White Skin Privilege

White Skin Privilege

Are you racist or simply privileged? Racism, everyone HATES that word. But what is racism? Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race is what Wikipedia defines as racism. Privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to one person or group of people.

In this blog post I will discuss the many ways in which white people are privileged but can be seen as racist  if you don’t acknowledge your privilege and reach out to make things better. A privilege that can lead to racism is in school seeing and learning that white people made the world what it is today. Now we know that’s not true, but you wouldn’t know what African Americans contributed to American society unless you looked it up yourself or, by word of mouth.  Remember this is my opinion and your opinion is always welcome. Just hit that comment button and you’re all set.

White-skin privilege is something I see almost every day. It’s present when I go to the store, and I never find shampoo for my coarse hair, but see millions of shampoo bottles for straight hair. I also see it when I’m in the train station and I see African -Americans or Hispanics being harassed more than Caucasian people. I remember one day I was with my mother buying food and repairmen who were African- American were fixing a door. A white police officer walked by and asked what they were doing and of course they said fixing the door, and the police officer said, “I thought you guys were breaking in.”

Now tell me, would that have happened if those guys were white? No, I don’t think so. What that police officer did was wrong and, you guessed it, racist.

Okay, so I found this really good explanation on the privileges of white people in this excerpt from White Anti-Racist Activism: A Personal Roadmap by Jennifer R. Holladay, M.S. (Crandall, Dostie & Douglass Books, Inc., 2000).

          

White people receive all kinds of perks as a function of their skin privilege. Consider the following:

White Privilege: The Perks

- When I cut my finger and go to my school or office’s first aid kit, the flesh-colored

band-aid generally matches my skin tone. 2

-When I run to the store to buy pantyhose at the last minute, the ‘nude’ color generally appears nude on my legs.

- When I buy hair care products in a grocery store or drugstore, my shampoos and conditioners are in the aisle and section labeled ‘hair care’ and not in a separate  section for ‘ethnic products.’

White Privilege: The Advantages

- My skin color does not work against me in terms of how people perceive my financial responsibility, style of dress, public speaking skills, or job performance.

- People do not assume that I got where I am professionally because of my race (or because of affirmative action programs)

- Store security personnel or law enforcement officers do not harass me, pull me over or follow me because of my race.

White Privilege: The World View

-When I am told about our national heritage or “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.

-Related, the schools that I attend or have attended use standard textbooks, which widely reflect people of my color and their contributions to the world.

- When I look at the national currency or see photographs of monuments on the

National Mall in Washington, D.C., I see people of my race widely represented and celebrated.

These are really interesting, right? So anyway these might be the privileges of white people but does it make them racist? No and yes. NO because you can’t help what you’re born with and YES because if you  have these privileges you should be helpful to people who are less fortunate than you.. Uhh!!!! The world would be so much better if everyone was one color…. Leave comments; this could be a really awesome discussion.

White Skin Privilege

FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)

“Ouch!!! Vagina cut,”! When you’re shaving your vulva and you get a cut, it’s the worst feeling in the world, right? What if I were to tell you that girls ranging from 5-16 are forced to have their vulvas cut?That’s horrible, right? Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined by the

World Health Organization (WHO) as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia,” according to Wikipedia.

    Just thinking about a knife or a pair of scissors  going anywhere near my vagina gives me chills, but this is an epidemic that we as women have to fight. Some young girls are not as lucky as we are.  FGM is  practiced in 28 countries in western, eastern, and northeastern Africa, in parts of the Middle East, and within some immigrant communities in Europe, North America and Australasia.  FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

    In some cultures FGM is considered a right of passage for girls.  FGM is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl properly and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. FGM is related to cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, which include the notion that girls are “clean” and "beautiful" after removal of body parts that are considered  "unclean.”

Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types according to WHO:

• Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris

• Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina).
• Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.
• Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

FGM is believed to reduce a woman's desire to have sex.  When  the vaginal opening is cut the fear of the pain of opening it, and the fear that this will be found out, is expected to discourage women from premarital sexual intercose.

FGM has a negative effect on girls’ bodies. It causes infertility, premature births, deaths, and the need for corrective surgeries in the future.  For example, the FGM procedure that seals or narrows a vaginal opening needs to be cut open later for sexual intercourse and childbirth.

         I’m really angry and just upset that this  is happening, but my anger won’t stop this. But you know what will?  Spreading the word: Not everyone might know about FGM but they will if you tell them.  

Until next week, my amazing followers.

I’m stressed and I need some INSPIRATION...

Okay, you’re stressed and you need a little picker -upper. Well ,don’t feel upset, I’m stressed too. I have all of these things due this week and every time I turn around there’s something else due. Well... no one ever said success was easy,right? Is there a way to combat stress? Inspiration is the key. Everyone has something that inspires them, whether it’s a quote or picture, or maybe even a poem. I found some pictures that can inspire you if you have a bad day because they have helped me. And don’t forget when you think of stress remember this:

          

           S- Sophistication 

T- Together

R- Registers

            E- Encouragement

S-Strength

S-Success

 

Plan B being accepted in high schools?

 

Should Plan B be distributed in high schools?

 

 

Do you feel contraception should be given to students without their parents’ consent? Well... you really don’t care because you aren’t having sex right? If you were given the choice to have Plan B distributed in your high school, would you feel angry that adults think you are having sex or would you be happy that there are free ways to prevent you from becoming pregnant? In Jan. 2011, New York City quietly launched a pilot program to dispense free prescription contraceptives, including birth control pills and the morning-after pill, Plan B, to students at more than a dozen public high schools in the city.

 

A program known as Catch was developed to administer the contraception Plan B. Connecting Adolescents to Comprehensive Healthcare is an expansion of an existing program that has runned in about 40 schools. In 2011 catch launched a program in about 13 schools to administer Plan B. Certain schools were chosen because in those neighborhoods that lack nearby clinics or health services.

 

I feel that Plan B should be available for teens without a prescription, but only after they talk to their parent or guidance counselor. To me this would allow them to think about ways to prevent them from needing Plan B again and to not feel alone. “Plan B is currently available without a prescription for teens aged 17 and older. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was prepared to remove the age restriction, which would have brought Plan B from behind the pharmacist’s counter to store shelves and made it available for all teens. But the move was blocked by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who said she thought there was insufficient evidence that the youngest girls fully understood how to use the drug appropriately,” said the FDA.

So is Plan B good or bad? In my opinion I believe it is both good and bad. It is bad because it is available without parents being aware and instead of having sex without using protection, girls should be worried about their education. If a female gets pregnant they have to take care of the baby, thereby missing school. It is good because if a female thinks she is pregnant there is a chance to prevent the sperm from reaching her egg. But the question here is:why have sex at all? What do you gain out of being sexually active besides worry if you missed your female gets pregnant they have to take care of the baby, thereby missing school. It is good because if a female thinks she is pregnant there is a chance to prevent the sperm from reaching her egg. But the question here is:why have sex at all? What do you gain out of being sexually active besides worry? Stay focused on school and have the good kind of worry, like if you passed your Chemistry test. Leave comments and see you next week.

 

 

Why are you being such a B**ch?

 

Have you ever been called a b**ch and just shrugged it off? Or you might have gotten angry? But why does the notion of being a b**ch have to be negative? “Most girls have at least some b**chiness in them. Yeah, that last line caught your attention, didn't it? Come on, there's no denying it − I don't even know you but yet I can probably guarantee there's been a time in your life where you've been jealous of someone, or you've felt the need to get revenge on a girl who did something wrong to you. The question is:what type of b**ch are you? Are you the kind of girl who occasionally stands up for herself? Or are you the kind of girl who is not afraid to let the world know that you are a psycho? Or perhaps you are a perfect little priss who is always nice to people no matter what happens?” I absolutely love this quote that I read on this blog entitled “Crazy Horoscopes.” I totally agree with the idea and description of what a b**ch is.

Okay technically I know a b**ch is a female dog; it’s the number one argument people use when they are upset that someone called them a bi**h. But instead of sticking with the norm of a bitch being a female dog let’s give it our own definition. To me a bi**h is someone who is strong, empowered, funny, sharp (like a dog’s teeth lol), proud, energetic. This list can go on forever if you gave me the chance, but yeah a bi**h does not have to be a female dog or a word that is degrading if you don’t want it to be. For instance say someone asks you for your homework, not what’s the homework, but your homework to copy and you don’t want to give it to them. Because of that they call you a bi**h. To counter that you can say yeah I’m a bitch because I’m strong enough to say no to letting you copy my homework. So how awesome is being a bi**h? Totally awesome if you ask me. Here are some great responses I found in Glamour Magazine that you can use when someone asks you ”Why are you being such a bi**h,...”?

 

The question: "Why are you being such a bitch?"

(Glamour Magazine) by Judith Stone

Possible response #1: "That depends on what you mean by being a bitch. Do you mean, why aren't I doing everything your way without a fuss? Because I disagree with you. Do you mean why am I disagreeing with you?

Possible response #2: "If I fetched your slippers, had your puppies and rolled over and played dead, then I'd be a bitch. What I am now is an enraged woman."

I would love to read what a bi**h means to you (my readers) because we own have different opinions. Hit that comment button, and let your thoughts on this topic set you free. Until next week my amazing followers! Maybe I’ll have a follow up on this top topic with your views on what is a bi**h ;)

Your Short Skirt is NOT an Invitation

What does your skirt say about you? Does it depict your sense of style, or the latest fashion trend, or simply that it’s too hot to wear pants? When you decide to wear a skirt are you worried about being cat called or sexually harassed? Are you upset when people call you out of your name by saying “Yo Ma,” “Psst,” or “Shawty with the face”? What kind of words are these, this just shows how unintelligent men are. “My short skirt is not an invitation, a provocation, an indication, that I want it, or that I hook,” an excerpt from the poem “My short skirt” - by Eve Ensler.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”

            This can include anything from catcalls on a street corner to cyber and in-person bullying in schools to inappropriate sexual advances and even rape. Women are constantly taught that if they wear something provocative or revealing they are “asking for it.” That is so not true. What’s under a woman’s short skirt belongs to her and wearing a short skirt does not mean a woman wants attention, sex, or to be raped. Wearing a short skirt shows how proud you are to be a woman, how happy you are that you have gorgeous legs, and how strong you are to walk out of your house with a short skirt on knowing that you can be looked at inappropriately.

Men must understand that a woman’s body is her own and that a woman has a right to wear what she wants without being disrespected or violently attacked, but sadly women don’t have that security yet. It saddens me to know that women and girls all over the world are still being burned, stoned to death, circumcised, raped, murdered, beaten, battered, sterilized, targeted, hunted, enslaved, forced to marry, silenced, and aborted. Knowing about these atrocities discourages me and makes me feel powerless against the system of patriarchy. Realizing that I am an endangered species is not only depressing but frightening. To know that any day and at any time I or my sister, mother, grandmother, niece, aunt, or best friend may be stalked, raped, and murdered just for being female.

Some men contradict themselves. They talk about how woman wearing short skirts are “sluts” and deserved to be raped, but what does “sagging” your pants say about you. Ok, let me guess it says you’re an overachiever, that you care about education, that sense of style, or maybe it shows that you haven’t washed your underwear in three weeks. So what gives you the right to criticize a woman wearing a short skirt when you are showing your butt crack for the whole world to see? Here are some reasons I found about how showing your underwear is not cute:

1. No one wants to see your dingy underwear- Men have such a big ego that they think that everyone would want to see their underwear. Why do they think they are that special?
2. You make yourself look like a criminal. People that sag their pants are going to suffer from some profiling issues.
3. No one will take you seriously. I have never seen anyone take someone with sagging pants seriously. Especially when it comes to jobs, but even when it comes to relationships.
4. Everyone knows you're just trying to be rebellious. People sag their pants for the simple fact that most other people do not. They want to stand out and feel special somehow
5. It is disrespectful. It is rude to make everyone look at your butt. Besides, sagging pants makes you walk stupid, and that's not a good look either.
6. No woman of value will want you- No woman will take you home to their parents with your pants sagging. You won’t even make it in the door before you get a dirty look from her parents.

             So the biggest lesson to learn here for men is before you judge look at yourself in the mirror. For my phenomenal woman I encourage you to watch or read the Vagina Monologues. This play will make you think about your body, and how to love and enjoy being a woman. I also want you to think about what your skirt means to you. My skirt means happiness and liberation. It does not define me but shows that I am proud to be a woman. “My short skirt is a liberation flag in the women's army. I declare these streets, any streets my vagina's country,” said Eve Ensler.

Poetry Slam

Poetry Slam:)
Hey, awesome and loyal readers, let’s take a chill pill this week and read some poetry by some amazing women, including me of course. I hope this poetry gets you through the day and makes you want to smile because it has inspired me. If you have any poems I would love to post them when I have a slam again. Don’t forget to add me as a friend and like my blog posts. Oh, and pass my amazing blog along to your friends because nothing is better than “ mumzing my work,” lol, cause as I said before you’re a cool person, and I’m a cool person, so why can’t we be cool people together? Love you guys a lot, and keep your eye out for for next week’s post entitled “ My short skirt" pertaining to how what woman wear says she is either a slut, or educated person.There will also be some comparison to men "sagging" their pants and women wearing short skirts. So... yeah, you can read up on that next week. Stay tuned:)

Who am I ?

I am Nkenge

Daughter to all who are willing to teach me I am caramel colored, mixed with the roots of my family

My individuality and love has toppled over the ocean and is searching for individuals who are thankful for my uniqueness

I am a lion, I aim to protect, because I never want to look into the eyes of a person I neglect

I am a soul searcher

Always looking for good in the hearts of people

Like a flower, I continue to grow and add compassion, love, or hope to my forever blossoming rose

I was born to put smiles on the faces of the lost

My heart and mind soars above the clouds because I am out of reach

I am an eagle because I will always be in flight

Moving, looking, for a mission to accomplish

                    One Flaw in Women

   

Author- Unknown

Women have strengths that amaze me

        
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

 

They smile when they want to scream.

 

They sing when they want to cry.

 

They cry when they are happy

 

and laugh when they are nervous.

 

They fight for what they believe in.

 

They stand up to injustice.

 

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

 

 

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

These Lost, These Come At A Cost Women

I see these city lights and flashy cars

These beautiful women lost under stars

These daughters and sisters and mothers

These lost women

These come at a cost women

Given a glance then a dance

Given the means to live by the fiends of these beautiful women

Lost in a daze of green

A daze I've seen

Spotlights on these beautiful women

Eyes on these and cheers for these beautiful women

Lies in these and fears in these lost women

These come at a cost women

Show, bought and ready to go

At a price higher then they know

These women worth more then gold

Priceless

But still sold Oh these lost women

Don't you know your beautiful

Not hot women

That your beautiful

Not meant to be bought women

Beauty needs to be taught in these women

Instead of this that is not

Left in them to rot

Oh these beautiful women

 These I've seen

Women whos pupils are all green

Men whos eyes are gazed in between wide thighs

Silent cries eventually taking its toll

Night after night eventually breaking the soul

 

I see these city lights and flashy cars

These beautiful women lost under stars

These daughters and sisters and mothers

These lost women

These come at a cost women

 

Don't you know your beautiful

Not hot women

That you’re beautiful

Not meant to be bought women.

Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage

exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into our sight

to liberate us into life.

 

Love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.

 

We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love's light

we dare be brave

And suddenly we see

that love costs all we are

and will ever be.

Yet it is only love

which sets us free