What is Privilege?

“White Privilege is the other side of racism. Unless we name it, we are in danger of wallowing in guilt or moral outrage with no idea of how to move beyond them. It is often easier to deplore racism and its effects than to take responsibility for the privileges some of us receive as a result of it… once we understand how white privilege operates, we can begin addressing it on an individual and institutional basis.” ~Paula Rothenberg

“Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do. Access to privilege doesn’t determine one’s outcomes, but it is defiantly as asset that makes it more likely that whatever talent, ability, and aspirations a person with privilege has will result in something positive for them.” ~Peggy McIntosh

Indirect Intercultural Communication By:Tyler Alston-Swan

Being able to really seek knowledge and understand how people from different cultures act, communicate, and perceive the world around them is more than less, very important. Being able to come to a mutual understood meaning between any intercultural encounter is the object of communication, effective communication. I come from Puerto Rican and African American descent but in relation to this article, I am first, a STUDENT of this liberal arts institution. I am second, a student of color.

I am growing weary of this back and forth indirect communication between the “majority” and the “minority”. All it does is cause tension between certain groups on campus, I feel it and so do you. In-person intercultural communication is the most effective way to suspend any misperceptions towards cultures and/or ethnic heritages that differ from your own. Deep in-person dialogue between the “majority” and the “minority” is the only TRUE dialogue that will draw a significant connection between this mindless and ignorant gap between us, on both ends. Liberal arts; free to chose, free to be, but not free from mental segregation. This mindset of not wanting to step outside our cultural boundaries and being afraid to sway and linger from our in-groups isn’t progressive. If anything, we will only continue to bind ourselves tightly to what we know as “comfortable”, until the bind is too tight: until the subtle damage that has progressed over time is too great to reverse or mend.

Many of us are familiar with the term, “don’t talk about it, be about it”. This institution takes pride in our students; we take pride in our faculty. We take pride in what we as a catholic institution has accomplished over the years! Now it’s sincerely time to take pride in the cultural diversity WE have created. It’s time to stop talking about what we should do, but what we can do to diminish or shrink the gap between our white and minority students. It’s time to BE who we say we are. “Our Catholic identity also challenges us to create a campus culture that respects the dignity of each member of this community because all of us are created in the image and likeness of God.” These are the very words from Assumption’s President, Dr. Cesareo. Are you up for the challenge?

Assumption's 6th Annual Fashion Show!!!

Thursday March, 24th

6-8 P.M.

Laska Gymnasium

Multicultural Day

Black voters’ enthusiasm may be waning -Boston Herald

By Jessica Fargen

Black and minority voters cheered rapturously yesterday at Barack Obama’s appearance in Boston, but many are worried about whether the excitement that came with the president’s historic election still exists — and what that means for Democratic turnout.

“There’s more enthusiasm when you have the opportunity to elect a trailblazer, the first black governor, the first black president. The second time around it’s always going to be more difficult,” said James Jennings, professor of urban policy and planning at Tufts University. “The issue this time is how many black voters actually show up.”

Obama spoke to a huge crowd at the Hynes Convention Center yesterday at a rally for Gov. Deval Patrick, who in 2006 was the country’s second elected black governor.

The Massachusetts governor’s race is one of 14 competitive governor’s races in the country where the black vote will play a significant role, according to a report released Thursday by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, an African-American think tank in Washington, D.C.

David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, which released a poll last week showing Patrick has a 7 point lead over Republican Charlie Baker,expects minority voter turnout to be lower here and across the country.

“The general consensus is that African-American participation will be lower in intensity, which is why you are seeing Barack Obama and a concerted effort to motivate minority voter participation in November,’’ he said. During the last mid-term elections in 2006, when Patrick was elected, national black voter turnout was 47 percent, up from 44 percent in the previous midterms in 2002, according to the Joint Center. Black voter turnout was 64 percent in 2008, when Obama was elected. Voter turnouts are typically higher for presidential elections than the mid-terms.

“There’s kind of a question mark as to what will the degree of mobilization will be’’ in the black community this year, agreed Avi Green, executive director of MassVOTE. “To what degree will there be sermons coming down at churches about the importance of voting and community leaders really getting out there?’’

Mobilization will depend on Patrick’s field organization in minority areas, which Green believes is as strong as in 2006. Minority voters typically vote Democratic if they go to polls, he said. “Every Democratic campaign has to make the sale, or folks will stay home,’’ he said.

Despite Obama’s sinking approval ratings, there’s little doubt that his appearance will be a boost for Patrick among minority voters, said David A. Bositis, senior political analyst at the Joint Center. “The president is enormously popular with African Americans. To the degree that he needs help, Obama’s appearance will be very much a plus.”

And many voters are keenly aware of what the election means to them, said Darnell Williams, executive director of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. “The issues that were pertinent in 2006 are completely different than issues that are on people’s radar screens now,’’ he said. “When I think about where the economy, jobs, certainty of the future, enthusiasm is not the right word. People have a heightened awareness of what the governor’s race means to them.” Clayton Turnbull, 53, an African American businessman from Boston who hosted a fund raiser for Patrick this year, agreed id the energy is there. “So many people registered to vote, so many people came out for what they wanted. They are going to keep voting, you just don’t turn that around very quickly,’’ he said. d. “I’m optimistic and confident about the population of color and their enthusiasm and their increased enthusiasm.’’

This year, voters will have to be drawn to the polls by more than the promise of making history.

“I don’t think it’s the same as, ‘We are going to have the first black governor. We are going to have the first black president.’ No — that enthusiasm is not there,’’ said Charles Clemons, who co-owns Roxbury radio station TOUCH 106.1 FM. “What’s there now is that, ‘OK, we have elected these men to office and now it’s time for us to support these men because they can’t do it by themselves.’ ”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view.bg?articleid=1289388