What is Shakti Butler's film about? Give a brief synopsis in about 50 words. How did watching the film make you feel? What is it about this shared testimony that makes many Americans and non-Americans feel uncomfortable?
What issues are raised in Shakti’s film? What arguments does she raise? Talk about her subjects and the range of their experiences. How does this prove or support her argument?
What is privilege based on the film?
What words used in the film were new to you? What definitions did you agree or disagree with, such as the definition of racism, bigotry, etc.? Were you familiar with most or all of the terms used in the film: the words connotations and denotations?
A definition with strong emotional meaning is called a connotation, the dictionary meaning is called denotation.
Visit http://world-trust.org/films/
This weekend Dr. Butler is hosting a seminar and fundraiser for her next project. If you go and write about the experience, you can have extra credit.
World Trust: Dr. Shakti Butler
Join Us June 27th for “A 21st Century Conversation about Race”
http://world-trust.org/2010/05/event/
On Sunday, June 27th, World Trust will hold the benefit event Cracking the Codes: A 21st Century Conversation about Race in Oakland, CA. Using preview clips of the World Trust’s latest film in production as a catalyst, Shakti Butler, PhD will facilitate a conversation about the internal and external components of racism. Confused or frustrated by racial divide? Come find out how Oakland nonprofit World Trust is working to re-frame the national conversation — and participate in it yourself. It will be an afternoon of dialogue, community building, and insight for positive change.
Cracking the Codes: A 21st Century Conversation about Race
Sunday, June 27th
3:00-5:00 pm
Fontaine Auditorium
Samuel Merritt University
400 Hawthorne Avenue
Oakland, California 94609
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
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Making Whiteness Visible is a film about raising awareness about racism, not just in our own communities but throughout our world and what we can do to stop it. Several white people are interviewed throughout the film discussing how they were introduced to racism and when they realized how deeply it is still embedded within society. There were many questions raised throughout the video such as, 'What can we do to stop it?' and 'How can we promote change?' The answer is to educate our peers/colleagues/family members about civil justice and what we can do to help it. With a sense of empathy I am eager to read and learn more and gain a new and different perspective on civil unjustices like racism and what we can do to make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the film "Making Whiteness Visible" we saw the people on there talking about how they were exposed to racism. When I was watching the film I thought it wasn't anything new because I've seen things that were worse off than mentioned in the film, I've been around people, even friends that were either racists or being a vicim of racism. I believe the reason this makes people feel uncomfortable is that a majority of people have either been a victim of racism or they took part of being a racist person. So when the topic comes up, people shy away from it.
ReplyDeleteRochelle Vicencio
ReplyDeleteCyber Assignment :Response to the Film
English 5
June 21, 2010
Shakti Butler’s film, Mirrors of Privilege : Making Whiteness Visible is about how most of us are in denial that a race problem still exists in our society. It also introduces people who have been through different challenges in their lives in order to fight racial injustice. At first, I was indifferent because I thought the issue of racism has always been frequently discussed and that it is nothing new. However, as the film starts to view racism in the perspective of white people instead of people of color, it started to catch my attention. I guess what makes the issue uncomfortable for many Americans and non-Americans is the idea that it is hard for many people to understand that when the issue of race is brought up by a white person, it is a big deal. On the other hand, when it is brought up by a person of color, it is not.
One experience of the speakers in the film which caught my intention is the lady who has two black cousins. In her film, Shakti introduces the idea that the privilege white people get from being white, creates a conflict. According to the lady speaker, it creates a conflict between showing love for her relatives and wanting acceptance from her friends. The situation is not supposed to hurt her since being a white will get her all the acceptance she can get from her friends. However, wanting to show affection to her cousins cant be done consequently and that is where the conflict comes from.
“Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible” made me think of what I learned in Sociology class. That class basically reaffirmed that yes, whites have it easier than non whites, only it added statistical data and made it more visible. What I liked about the video is that it used personal examples that can be easily referenced because they stick out. An area that would've been useful for the makers of the video to look into would be politics. I think that an interview with a politician would've added more diversity to the perspectives. Non of what was said in the video was exactly new, but it was still something to have people openly talk about it. After watching the video I reflected on the relationships I have with the few white friends I have. Those relationships have always been different then with other people, and now I am conscious of why. I would see that they were good people who didn't mean harm, but at the same time I always had these mixed feelings of resentment and resistance.
ReplyDelete"Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible" was a film that showed people who had encountered racism in their lives. Most of these people were white and they were recalling things that they'd seen or that they had done that they considered racist. One drama teacher wanted a girl who was a Pacific Islander to say French fries like "Flench Fwies." Another was of a grandmother who shrieked when her granddaughter kissed the black cook Bessie and then tried to kiss her. The stories of racism that were told were of everyday racism that occurs. No shocking stories of lynchings or police beatings were brought up. Everyday, systemic, underhanded acts of racism were the focus of this film. That painful defect that resides in the underbelly of America. Watching the film it was clear to me that these people felt true guilt for what they had done or seen and wanted to make a change for the better. I don't know if it's possible to stop racism, I believe that it is ingrained our way of life, not only in America, but all around the world. I look forward to exploring the subject further and to try and figure out what more can be done.
ReplyDeleteResponse to “Mirrors of Privilege: Making Witness Visible”
ReplyDeleteShakti’s film shares the white perspective on white privilege and also, talks about race. A few people were interviewed on the topic and some of the people expressed that although they are white they have empathy for black people. This to me sounded like a way for white people to compensate for the hurt they endure, by being empathetic towards black people. Is this a pitty party?
There are some white people that don’t embrace their privilege because of the uncomfortable feeling of being superior to someone that they are not truly.
There are always to sides to a story. The white perspective on white privilege differs from the perspective of a black person. However, white privilege still exists because of the thought process people have, constantly saying white people have the ability to do as they please because they just can puts power into white privilege and continues to make it okay.
One issue with white privilege is the language that is used. I heard an interviewee say “those people” in reference to black people. African Americans are humans and not items or things. The language has to change because it creates an inequality between people as well as mental health issues. Constantly telling someone that they are dumb will eventually make that person believe they are dumb.
It’s not just the language. Police engagement with black people makes a lot of black people look like criminals or suspects. The police will gather around a group of black because they suspect that they might act out in violence. Rarely does that happen to white people because of their privilege of whatever they say is true.
The words used in the film were understandable and correlated with the topic of the film.
Great responses thus far. Is anyone planning to attend the seminar/workshop on Sunday with Shakti? I am going to try to attend, I have to check my calendar. Let me know.
ReplyDeleteW.Sabir
Shakti Butler’s film was about the personal experiences, self- realization, and perspective of a group of white individuals on their involvement and relationship with black individuals. Some scenes in the film made me feel awkward, uncomfortable, and sad for some of the characters. The shared testimony makes many Americans and non-Americans feel uncomfortable, because those that have experienced them are personally telling them. Their feeling of distress, guilt, and sadness are evident from their facial expression and tone of voice. Racism, sexism, and social class were issued raised in the film. A white woman born in Thailand told of her story encompassing those issues even within the white community. A man spoke of his opinion regarding 6 out of 10 white people voting for a Nazi. Homosexuality was also addressed, in which a woman was expected to fight for racism but not for homosexuality. Based on the film, privilege is benefitting form the system because you’re white. I was familiar with most of the terms used in the film.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Will said that "[racism] is ingrained our way of life, not only in America, but all around the world". It is fascinating how this idea is so true yet some people still find the courage to prevent it.
ReplyDeleteI also find Gizzle's idea interesting when she said that it seems like "This[empathy to black people] to me sounded like a way for white people to compensate for the hurt they endure.." I guess it can be one of the reasons. I think we can also say that their awareness of the unfairness of the system in which they get their privilege by being white affects the emotions they feel for black people.
I read what Vedder wrote and, I understand your point about people feeling uncomfortable because of their different encounters with racism. However, I think it is most important that people are educated on race because the term is often used loosely and out of context. People have to stop being the victim and victimizing each other and take the initiative to educate themselves and others.
ReplyDeleteRocio_briseno expressed having resentment and resistance towards white people, I understand that feeling and I think it is common among people of color because of the historical encounters we have with white people.
Sean gentry
ReplyDeleteresponse to making whiteness visible
June 22 2010
while watching this movie I realized how race and racist ideas are still included in everyday life. white privileges are evident in almost any public situation from going to a store to finding a job.most white people including myself do not understand the differences between being black in a community and white in a community. All the people interviewed in the movie were white and most had racism as part of their morals growing up passed on to them by their parents and grandparents. I do not believe that racism will be ended in this generation or even the next because of the influences that racist parents have on their children. although i am hopeful this is not true I have witnessed many acts of racism in adults and children within the time that I've lived especially while living in the Midwest and Southern regions of the United States.the movie really struck me when someone spoke about how the police were ordered by the sheriff to stop any black person driving a "rinky dink car". this made me stop and think how these kind of actions are still common today and how I've witnessed it on several occasions while kicking it with friends of mine who are of African or Mexican decent. many white Americans have convinced themselves that racism is no longer a problem in the world because they have chose to blind them selves of what is really happening. because of these people racism is still very common and unless they open their eyes nothing can be done. the movie really opened my eyes more than before and gave me a new understanding of the issue.
I agree with Vedder about this not being a new thing, though I think this is something specific with CA or maybe just the Bay Area. I have friends who go to school in Sounthern CA and it turns out people are pretty conservative down there, too.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Gizzle has a good point on language. A point I have to add to that is while minorities are asked "What are you?" and they answer "something American", if born here they should feel free to answer just "American". This use of language, while acknowledging our roots, also separates us and makes minorities feel a little less "American" than an average white person.
Shakti Butler’s film was about the personal experiences, self- realization, and perspective of a group of white individuals on their involvement and relationship with black individuals. White male and females narrate their stories in which they share their opinions and feelings with the anecdotes. The film addresses the sensitive issue of racism, along with important issues of sexuality and social class. Some scenes in the film made me feel awkward, uncomfortable, and sad for some of the characters. The shared testimony makes many Americans and non-Americans feel uncomfortable, because those that have experienced them are personally telling them in a way that their uneasiness and feeling of disturbance are all apparent. The issue of racism, along with sexism and homosexuality are all sensitive issues that are bound to trigger unpleasant reactions. Their feeling of distress, guilt, and sadness are evident from their facial expressions and tone of voice. Racism, sexism, and social class were issues raised in the film. A white woman born in Thailand told of her story encompassing those issues even within the white community. Prosecutions of black people versus affluent white men supports the existence of racism. A man spoke of his opinion regarding 6 out of 10 white people voting for a Nazi. Homosexuality was also addressed, in which a woman was expected to fight for racism but not for homosexuality. Based on the film, privilege is benefitting from the system because you’re white. And being white guarantees the individual with an upper hand. I was familiar with most of the terms used in the film.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vedder’s belief in why the shared testimony makes people feel uncomfortable. People do shy away when the topic comes up probably due to that fact they are reliving the displeasing experience that they would rather forget. To that, I would also like to add that perhaps people also feel uncomfortable with the shared testimony because as humans, we can empathize with the victims. Feelings of embarrassment are most often provoked than not when we witness someone doing an embarrassing act, especially when they are helpless and oblivious of their actions; just as we would feel the tension and sadness if we witness any form of injustice and foul act upon those that are targeted. Will’s post reminded me of the same thought I had while watching the film regarding the true guilt that the individuals felt for what they had done and seen. The fact that they are even sharing their testimonies indicates that they want to make a change for the better. Racism does not only exist in the U.S., but in the rest of the world as well. Discrimination within ethnic groups are evident in Asian countries. For example, mixed Thais were looked down upon by the elderly.
I am responding to the writer, Rocio, who said, that non-white Americans could or should respond to the question: "What are you?" with the response: "American" minus the hyphenated tagline.
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday, my daughter asked me if on a mortgage application should she indicate her race and I told her no. Why should race matter? At this point, I am not certain if mentioning one's race or ethnicity on an application is a positive stroke or a negative strike. Is the bank trying to make up for its historic exclusion of a certain clientele, so to not include one's ethnicity limits one's access to resources? None of this is said aloud, it's all unspoken, which makes it even harder to function in a racially conscious or conscientious society.