Discussion board 2: Introduction to Ethnic Studies
Discussion Board goal:
- Discuss the origins of Ethnic Studies.
- Relate what you learned about Ethnic Studies to you and your life or interests.
Discussion Board purpose:
The purpose of this discussion is to take what you learn about Ethnic Studies and describe what meaning/significance it has for you. This will also help to process the affective (emotional) and cognitive (mind) and put it into conversation with the rest of us. Here we create a space where we start from where we are at in our learning and initial exposure to the subject.
Step-by-step prompt directions:
Please read the Ethnic Studies materials and write a response and submit via Canvas.
- In the Ethnic Studies readings: tell me 3 things that resonated/stood out (or that “spoke to you”, that impacted you in some way, that surprised you, that you learned, that you knew already but “spoke to you” differently, etc) in the Ethnic Studies readings.
- Use direct quotations and cite them. THEN explain why you chose those quotations (why they resonated with you).
- To cite: After the quotation put (author, year, page). Although unconventional, I also want you to put the subheadings section that you cite. For the 1.1, 1.2, and 1.4 readings, there is no page number so you just put (Fischer, 2023, subheading). 2.4 The Beginning of Ethnic Studies reading has a different author.
- Submit to Canvas by the deadline.
- Respond to 2 other classmates by Wednesday, February 11th, 1159pm
Grading Expectations
Expresses 3 things that resonated with the readings and WHY they resonated
Uses direct quotations
Uses citations
Resources
See Canvas for 2 readings
Example 1
The first thing that resonated with me when reading the text was the strong emphasis on the fact that people had the willingness and dedication to protest for Ethnic Studies to be part of their schools. It shows how important it is to look into ethnicities, their histories, and their darker parts in order to learn, understand, and prevent future harm. There was also an emphasis on many individuals protesting. One example of this is a quote that stood out to me the most: Upon seeing students at UC Berkeley going on a hunger strike for Ethnic Studies in 1999, I knew that this was the discipline for me (Fischer, 2023, 1.3). This quote amplifies the importance of Ethnic Studies being part of a curriculum and the overall representation of different groups and stories.
Another thing that stood out to me was how much history this study has with court cases, specific protests, and the overall change it has created, especially by being added into curriculums at schools that did not previously have it, such as Oregon State University. There is a deep, rich dedication in many individuals who motivated others to fight for its existence in schools. A quote that emphasizes this is one discussing a specific protest that took place and used tactics from another demonstration: For two years we protested and employed similar strategies used in San Francisco during the Third World Liberation Front Strikes of 1968 (Fischer, 2023, 1.2).
The final thing that resonated with me was this quote: Ethnic Studies exposes us to larger historical issues, broad socio-cultural topics, philosophies both inherited from our ancestors and rooted in our daily experiences, and the discipline helps us analyze and break down systems of power (Fischer, 2023, 1.2). This quote summarizes everything I learned from the reading. Ethnic Studies is deeper than just talking about specific groups and people, it is about dissecting and analyzing culture, struggle, and change, and breaking it down in a way that allows people to be informed while teaching generations lessons that many individuals never understood or were never taught.
Example 2
This idea stood out to me because it shows that Ethnic Studies is more than just a regular history class. It’s a way for students to feel like they belong in a safe space, and a positive learning environment. The text states,”Ethnic Studies is a space where we can bring our whole selvesour histories, our cultures, our languages, and our lived experiencesinto the classroom.” (Fischer, 2023, 1.1) This shows that it connects people and allows them a safe environment they might not have had before. For lots of students, regular education can feel like a place where they don’t belong, or feel they arent good enough. But Ethnic Studies creates a home where they feel like they do belong. It affects me because it shows that a classroom can be a place of healing and community, not just a place to take notes.
I chose this example because it shows that Ethnic Studies teaches students how to look at the world differently and understand how things actually work. It states, “Ethnic Studies exposes us to larger historical issues and the discipline helps us analyze and break down systems of power.” (Fischer, 2023, 1.2). This stood out to me because it moves past just memorizing dates and events. It stands out because it teaches students to think for themselves. I already knew that some people have more power than others, but this showed me that we can use education to break down those ideas and possibly make things more equal in life.
This last quote stood out to me because it shows that students can have the power to create change. The author writes, “By developing a critical consciousness, students are empowered to move from being passive recipients of information to active agents of social change.” (Fischer, 2023, 1.4). This made me realize that being in a class like ethnic studies and learning about it can empower you. A school subject has the ability if the student wants to, be able to change them into someone to create change. It impacts me because it makes me feel like I can use what I learn to help my own community. It shows that education is a tool that people can use to inspire and create change.
Example 3
One thing that really stood out to me while reading the Ethnic Studies materials was how Ethnic Studies is more than just a classits a place where students can feel empowered and supported. In section 1.1, Fischer says, For practitioners and students whove actually taken an Ethnic Studies class, such allegations are confusing, because many of us have found Ethnic Studies to be sites of empowerment, love, joy, and discovery (Fischer, 2023, 1.1). This quote really caught my attention because it shows that Ethnic Studies isnt just about learning factsits a space where students can feel seen and encouraged. I connected with this because sometimes school feels like you just have to get through it, but reading this made me realize that learning can also be uplifting and inspiring.
Another part that spoke to me was from section 1.2, where Fischer talks about how Ethnic Studies helped her find her own voice. She writes, Discussions and assignments in Ethnic Studies classes allowed me to explore my mixed heritage and for the first time in my life, how I felt that I had a voice (Fischer, 2023, 1.2). I really liked this quote because it shows how Ethnic Studies helps students understand who they are and feel confident in expressing themselves. I thought this was really meaningful because a lot of the time in school, students like me dont see ourselves represented, so having that space to feel validated is huge. It made me think about how important it is for students to be able to explore their own identities in education.
The last quote that really resonated with me came from section 1.4, where a student talks about how Ethnic Studies helped them think about themselves and their community. The quote says, Ethnic Studies taught me how to decide for myself. As an ally and a person of color, Ive learned how I could create change for myself and my community (Fischer, 2023, 1.4). I chose this one because it shows how Ethnic Studies isnt just about learningits about doing. It teaches students to take what they learn and apply it to their own lives and the world around them. This really stood out to me because I like the idea of school being something that can actually help you make a difference, not just memorize information.
Reference:
Fischer, Kay, et al. Introduction to Ethnic Studies. LibreTexts, 2023, .)