Dec
28
Breaking Free from Family Hate
Tags: race, social justice, youth
Filed Under Motivating Moments | By Tim Love | Leave a Comment
I just ran across this article in the Intelligence Report, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, that tells the story of children rejecting the hate that their parents espouse. As we think about our primary prevention efforts across the state, we can be encouraged by the bravery and sense of justice these children choose to portray in spite of their parents, and we can learn an important lesson about the need for comprehensive efforts that work to change attitudes across entire communities, not just within individuals.
“Overall, there’s not a lot of evidence that, at least in the long term, kids get their prejudice from their parents,” said Charles Stangor, who runs the Laboratory for the Study of Social Stereotyping and Prejudice at the University of Maryland. “I would call it more of a community effect than a parental effect. The community fosters tolerance or prejudice.”
We must remember that working with parents is only a part of the answer, but alone will not make the kind of lasting change we all hope for to end sexual violence. It really does take a village to raise a child, and it takes a village based on equity and justice, where violence of any kind is not a solution, but rather is condemned, to raise a child who can reject hate and prejudice taught at home to become leaders for positive social change.
What can we do, you and I, to build communities that raise peaceful, kind and courageous children?
Jul
16
Alito Cares; Sotomayor is Racist
Tags: gender, race, social justice, Sotomayor
Filed Under News | By Rose Luna | Leave a Comment
Today is day four of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings. Throughout the hearings, critics have continued to characterize Sotomayor’s background and personal experience as an impediment to impartial rulings.
On Monday, Dr. Tom Coburn, Senator from Oklahoma, released a statement on Sotomayor: “The American people need judges who will interpret the Constitution, not rewrite it based on ideology or personal opinion.†As you probably know, her opponents have repeatedly accused Sotomayor of racism for discussing the way identity shapes judicial decisions. Coburn’s statement stresses the importance of objectivity and fairness and demonstrate his fear that Sotomayor’s life experiences (i.e., her gender and ethnicity) will negatively affect her decisions as a Supreme Court judge.
In 2006, amid Judge Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination hearings, Coburn seemed to think that Alito’s personal experience and background served to benefit the court, rather than limit his ability to serve. Take a look at the video.
An excerpt from the exchange:
COBURN: I think at times during these hearings you have been unfairly criticized or characterized as that you don’t care about the less fortunate, you don’t care about the little guy, you don’t care about the weak or the innocent. Can you comment just about Sam Alito, and what he cares about, and let us see a little bit of your heart and what’s important to you in life?
ALITO: Senator, I tried to in my opening statement, I tried to provide a little picture of who I am as a human being and how my background and my experiences have shaped me and brought me to this point… when a case comes before me involving, let’s say, someone who is an immigrant — and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases — I can’t help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn’t that long ago when they were in that position. [Emphasis mine.]
I have expressed my disdain about the accusation of racism against the first Latina woman to be nominated as a Supreme Court justice previously. It is not my intention to attack Dr. Coburn, but to underscore the condescending overtones of the hearings. Dr. Coburn’s (and others’) words and sentiments speak for themselves and I believe offer confirmation that many of the attacks against Sotomayor are unfair. When Alito expressed his unique outlook due to his personal history, Coburn approved, but Sotomayor’s personal experiences are a liability. What’s the difference? What are your thoughts on the hearings? Are gender and race an issue in the way Sotomayor is being treated?
Jun
3
An Unfair Argument: Sonia Sotomayor’s Nomination
Tags: race, Sotomayor
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Rose Luna | 2 Comments
The issue of cultural biases is normally met with much resistance. Exploring the implications and roles biases play in contemporary society is more often than not deemed unnecessary. The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court has caused a stir amongst critics. Suddenly and conveniently the role of cultural bias is front and center. On NPR last week, detractors attributed the potential role of cultural and ethnic biases as the basis for their apprehension to Sotomayor’s nomination. Sotomayor has argued that past Supreme Courts have voted to uphold race and sex discrimination, later found unconstitutional. Are the issues of cultural biases a legitimate concern or a unique perspective?
Gender and race are characteristics beyond our control. The focus on race and gender as an impairment is unfair and disturbing, but not surprising. In the past, arguments over the interpretation of the law were based on conservative or liberal tendencies. Is the debate regarding cultural/ ethnic biases surrounding the first Hispanic woman nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court the ultimate act of discrimination? Addressing the issue of biases in the work we do is important, however, as a trainer on this topic I am appalled at the context in which this concern has surfaced.
The implication that a woman of color’s perspective limits her ability to objectively interpret the law is troubling. The uncontested biases ascribed to white privileged males have historically plagued the judicial system. This newfound concern is artificial, insincere and ironic. The implications of a person’s perspective on a decision at that level and its effect on society have largely been ignored… until now. My question is, why now? Unfortunately, the answer is obvious.