By Dawn Marie Sicurelli
EDI: 15A Psychological perspectives: Teaching and Learning
College of Education
Long Island University, C.W. Post
October 7, 2010
Today we met at Hillwood Common’s Lecture Hall for the National Ethnic Studies Week Event. I did not like the event because I felt it was degrading to white people. I felt the presenters were focused on only black and white people. I strongly disagreed with the panelists presentations because they portrayed blacks to be the only minorities who suffer from poverty and discrimination. Adjoa Osei and Surrenca Albert spoke about color in clinical psychology. I did not agree with their presentation at all. I do not believe for one moment that black people do not enter the profession of psychology because it is considered to be a “white profession”. This might have been a good excuse twenty-thirty years ago but today this does not make sense. For goodness sakes we have a black president. Who is racist here?
Not one speaker discussed racism towards white people. Not all white people are wealthy and live “cushy lives” as one member of the audience stated. We live in a society of many different cultures where there are rich and poor people in every group. There was a time in my life that I was faced with poverty and had to go on welfare to support my children. When I went down to the welfare office to apply for assistance for my children the people were very mean to me because I was white. The blacks and Hispanics made comments like hey cracker what are you doing here? Go home to your rich daddy. I am going to rape you just because you are white. Even the employees were nasty to me. They said you should not be here little white girl, go find yourself a nice rich white boy to take care of you. Black people need money- you don’t. Needless to say I left there hysterical crying worried that I was going to get raped and or killed. At that moment I made a promise to myself that I would educate myself. I kept my promise and eventually forgave those who said bad things to me.
I also did not appreciate Mr. O’Mard’s comment that President Obama is not liked because he is black. How dare he make that assumption? I was glad when one member of the audience finally put discrimination in its proper place. I did not get her name but her words were very powerful. She mentioned that discrimination is not only about different race it is about accepting different sexual lifestyles, religion, physical disabilities, and cultures. I felt she hit the nail right on the head.
I do not know if racism will ever be resolved in our country. I believe people are too hung up on the history of their ancestors. We must live for today and in order for peace and acceptance to grow, individuals need to let go of the past and focus on improving themselves without putting blame on other people.
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