I have a problem with elitism. Not because I don't understand or share in many of the privileges that are associated with being elite in a particular sphere, but mainly because the idea that something that I have or do doesn't make me inherently better. I can't reconcile that just because I graduated from a good school, have a good job, in a fraternity, club or I live in a different neighborhood that I'm better than you or deserve to be treated better or that you deserve to be treated worse because you're not apart of those thing. I'm from the 'hood. I went to both the worst high school and the best high school in Detroit in 4 years. My parents often worked 2 jobs on top of going back to school. Not only did I have legal problems in one of the most affluent college communities in America, but I've seen the dramatic effects the law when race is interwoven. Anything can happen to you and everything can be taken away. Nothing is guaranteed. That idea of entitlement is the basis of ALL the oppressions that we see in the world. Again: while I am the benefactor of few privileges in our society, it is important that we do recognize these and work to eliminate the oppression and controls that are based around these.
Which, in a round about way, brings me to the Order of Elites (Angell) at the University of Michigan. Everyone will argue that their problem with members of the community of color is centered upon their racist, homophobic, and sexist history and their minimization of this past (minimizing an abuse or disrespect is almost as powerful as the abuse/disrespect itself). But I think in addition to these deficiencies of the organization, its important that we don't buy into the idea that because we've made it we can ignore a history or participate in an institution that continues to be dysfunctional. How can you stand for change, when you participate in destructive behavior or sit on the sideline and watch? I believe people can change, but if you have participated in destructive behavior before in life how can you change or learn from that behavior without accepting its previous faults and working to change its future (in perception and in the lives of others)?
Black males and Black leaders being apart of Secret Societies and being social justice oriented are diametrically opposed. I don't think that it's the equivalent of someone being a criminal or soulless as some people have put out there, but I do think its a problem. I do believe that if you make a mistake, you have to fix it or take the steps to change (and learn from it). Step out on the integrity you possess. I do think that for the people that are in this organization for 2010 (and I'm speaking as a former President of an organization affected), action has to be taken, either by the person whose in this organization to make the steps in changing the perceived and actual behaviors of the org (by that I mean, be transparent and use this so called prestige to force the hand of those involved) or if you can't do that, then accept the consequences of those attempting to rectify this situation.
Lastly, I care alot about HEADS as a student organization and the gentlemen who was inducted into Pride 2011. HEADS and this gentlemen specifically have lifted me up in my darkest hours and helped make my time at UofM some of my brightest days. I realize that I am biased in some of the thought processes that I've had during this breaking news, but I do believe that we can't being to fix these huge social problems of oppression and marginalization by ignoring them nor can we fix it by tearing down members of the community who've made huge mistakes.
No comments:
Post a Comment