Post #9: Rethinking Ethnic Studies
YDEV 501
WEEK 9: Rethinking Ethnic Studies
Being someone who is a person of color and an immigrant living in the United States for only a couple of years, I don't have personal experience on how the (K-12) school system operates in this country. I am well aware how politics, racism, white supremacy and the likes are currently present and how even up to this day, people of color are still fighting for their rights as Americans in this country. Admittedly, this is one major thing/ issue that I'm still learning as I go through this program.
Reading this week's assignment and watching videos of teachers and students fighting for ethnic studies to be part of the school curriculum was eye-opening, infuriating and heartbreaking. It's mind-boggling how this is even an issue when the United States is such a melting pot of people with different nationalities, cultures and ethnicities. Speaking from my experience growing up in the Philippines and being pure Chinese, I've always felt included in school teachings and lectures because our school curriculum included my ancestors' history and culture. Our history classes were inclusive and we got to know and were taught "everything" that had happened in my country -- the good and the bad (including the movement of different types of people; particularly the indigenous people who live in the Philippines). I grew up seeing this as an asset on why my country is so rich in terms of culture and history and it makes me proud to be called a Filipino.
Here in the United States, it's different. It's saddening how a country that is portrayed and viewed by many as the "land of the free" is in reality, a country that is mostly (currently) dominated and ran by racist and bigoted people who promote injustice, suffering and pain to people of color. The worst part is, these people in power don't even care whether you're American or not because in their minds, being American is shown through your skin color and culture. Case in point, the trailer of the documentary, Precious Knowledge, showed a clip wherein a politician who was against having ethnic studies in school made a remark where he said, "You want a different culture, go back to that culture. This is America". I was so enraged of the ignorance of these people and more so, with the fact that they are people of power.
I've only been living in this country for a few years but I know for a fact that this country is comprised of different kinds of people and that being an American doesn't mean you have to be white. I believe that it is everyone's right to know and learn about their people's history, culture, etc. It is important for (non-white) kids who go to school to be able to feel a connection to the teachings and for them to see themselves as part of the U.S. history. I got goosebumps watching Latifat's testimony because it was so powerful, direct and honest. Immigrants play a huge part in this country and we deserve to have ethnic studies so that future generations can be well informed of such events, people, culture, etc. that make up America.
I plan to spend the rest of my life here in the U.S. and to apply for citizenship in the future. When the time comes that I get to have my own family and kids to raise and send out to school, I want them to learn about the truth about America -- the people, culture, ethnicities, stories, events, etc. that make up this great country. I want him/her/them to be proud of being Asian-American and be cognizant of the different nationalities and cultures that make up America. I want my kid(s) and future generations to be informed with the real facts about these things so that early in their life they are educated. I believe that another important outcome that can come out of having ethnic studies is that the more people know about other culture and ethnicities, the less they (white) will feel threatened and afraid. Just as what Latifat cited during her testimony about ISIS; that ISIS is not Islam. Having ethnic studies promotes inclusivity and with that comes love and respect for one another. The more we are better educated with history, the less we would foster hate towards people who are "different" from us.
Reading this week's assignment and watching videos of teachers and students fighting for ethnic studies to be part of the school curriculum was eye-opening, infuriating and heartbreaking. It's mind-boggling how this is even an issue when the United States is such a melting pot of people with different nationalities, cultures and ethnicities. Speaking from my experience growing up in the Philippines and being pure Chinese, I've always felt included in school teachings and lectures because our school curriculum included my ancestors' history and culture. Our history classes were inclusive and we got to know and were taught "everything" that had happened in my country -- the good and the bad (including the movement of different types of people; particularly the indigenous people who live in the Philippines). I grew up seeing this as an asset on why my country is so rich in terms of culture and history and it makes me proud to be called a Filipino.Here in the United States, it's different. It's saddening how a country that is portrayed and viewed by many as the "land of the free" is in reality, a country that is mostly (currently) dominated and ran by racist and bigoted people who promote injustice, suffering and pain to people of color. The worst part is, these people in power don't even care whether you're American or not because in their minds, being American is shown through your skin color and culture. Case in point, the trailer of the documentary, Precious Knowledge, showed a clip wherein a politician who was against having ethnic studies in school made a remark where he said, "You want a different culture, go back to that culture. This is America". I was so enraged of the ignorance of these people and more so, with the fact that they are people of power.
I've only been living in this country for a few years but I know for a fact that this country is comprised of different kinds of people and that being an American doesn't mean you have to be white. I believe that it is everyone's right to know and learn about their people's history, culture, etc. It is important for (non-white) kids who go to school to be able to feel a connection to the teachings and for them to see themselves as part of the U.S. history. I got goosebumps watching Latifat's testimony because it was so powerful, direct and honest. Immigrants play a huge part in this country and we deserve to have ethnic studies so that future generations can be well informed of such events, people, culture, etc. that make up America. 
I plan to spend the rest of my life here in the U.S. and to apply for citizenship in the future. When the time comes that I get to have my own family and kids to raise and send out to school, I want them to learn about the truth about America -- the people, culture, ethnicities, stories, events, etc. that make up this great country. I want him/her/them to be proud of being Asian-American and be cognizant of the different nationalities and cultures that make up America. I want my kid(s) and future generations to be informed with the real facts about these things so that early in their life they are educated. I believe that another important outcome that can come out of having ethnic studies is that the more people know about other culture and ethnicities, the less they (white) will feel threatened and afraid. Just as what Latifat cited during her testimony about ISIS; that ISIS is not Islam. Having ethnic studies promotes inclusivity and with that comes love and respect for one another. The more we are better educated with history, the less we would foster hate towards people who are "different" from us. 
Thanks for your post Jim--and your important insights as someone who did not go through the US K-12 system. I wonder if/ how the US (war, colonization, emigration) figured into Filipino history as opposed to if/how Filipino history is told in the US?
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