Mariah Viktoria Candelaria ASA2 A01: Week 4

Mariah Viktoria Candelaria

ASA2 Section A01 (Vrindavani)

Week 4

Something that really captured my attention in the reading this week was the idea of the Master’s House. The quote from the powerful Audre Lorde, “You cannot dismantle the master’s house using the master’s tools.” Thinking about this in respect to academia, how do we challenge or create new tools outside of the institutions we are cultivated in?

Professor Valverde also touched on student activism and its limited capacity in creating a “safe space.” Because there is no true place of safety, especially within an institution that actively works against us, it’s impossible to say that these spaces will provide that intended space of safety for students. In addition, workshops in these types of spaces often revolve emotionally stripping, affirmation-based activities - a way to build someone up after tearing them down. While examining these workshops in a critical light, we are able to turn toward improving these spaces in a way that would inspire more change and awareness rather than soft semblences of unity and community.

Therefore, it is true that a real safe space is impossible to accomplish and that more of these workshops should be aimed at mobilization and action rather than simply a celebration or glorification. However, I have also seen first-hand the positive effects of these workshops creating a sense of solidarity, unity, and desire for change and movement. I believe there is a positive way to balance both to effectively get students to reflect and absorb the material. 

To build off personal experience participating in UC Davis’s Pilipinx Youth Conference (PYC), it was a great way for high school students to get a holistic glimpse of ethnic studies. There were political workshops regarding the current presidential regime in the PI and how to be more involved through either an activist and passive role. There were informative historical lessons that spanned from our colonial roots to present day struggles - the first exposure to ethnic studies some of these students may be exposed to. Granted, there were moments of designatedly intense vulnerability for the purpose of an overall sense of empowerment as Professor Valverde mentioned in lecture. However, I do not believe that those are necessarily a hindrance to the effectiveness of the program.

On that note, Professor Valverde gave me a lot of insight on student activism and offered me a new perspective to examine the institutions in which we work through. I appreciate the new awareness I have and urgency to be more critical of the things we do. How do we continue to question the institutions in place while making an effort to subvert it?