The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

     "Get to the back of the bus, girl." "Eyes down, and do your work." These are phrases I remember my grandmother using in stories she would tell us, my siblings and cousins, about how things were for her when she was a child and growing up. My grandmother passed away at the age of 96 years old last year. She would lecture us about the importance of education because that was a luxury that she didn't have full access to like we do now. When my grandmother was six years old she had to begin working, as a girl, and African American girl, the future or life for her was stapled to being a maid, and caregiver. Born in 1916, she often experienced the likes of racism, prejudice and oppression most of her life. Voting, diplomas, and the freedom to come and go as you please were all dreams for my grandmother.
  For my grandmother her rights as a human being were striped from her. Equity was something unheard of unless you were apart of the dominant culture. Reading, writing and arithmetic were things that my grandmother did not have the privilege of capitalizing on. With very little education, she was able to learn the basics of writing her name, and adding and subtracting.
     When ever I think of this type of oppression and prejudice, although things have evolved somewhat from how they were for my grandmother I get overwhelmed. I get overwhelmed by the thoughts of how it mentally and emotionally destroy a person to be stripped of their power because of their race. I am grateful that today we as Black people have more control over our own lives.
   Now after several laws and changing in the mind set of people on equal rights, this problem still exist to a certain degree. By continuing to gain an understanding of diversity, equity, microaggressions, and isms we can continue to work, so that all people can live free. Just like Nadiyah spoke of in the video, racism still exist, but in new ways where people are oppressed or discriminated against because of their hair, or choice in whom they love (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).

Reference
 Laureate Education. (2011). In her own voice: Nadiyah Taylor. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu