Kanye West

It's heart breaking to see the racial divide still be so prevalent in the U.S. Some people think it's solved. I just think people think there are no more issues because they want to avoid the shame and guilt from our awful history (and if you're White, maybe the shame/guilt is also from having your own "race/ethnicity" cause such pain and tragedy to another group). Not only that, but many of the people who do not believe the issues are there anymore may be people that typically don't have to deal with the issues or didn't grow up dealing with the issues/knowing the issues.

So today, people wonder why Black people make such a "big" deal out of racism. They wonder why they are so "crazy" or "angry." I just have to say that unless you have grown up with the history and generational context of what their people went through, then you have no right to say that. It's devastating, the history and the experience that their people went through. What they are STILL going through. I can only imagine so much as the second generation from a refugee-family-context. However, the story of the Black people in the U.S. is completely different too.

Regardless of how much of a saint you want to be in this area, or how much of a saint you think you already are--you have no credit to question Black people's views of racism, unless you have grown up with or TRULY learned the values and culture of Black people, and are able to completely understand where they are coming from. You have no credit to say that you are NOT "prejudice" against this group of people--because we have all heard the stereotypes, and we know them well. They affect us way more than we can even imagine. We have our preconceived judgments that have been seeped and planted in us.

Some of these stereotypes and learned judgments are seen when someone steps up and says something, particularly of the minority, in this case Kanye West. MAN people react like crazy when a black man stands up and says something! LET THE MAN SPEAK! Can he not be a man and have his "rights" to freely speak? No, instead he is seen as the crazy BLACK man. I don't mind using labels sometimes like "Black" or "White" in a non-negative way. But I just don't understand why people complain that there is no more race/racism but they invalidate and discredit Kanye's views and do exactly what they believe doesn't exist anymore! They validate their "superior" view and invalidate the view from a Black man that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Anyone else would let a WHITE MAN speak boldly and passionately--and when it's a liberal, extremist, racist, communist, socialist, or some type of "ism/ist" type of speech from the WHITE MAN, the majority will just label him as a lunatic extremist from the selected "ism/ist." BUT when a black man speaks, it's just: "OH, there goes another one of those black people complaining again...." The BLACK man that speaks up gets labeled as the "reverse" racist for life and is shamed FOREVER, while the conservative-radio-show-host WHITE man says something so derogatory, but all he loses is his JOB--but then gets hired for another. He's just an individual going crazy and speaking his mind. But Kanye, well he's just a crazy BLACK man, not an "individual" with his own thoughts and convictions--but just another crazy Black man that complains about racism. Why can't he just be nice like those other successful Black people that don't complain? (Being rhetorical here)

Can you see the difference here? Where am I trying to come from??? Folks I'll just give it to you: there is this word called PRIVILEGE. We all have it in our own ways. Sometimes privileges are blessings, but beware they are/can be a CURSE too. This is the white man's privilege: you can say and do whatever you want, you might get labeled as stupid or something, but the privilege from your KNOWN and UNROBBED history has given you, from the status you already are ASCRIBED in society (a status that began to be ascribed a few centuries ago--when other racial groups were oppressed; and something that was STILL ascribed 40/50 years ago when other racial groups were discriminated agaisnt), from the color of your skin, from the majority of people that look/think like you, from the general "mainstream" culture, will always be there to validate you in the end and get you back up on your feet.

But the black man's privilege? Not sure if there is one... you say whatever you want, as stupid/crazy/angry you want... but your "ascribed" status in society is reaffirmed even though people will say that everyone is equal: lower class, crazy if angry, complaining, a person with no credit or validity.

Okay. I'm going to stop right there....

But more about Kanye West. I understand that the man has issues of his own folks. From his big break up with his gf, to the death of his mother, to his own experience as an artist, and as a Black man. Some of these issues in his life manifested from his George Bush statement, to his outburst backstage at the VMAs regarding him being the "best artist," to his outburst with T. Swift. They are all different in and of themselves. He is a very passionate man that doesn't know how to get his words out in a way that makes sense to people. He does it best through his music, which is probably why he is such a great artist. We are all like that in some way.

Anyway, personally, I think he is a very broken hearted man right now. People need to stop being so hard on him. Looking at those statements above, I think he has strong convictions about social issues, and about music. But people need to stop being so hard about him and his convictions, because he is still trying to find a way to say them. He's saying it in a white that makes sense to him. So folks lets be patient, since he is also going through so much pain. Read the lyrics to his music people! You can see it folks. Don't write off what he has to say just because it doesnt make sense to you nor because you dont agree. Instead, understand that the man is going through a lot of pain and is just like all of us... His words may not make the most sense right now, especially with those losses in his life, but lets just keep an open ear and listen to what this musical prophet has to say... Let the man be a man... and yes he is a Black man, but still, first he is an individual man within a collective group of people.

Enough said for now. More will come about the race topic.

Moolah Part II

Well just wanted to send a big thanks to all the people that are supporting me financially! Wow, God has definitely been faithful and providing. Just this weekend alone, God allowed me to raise $1040 dollars. Not only that, but a couple of weeks ago, it was confirmed that NWC was going to contribute $1000 to each student on the internship. This pretty much means that I have about $820 to raise (if I include the $140 + Heidi's $20 that I got a few weeks back). I can't believe that $3260 has somehow been raised. Praise God! The Lord has been faithful and so has everyone else! Thank you Jesus! And may God continue to bless all those supporting me financially and through prayers! Omigoodness, it is much appreciated. Thank you! :)

Moolah

According to my calculations, I have about three more weeks to raise $2000 for the internship. Crazy huh? So if you, rare stranger that never likely reads my blog, would so kindly like to donate, please send me an email to dzlor@students.nwc.edu and we can talk. :)

Anyway, not much to update about though. Met with the miss that is hosting us in China the other day. That was interesting. She's very forward and bold. And I definitely saw how she understood the Chinese culture from her own pov.

Anyhoo, the schedule of our time in China looks great, although I have mixed feelings about seeing the Great Wall... since the books we've been reading feel so strongly about Christians not taking "vacations." We'll see; this will have to be another conversation with the team. Nonetheless, everything seems so much more real now, now that there is an itinerary schedule. I am most nervous and yet excited about the concept of "the amazing race" we'll be doing in Beijing with university students. Lol, I can see myself already stressing out yet marveling at everything I see (i.e. the excessive amount of Asian people around me lol--not something you see everyday in the U.S.).

Yesterday we met the Indehars. They are on furlough from Thailand. That was fun because they have such inviting personalities, and I can totally see how they both complement one another as husband and wife. Learned a few thai phrases. Sa wat dee ka is how a female would say hello. :) It was good talking to them also just cuz it also makes things more real too. They talked about Santisuk, the english school that I'll be teaching at. I'm getting more and more nervous now that I think about it.

Anyway, I must be about doing homework. Sigh. Please though, please feel free to donate some money for my funds! Thank you.

-Danielle

P.S. Here's another pic of the team. I feel that I am really developing friendships with a few of the girls that aren't Hmong, and I am so excited about it. I truly feel that these girls genuinely care and are real. But of course, that's just me interpreting things my way :P.

The Team

Well, school is in full force now. It is crazy considering how fast everything is going. Everything is so "academic" and it's starting to bite me because I am typically an "event" type of person--not task. I just need to keep my head above the waters and breathe. I wish all the classes and academic time was spent more on the team getting to know eachother too. That's the thing I'm really worried about. I want to trust the team. But I'm hesitant about some people. I just need to remind myself that not everyone operates in my culture.

Well, here's a picture of some of the team. We went out to eat at Perkins. Good times. Btw this is not a good pic of me.



There are about 20 students going on the trip. I think we're a pretty good mix. There are 7 men, and imo i think that's pretty good considering there's less sometimes. Lol, in the picture above I look like a hot mess. Oh well.

Well that's all I want to post for now. Tata and good day,

-Daniela