit” – he is surrounded by white women, and this is followed by a picture of the rock wall with two white males on it. The next photo is of an African American woman (with “give me in your truth…”), and the last photo is of white males and says, “nothing will be impossible.”
I have thought about this issue before. I have tried to imagine that I was a student seeking to find a college where I would fit and I look at websites to see if I’m represented there. What Baylor’s new site tells me is that BU is primarily a place for white people, and maybe some African Americans would feel Ok about attending, too. But if I were an Asian or a Pacific Islander, or a Latina woman (just to name a few), I appear to not be represented here.
Today, I was struck by the subliminal content of the messages next to the pictures. I feel like our new homepage reinforces the stereotypes that African American males are only interested in sports, not school. I see stereotypes that the worship we have here is only for white people (the first picture is one of students worshipping and only includes white students). I know that this is not intentional – in fact, I’m sure that if I mentioned this to the office that controls the webpage they would be surprised by this messaging. They might even disagree.
This makes me think about the ethical concern of “Do no harm.” I appreciated the perspective of Pope when she mentioned that even ethics can contain cultural bias. That the intent to do no harm isn’t good enough, as professionals we have to consider if someone received harm from our actions (even if it was unintended). I don’t know that I had really thought of that before – but thinking about it, especially in light of what I know is white privilege in my case, I wonder how many times I’ve had to apologize because I’ve hurt someone’s feelings or been insensitive to a cultural difference even though it wasn’t my intent. Incidentally… a lot of times.
Each week we have to write a reading response. I may not post my response regularly, but this week seemed like it would cause us all to think about what messaging we are producing and seeing.
My entry is intentionally "unfinished" - we don't have space in our reflection writing to really finish any of this work, but its just to get us thinking and help our prof know where our head is. I hope to continue thinking about this issue this week.
Blessings, Tiffani
Here follows an edited version of my response:
I came to my desk to write about stereotypes and prejudices. When I was reading yesterday, I thought I would be writing about ethics. I may still try to write about both those things… but my first order of business is the new Baylor homepage (www.baylor.edu). I don’t remember ever looking in depth at the photos on the old BU homepage (and I haven’t even done this work yet on my own department’s page). However, as I was reading about assumptions and stereotypes (i.e. “Whites are smarter than African-Americans.”), I happened to load up the internet. This wasn’t the first time I saw the new BU homepage, but I guess my reading just happened to make me look at it with more critical eyes.
I first saw a white male, with the words, “Be Strong and Courageous.” I decided to see what other messages we were sending. There was a white woman graduating (with “be transformed…”), white people in a computer lab (“give me wisdom and knowledge”), an African American male in his Baylor Line jersey – clearly running onto the football field with “live by the spirit” – he is surrounded by white women, and this is followed by a picture of the rock wall with two white males on it. The next photo is of an African American woman (with “give me in your truth…”), and the last photo is of white males and says, “nothing will be impossible.”
I have thought about this issue before. I have tried to imagine that I was a student seeking to find a college where I would fit and I look at websites to see if I’m represented there. What Baylor’s new site tells me is that BU is primarily a place for white people, and maybe some African Americans would feel Ok about attending, too. But if I were an Asian or a Pacific Islander, or a Latina woman (just to name a few), I appear to not be represented here.
Today, I was struck by the subliminal content of the messages next to the pictures. I feel like our new homepage reinforces the stereotypes that African American males are only interested in sports, not school. I see stereotypes that the worship we have here is only for white people (the first picture is one of students worshipping and only includes white students). I know that this is not intentional – in fact, I’m sure that if I mentioned this to the office that controls the webpage they would be surprised by this messaging. They might even disagree.
This makes me think about the ethical concern of “Do no harm.” I appreciated the perspective of Pope when she mentioned that even ethics can contain cultural bias. That the intent to do no harm isn’t good enough, as professionals we have to consider if someone received harm from our actions (even if it was unintended). I don’t know that I had really thought of that before – but thinking about it, especially in light of what I know is white privilege in my case, I wonder how many times I’ve had to apologize because I’ve hurt someone’s feelings or been insensitive to a cultural difference even though it wasn’t my intent. Incidentally… a lot of times.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
one more thing
And it was labor day weekend...
I spent Friday and Sat in Waco - delightful. We layed out by the pool and read and then Candice, Collin, Kathryn and I went to Red Lobster- what a treat! After, I joined Myles and Sarah at Pirates 3 (at the cheaps).
Sunday after church, Sarah and I loaded up and headed to San Antonio to see the Fergasons.
It was a great visit! We stayed until early Tuesday morning.
I spent Friday and Sat in Waco - delightful. We layed out by the pool and read and then Candice, Collin, Kathryn and I went to Red Lobster- what a treat! After, I joined Myles and Sarah at Pirates 3 (at the cheaps).
Sunday after church, Sarah and I loaded up and headed to San Antonio to see the Fergasons.
It was a great visit! We stayed until early Tuesday morning.
Weekly Update (9/6/07)
Ok, there, I said it... "Weekly Update"
Yes, friends, its fall again, and hopefully I will be able to keep this up all semester. I'm excited to feel like I could have time to spend 20 minutes a week updating!
The last couple weeks have been really fun!!!
My friend, Kristen, had a birthday and we dressed up in 80's clothes, surprised her at the Starbucks (and 80'ed her up) and then traveled to "Skate World" where we skated the evening away to the sounds of current music (mostly hip hop) and some 80's requests that they threw in for us. Our last dance was to Thriller which was especially fun, since we had created a dance to Thriller during line camp. We all skated to the center circle and did the dance - so fun!
(p.s. to see the thriller dance at line camp, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pmIKw_u0HY)
Pictures of 80's night to follow.
Last week, My pal, John Hickam, was in Dallas for a few days with his work (Boeing). It was great fun to be able to drive up to Dallas mid-week to visit him - especially since I didn't get to see him when I was in Seattle last month. He flew in on Wed and I arrived just before his flight. We got all dressed up and headed to Chamberlain's - which is a fancy steakhouse on the West side of town (I think). It was delicious, but even better was the company and getting to talk and make each other laugh. I always have a great time dining with John. After dinner we went to "Pete's Dueling Piano Bar" because John had thought it would be nice to go to a jazz lounge or something like it. Well, not knowing Dallas, there was no way of knowing that this would be nothing like a jazz lounge... but more like a bar that happened to have live music. That notwithstanding, it was a SUPER time. The pianists were incredible - they also played drums and the harmonica - and it was fun to sit and sing and watch people be ridiculous.
The next morning we had breakfast at La Madeleine (I think I like lunch there better, though it was good) and then we went to see where President Kennedy was shot. That was a fascinating experience. We saw the sixth floor window where they believe Lee Harvey Oswald was standing when he shot the president. We also saw the place on the grassy knoll where some people believe the shooter actually was. We met a man who was there when he was 13. Interesting experience.
Pictures again, to follow.
I drove back to Waco just in time for a baby shower for my friends Ryan and Kristen Richardson - they are having a baby boy named, Syler James and I'm really excited about it for them.
Finally, school has been overwhelming - at least in theory. There seems to be a lot of work ahead, but aside from reading I've mostly been working at work and not doing any of those aforementioned assignments. Hopefully I'll get on track and get ahead this weekend.
Our sunday school class is going well - I'm helping lead "The Other Side" - a class for post-college age indivs and I am enjoying it. I was hoping to join BSF, but it looks like at least for this month that I will not be able to. I'm still praying about how I can use my Monday nights as a ministry to me (aside from Heroes, which I'm excited about starting soon!).
That's all for now. Pics to follow. Thanks for being patient with me!
Love and Peace, Tiff
Yes, friends, its fall again, and hopefully I will be able to keep this up all semester. I'm excited to feel like I could have time to spend 20 minutes a week updating!
The last couple weeks have been really fun!!!
My friend, Kristen, had a birthday and we dressed up in 80's clothes, surprised her at the Starbucks (and 80'ed her up) and then traveled to "Skate World" where we skated the evening away to the sounds of current music (mostly hip hop) and some 80's requests that they threw in for us. Our last dance was to Thriller which was especially fun, since we had created a dance to Thriller during line camp. We all skated to the center circle and did the dance - so fun!
(p.s. to see the thriller dance at line camp, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pmIKw_u0HY)
Pictures of 80's night to follow.
Last week, My pal, John Hickam, was in Dallas for a few days with his work (Boeing). It was great fun to be able to drive up to Dallas mid-week to visit him - especially since I didn't get to see him when I was in Seattle last month. He flew in on Wed and I arrived just before his flight. We got all dressed up and headed to Chamberlain's - which is a fancy steakhouse on the West side of town (I think). It was delicious, but even better was the company and getting to talk and make each other laugh. I always have a great time dining with John. After dinner we went to "Pete's Dueling Piano Bar" because John had thought it would be nice to go to a jazz lounge or something like it. Well, not knowing Dallas, there was no way of knowing that this would be nothing like a jazz lounge... but more like a bar that happened to have live music. That notwithstanding, it was a SUPER time. The pianists were incredible - they also played drums and the harmonica - and it was fun to sit and sing and watch people be ridiculous.
The next morning we had breakfast at La Madeleine (I think I like lunch there better, though it was good) and then we went to see where President Kennedy was shot. That was a fascinating experience. We saw the sixth floor window where they believe Lee Harvey Oswald was standing when he shot the president. We also saw the place on the grassy knoll where some people believe the shooter actually was. We met a man who was there when he was 13. Interesting experience.
Pictures again, to follow.
I drove back to Waco just in time for a baby shower for my friends Ryan and Kristen Richardson - they are having a baby boy named, Syler James and I'm really excited about it for them.
Finally, school has been overwhelming - at least in theory. There seems to be a lot of work ahead, but aside from reading I've mostly been working at work and not doing any of those aforementioned assignments. Hopefully I'll get on track and get ahead this weekend.
Our sunday school class is going well - I'm helping lead "The Other Side" - a class for post-college age indivs and I am enjoying it. I was hoping to join BSF, but it looks like at least for this month that I will not be able to. I'm still praying about how I can use my Monday nights as a ministry to me (aside from Heroes, which I'm excited about starting soon!).
That's all for now. Pics to follow. Thanks for being patient with me!
Love and Peace, Tiff
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