This class has taught me so much about culture and about pride. Everyone I met was proud of whom they are and I admired all of our differences. I learned so much about people in this class than I would have in any other. I can now look at these fellow students and see who they are as person, instead of the color of their skin. Because I am an Irish American woman, I had never realized the impact that racism had on others or how much it still is practiced into today’s society. Takaki really opened my eyes to the history of Irish Americans. I can only imagine the hard ships my family had to go through when they first came to America. I am happy and excited to learn more about my family and really wish I was able to know more about my father’s background. Even though my father was adopted, he was so proud of his family’s background and he looked at it on his own. He had such a passion for his family history and he felt so connected to his background. The people I met during this class have really made me want to stay connected to my ethnicity. My family had to fight against negativity and reticule when they first came here, it makes me wonder how my life would have been back then. I am no longer just another white woman with blinders on. I am an Irish and English American woman who protects her family history and respects others in turn.
Hi Michelle-
ReplyDeleteI pretty much wholly echo your sentiments. Going into the class, I didn't really expect much. I didn't know very much about my family's ethnic background or my own personal heritage-nor did I have much of a desire to learn about it.
After taking the class, my views on race and ethnicity went through some radical changes, much like yours did. It was eye-opening to say the least to see our classmates' display so much passion about their unique heritages, which put into question many of the prejudices I admittedly had before taking the class.
The class piqued my interests to the point that I decided to research the geneology records of both sides of my family, and in doing so, I found a lot of interesting information that I otherwise would never bothered to look for. Like you, I am also Irish, and the book -and the class as a whole- certainly gave me a newfound respect for the struggles and traditions of that particular culture, and many others as well.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. This class has opened my eyes so much also. Even though I still do not celebrate any of my heritages I am very open to learning about others. It intrigues me how family struggled and their hardships but in the end they are there for one another and never gave up in family. Just because my family does not celebrate a heritage or does not have a sap story about struggling towards another race, we struggled on a different level. We struggled the fact the my family let a drug ruin us for about 10 years. Now that everyone has finally grew up and realized what is important in life, I am proud to say I love my family and I am there for them.
Your father being adopted and still supporting you and your family with pride and dignity just comes to show that he is a man who is proud and happy with his life. He loves you and the rest of your family and regardless if he was adopted or not. Yet, being adopted is hard thing to accept and this just proves my point more about opening my eyes on peoples struggles and culture.