Even though this is the first
chapter to the book, I think that reading it at the beginning of the New Year
is a great time to explore the foundations of social justice and what our work
with RAPP really stems from. Social Justice is a term that is often mistaken
under other names; people use it interchangeably with terms such as diversity,
inclusion and multiculturalism. The Art
of Effective Facilitation defines social justice in the context of higher
education currently as recognizing and ridding this system of its
institutionalized privilege and discrimination.
Though the authors do add to this definition later in the chapter, I
think that it is imperative to point out another definition that is simply in
the root of the term. We are talking about social
justice, so one must distinguish that social justice is also aims to teach and
heal issues of equity, diversity, prejudice, and discrimination at the social
level not just the institutional level.
One of the reasons why I think my
definition includes this at its core is something that I learned from this
chapter which is the evolution of social justice to grow to what we know it as
today. It started as simply admitting non-white schools into places of higher
education. Those efforts moved from just the simple allowance and admittance of
the students, but to the representation of these students by creating
systematic policies to give equal opportunity to all students. From representation
grew for support of the growing number of students of color on campuses.
Support would include things places such as the African American Cultural and
Research Center and monies to help fund their tuition. Lastly, in the evolution
of social justice we have the assimilation of all of these cultures in with
each other to create an environment conducive to learning and assuaging
prejudice and stereotyping. Social justice is more than just a numbers game, it
has grown to include many different multitudes to teach and change the existing
ailments that can hinder (in this setting) our places of higher education from
being multicultural environments.
In some
ways, each of these efforts have fallen short. In other words, I mean that even
though social justice has evolved. This applies to my personal experience with
the RAPP program, especially as a facilitator, because in the group and in our
workshops we really touch on every aspect of the evolution of social justice.
From the modules we teach and the testimonies from RAPP members, I can assert
that we still have a long ways to go at the University of Cincinnati in each of
those aspects from the most basic numbers game to a social prejudices and stereotyping. Although, this sounds like something to be sad about, it is also motivation to continue things like RAPP and work like it on campus. The fact of the matter is: we have work to do.
I agree with most of what you said, Tristen. The one word that gives me the heebie jeebies is assimilation. That word speaks to me of a homogeneous culture. Since we are NOT all alike, this is (in my mind) not something to strive for. We want to recognize and respect difference, not mold everyone else into the same old, same old. Also, the damned word reminds me of those horrible episodes of Star Trek with the Borg in them. ICK!!! Give me freedom of expression any day!!!
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