Week 1_Aparna_Komarla

Aparna Komarla
SID: 913896026


This post is in response to the article “Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia”, written by Professor Valverde. The article is powerful and extremely intentional in it’s role to stimulate underrepresented folks to fight for seats that they deserve.

Professor Valverde describes several instances where there was support from folks who shared similar ethnic and racial backgrounds as hers, as well as discrimination and isolation that she argues is a reproduction of patriarchal and paternalistic behaviors (1). To me, her experience highlights a dichotomy in the power dynamics of in intra-race relations. I find that there is an expectation for one to feel supported by their own and to build power as a unit to collectively fight oppression that is based on what bind them as a group – their race. But in contrast folks embody the power dynamics of those very oppressive practices and consequently reproduce the dynamic that oppressed them to begin with. I am interested in learning more about the manifestations of this tendency and understanding more about it from a historical and evolutionary stand point.

I am surprised by how personal and intimate this article was. It is exciting and inspiring to see this piece be regarded as academic work. I would like to know more about Professor Valverde’s thoughts on the relationship between academic research and activism, and how she sees her work fitting into these structures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxCqTEMgZUc (2)Professor Angela Davis' speech at UCLA in 1969. Her approach to academic work and activism is very interesting and inspiring.

References: 
1.  Valverde, Kieu-Linh.“Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia”. 
2. UCLA Communications Studies Department., (2014, March 17). "
Angela Davis speaking at UCLA 10/8/1969". Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxCqTEMgZUc