MARCH 11, 2010
I have been so angry lately.
After being a student who graduated from a public institution of higher learning, I am just recently realizing how important the access to that public education actually was. This dénouement came to me in an interesting way: the fact that I'm writing a personal statement so that I can gain special access to information regarding the past of my own people. For some dumb reason I forgot college/university is a privilege few of us get to enjoy.
Let’s say, hypothetically *cough cough* I wanted to learn more about myself as a Latino: the origin of my people, the past struggles of my ancestors, the current situation we find ourselves in, and the work which has yet to be done to develop a socially just world; shouldn’t that information be accessible to me academically!? Shouldn’t scholarly work/cultural analyses/history written on my own people (but not necessarily written BY them) be at my fingertips? Shouldn’t I have a seat at the table discussing my own identity?! The current system in place doesn’t let us move on up, because only a handful of people are getting educated on matters that 1) may not even be important to them and therefore 2) at the end of the day won’t do anything to help me out with my situation. The only person who can fix the problems I’ve experienced/I am experiencing is me and if I don’t have the right knowledge regarding history and the underpinnings of the ills in the system I live in, how do you expect me to fight for me? How do you expect me to make changes, if you don't let me get my hands on this vital information?! You don’t............and that’s probably how you want it too.I refuse to not receive the education I deserve. I demand my own education.
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MARCH 10, 2010
I was going to explode today. I refuse to watch people be kicked while their down. People will do anything to make a buck, especially at the expense of the poor. When all that is left is hope and you have nothing to lose, quick fix solutions are dangerously appealing, yet while they may offer a temporary fix they do nothing to solve the root of the problem.
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I like "Where is my damn SEAT?"
ReplyDeleteI like it a lot, we have often time as people of color are clouded by too much, shall I say "noise" in the frequency of it all.
It is frowned upon for males (in Latino society) to go to school. They, by default are suppose to the bread winners, the ones, who provide and in the process of trying to achieve that, don't get educated.
I clearly hear what you are saying, but if stressing anything and particularly education it MUST start at the home "The foundation".
Studyin one's own roots is something essential almost as much breathing is. To it all, I simply say this "blame capitalism"
Well put Oscar. PREACH IT!
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