Hearing about the trials and triumphs that Professor Valverde had to go through in her article, Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia, definitely gave me a different perspective in the power dynamics and microaggressions that are still in play for minorities. So then in her case, fighting for tenure as women of color was surely an uphill battle that came with many obstacles, but it is inspiring to see how she fought past those barriers and even developed a community through her supporters and those that related to her. As Professor Valverde mentions in her article, it is interesting to see now how the corporatization of universities makes it difficult for the college careers of PhDs of color, which is a sad truth as there are still inequalities present for one struggling to break that ceiling—whether that ceiling be made of bamboo, glass, or any variation for those minorities (Valverde, 375). Nonetheless, it is surely empowering to hear her voice transcend past the pages she has given us and galvanize us students to go out and fight for the justice people deserve.
Even so, something that stuck with me visually and mentally in the previous lecture was of the conveyor belt metaphor, because I related to it so well in the past and even somewhat now. This is because I have wondered about how students who are so focused on their goals and aspirations whilst still highly involved in academia still have the capability and drive to educate, participate, and take action for the injustices that are present. Personally, I did not tend to "hop off" the conveyor belt as much, but since starting ethnic studies courses, I feel more empowered and educated to do so. And as Professor Valverde mentioned, there are fires everywhere one looks, so taking a step off this conveyor belt every once in a while can do some good for everyone, which I am going to keep in mind as I continue my education.
Even so, something that stuck with me visually and mentally in the previous lecture was of the conveyor belt metaphor, because I related to it so well in the past and even somewhat now. This is because I have wondered about how students who are so focused on their goals and aspirations whilst still highly involved in academia still have the capability and drive to educate, participate, and take action for the injustices that are present. Personally, I did not tend to "hop off" the conveyor belt as much, but since starting ethnic studies courses, I feel more empowered and educated to do so. And as Professor Valverde mentioned, there are fires everywhere one looks, so taking a step off this conveyor belt every once in a while can do some good for everyone, which I am going to keep in mind as I continue my education.
I ponder: "What else can we as students, or even just citizens of this nation, do to eliminate the micro/macroaggressions that are present in minorities' lives?"
References:
Kieu-Linh Caroline Valverde. "Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia." Pham, H., & Pham, K. (2010, February 8). Retrieved January 13, 2019
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