Disclaimer: These articles may have materials of offensive language, theories and views, they do not have the intention to show any personal opinion...
These views are very thought Provocative, please beware of strong language and theories. Class assignments...
In the spirit of Collins, I have learned that the unique vision and perspective of culture within society, self consciousness and community begins in the relationships with everyone. "Black women experiences with both racial and gender oppression that result in needs and problems distinct from white women and Black men, and that Black women must struggle for equality both as women and as African-Americans." (Phyllis Collins, pp. 341-343)
Society
In society, we have dynamics of white supremacy and male superiority that dictates the overall picture of life and lifestyle. (Collins, p. 342) The vulnerability to sexual violence and cultural violence is real. Though it is a cultural utopia to desire a society free from violence and cultural discrimination, our society is faced with bias and discrimination when one is consumed by white supremacy. What is white supremacy in the 21st century? It is when identity is a power construct. It is viewed that over 90 percent of television programs are centered on white culture and white cultural lifestyle. What is white culture and white cultural lifestyles? It is a basis of a generational family that colonized the Americas. It is the fundamental rights of the family tree that has built political and societal life around a particular family tree. The education system is based on a DNA that traces back to the founding fathers, and within that organization of family trees, there is a method used to build all cultures around that lifestyle. In that case, the numerous melting pot of cultures, multi-cultures, multi-dimensional lifestyles that has grown within the United States, we find that the center of all life still generates from that ideology of the ancient, the founding fathers, and how they run their home.
In the problematic of giving culture their own societies as cultural centers may be another way in the future of segregation. The separating of culture in the states to enrich their lives in society as an identity is a unique vision to run their own lives according to their own expertise and goals may have great qualities of empowerment and growth. We as culture in society may find that we are divided as a force us against them, and never truly come together in unison and peace.
Self-Consciousness
"I would beg...to add my plea for the Colored Girls of the South: that large, bright, promising fatally beautiful class...so full of promise and possibilities, yet so sure of destruction; often without a father to whom they dare apply the loving term, often without a stronger brother to espouse their cause and defend their honor with his life's blood; in the midst of pitfalls and snares waylaid by the lower classes of white men, with no shelter, no protection. (Cooper 1892:140)" (Collins, pp. 343) it is within the self consciousness of culture do we as a people find diversity. The historical evidence of damage and strength is within the walls of culture of a woman. In the effort to create cultural centers we not give acknowledgement and value to the presence of diversity, white culture as a white supremacy at large, share the round table domino effect of power and responsibility. In this case, the value of "the neighbor" allows all cultures to eliminate the flaws and detriments of carrying the world on one man's shoulder. In any case, the other end to the problematic of having just cultural centers or segregated cultural grounds that exclude others become another identity war of what is culture, and who belongs to its club as an identity division. It becomes elite clubs of who has the pass card, and who may not have the pass card to family prestige and value.
Community
"My world is full of people getting rape. People shooting one another. Kids and grownups fighting over girlfriends. And people without jobs who can't afford to get an education so they can get a job...winos on the streets raping and killing little girls. "My World" from Sandra, a sixth-grade student who was a resident of one of the most dangerous public housing projects in Boston." (Collins, pp. 343) What is community? It is the opportunity to live in an environment that is resourceful. It is an environment that provides safety and security. It is an environment one can call home. In the ideology of creating belonging through cultural centers, the opportunity to call home away from home is a great way to give identity and within that standpoint, feminism is what creates belonging to women. At large, how can a multi-cultural and multi-dimensional community that is lead by the ideology of white supremacy and male superiority create balance and tranquility? It would need a makeover because it will prove problematic if each culture does not feel at home. It is definitely a chore and creative opportunity that we can offer to our children, the future generations if we decide how we create their home.
McCann, Carole and Kim, Seung-kyung, Feminist Theory Reader, Local and Global Perspective, New York and London, 2010.
