SJ Paper #3: Understanding my own Cultural Context

In order to understand the origin of privilege and power in my life it has taken me all term to face the fact that I grew up in a racist and discriminating family. But my family is very loving and has given me very strong values to live my life by. However I am only now reconciling with being raised among a family who does not seek to understand diversity or find value in it. How could they be racist and yet be so loving? It is in this question that I have dug deeper into the cultural history of Detroit where I grew up. Why is there pervasive racism and social inequity in Detroit, and how is it now being perpetuated?

First, it is important for me to understand my own cultural context. Ethnically, I identify myself as a Caucasian, Northern-European mutt, mostly Norwegian, some Scottish, Welch, Irish and a tiny bit of Native American. My ancestors migrated to the US in the 1850’s as Norwegian loggers in Idaho, and came over the Oregon Trail to Oregon floating in the Columbia River in their wagon boxes. They endured hardship to make a better life for their families. One of my distant cousins married a Nez Perce Indian that she met in Idaho. In the photos it is easy to decipher the Native American daughter with her black hair and beautiful dark skin. My Grandmother always told me that she was adopted. Now I find out that wasn’t the case. The irony is that she is related by blood, which is a rare, being that the Nez Perce is a small and remote tribe. This precious piece of my cultural history was being covered up by my grandparent’s generation. It makes me deeply sad and ashamed. I believe they were trying to hide it in order to protect the family. Good intentions have perpetuated long-lasting discrimination. Embracing this diversity in my view would have been such an asset to our family history and understanding.

I grew up in upper-middle class suburban Detroit community with a fair amount of diversity between White-Christian, Jewish, Indian and Asian families. The African American community is concentrated in the urban core of Detroit. The urban core is also full of abandon buildings, boarded-up drug houses, poor schools and a corrupt local government. My Grandfather had the belief that African Americans were lazy and therefore poor. It is said that the origins of urban unrest in Detroit were rooted in a multitude of political, economic, and social factors including police abuse, lack of affordable housing, urban renewal projects, economic inequality, black militancy, and rapid demographic change. (http://www.67riots.rutgers.edu/d_index.htm) The riots in the late 1960s were the result of the complex urban unrest and deep seeded racism. The most famous riot in 12^th street in July of 1967 left 43 dead, mostly African American, meanwhile 7,000 were arrested, mostly African American.

It deeply disturbs me that I was not educated about the racism and discrimination in my own city while I was growing up. Instead, we isolated ourselves in the suburbs, “othering” the black community and the zip code I grew up in was privileged and we didn’t have to interface urban Detroit. Thinking back to dinner table conversations as a little girl, I would cringe at my Grandfather’s derogatory language, his disgust for the black community and yet he had no recognition of his own power and privilege. I can rationalize his racism in my head, as I look at the historical legacy for racial tension in Detroit and other parts of the United States. But that obviously doesn’t make it right. Racism is a choice. It’s not a default.

Growing up with these influences, it is interesting to think about how I reacted to having a very diverse school experience in a progressive community that promoted diversity. I suppose my family left it up to others to educate me about the virtues of diversity and equality. I am so thankful for that exposure. I wonder what my values would be if I hadn’t been exposed to a diverse group of students and families at an early age? Does valuing diversity come from exposure? How can we expect isolated communities to fully understand power and privilege?

Education seems like the most logical piece. But how do we get people to become comfortable being uncomfortable? This is the part where I challenge myself to bring this back to my family in the suburbs of Detroit. The racism is not as pronounced as it was when my Grandparents were alive, but the lingering discrimination is present in the undertones of conversation: blame, distrust, frustration and misunderstanding. If I am to be a change agent of social justice it needs to start with those closest to me, although this feels like a path of most resistance. It is imperative and in some ways I have more to gain in my personal relationships, meanwhile I have the established connection and relationships to build trust and new understanding for white privilege. Ultimately it is a responsibility to me, to my community, to this planet and to my family to play a role in righting this wrong.

Family perpetuates life-long habits and it can be a foundational problem from where racism stems, like in my case. I do not pretend to be enlightened without philosophical discriminations. However my ability to separate myself and understand my own privilege and power is what gives me the ability to help overcome racism in our society. It takes trial and error; it takes the energy and effort to want to make the change. Now I must look inward, to my own family roots and start from my foundation. I fear failure and making waves with a family who loves me but I know the ultimate justice is worth the fight.