Mapping Latine Inequalities – Reading Responses

Mapping Latine Inequalities – Reading Responses

Author: Angel Acosta Leon

  • Angel Acosta Leon Wk 8 Response

    The essays in We Do This We Free Us by Mariame Kaba provide details on the steps society could take to enter an era where communities wouldn’t have to rely on traditional policing. Kaba presents cases that display the unjust treatment of black people by law enforcement showing how police are anti-black. She also critiques the prison system, which fails in its job of containing violence. One of the observations that she mentions that caught my attention is that victims who are framed as criminals are thrown into prison, where the violence cycle continues. Along with that, prisons do not seek the rehabilitation of a criminal but rather focus on an “eye for an eye” system that aims to abuse a prisoner, thus dehumanizing them. 

    In the documentary, At the Ready, we see the youth of the community of El Paso exposed to the possibility of becoming a border agent. Through a school program, we see Latino youth seeking to pursue a career in this field. Watching this, I was initially shocked that these students were open to working as border patrols. However, I understood their justification of financial security as a reason for their involvement. Despite being seen as assets for the government and the discrimination they face for being Latino, it’s intriguing that these students continue to pursue a career in this field. 

    Both pieces give insight into what it would be like to have members of the community in a policing agency. Kaba makes a good argument on how police are deployed to handle any matter. Having specially trained service members who will respond to conflicts and are proficient in their task, leads to more effective methods of defusing a situation. On the other hand, the documentary shows a different motivation for having community members in a policing force. Latinos in the police force are seen as assets, and we see how programs attract students through financial promises. Students are influenced by the actions of the current police, becoming another rendition of the same police. However, we see instances, especially from Cassy and Cesar, expressing their personal beliefs. I find this difficult to find a stance on. It may seem that they are betraying their people, but then again, the students are simply seeking to improve their situations, and I don’t believe anyone can blame them.

  • Angel Acosta Leon Wk 5 Response

    Both documents share the topic of slavery, however their depictions are different. One, “The Dysfunctional and the Disappearing: Democracy, Race and Imprisonment” by Joy James, is an analysis of the prison system and how, after the ratification of the 13th Amendment, it served as a continuation of slavery within the US. Considering the demographics within the prison system, James makes the argument that slavery is still prominent and is affecting the same people. The other, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano, is a retelling of the author’s experience during the height of the slave trade. The author describes the horrors faced by people during this time.

    James goes into detail on why the prison system is unethical and mirrors slavery. The mention of the demographics that make up most of the inmates in the prison system, highlights this fact. James makes mentions of phenomena such as DWB and the differences in punishment between a person of color and a white person. James also calls out the fact that white women are the main beneficiaries of affirmative action. Throughout history, people who possess whiteness have persisted in maintaining their rule, even when they roll out systems that are intended to help minority groups.

    The comparison between Equiano’s life as a slave in Africa compared to Europe provides contrasts. Equiano makes it very clear that his community was not perfect, however when it came to decency, such as treating others with respect and having manners, life in Africa different greatly. On the contrary, life as a slave to Europeans was gruesome, and he mentions the lack of decency from this group of people. This contrast of experiences challenges the European justification for conquest, as Europeans were more savage than the people in Africa, just with better technology.

    Both texts provide haunting details of life as a slave, one modern and the other more historical. Equiano sets the stage with his retelling of his life. I was shocked at the conditions people had to endure for the benefit of the white man. We see this continue to the modern day with James’s article. White people just can’t live with the fact that they are equal to other people. They constantly seek ways to maintain their control over those who are not white, and we see this even when countermeasures, such as affirmative action are put into place.

  • Angel Acosta Leon Wk 4 Response

    The document Still Falling Through the Cracks analyzes the inequalities in the Latinx community when it comes to education. Using samples from primarily California based schools, such as the LAUSD and California Community Colleges, the authors reveal to us a variety of statistics that illustrate and active trend in academic progression from the Latinx community.  The documentary Precious Knowledge presents the viewer with an insider look to into at-risk school programs in the Southwest US. that teaches students on Chicanx and Latinx history. We are additionally given a view on the benefits these programs have towards students, especially to Chicanos. Both materials demonstrate a severe problem within the Latinx community. Latino children aren’t seeking higher education. We see this is because of the system set in place in schools that both inhibit student progression, through suspensions and lack of “gifted” recognition among others, and prevent them to from utilizing ethnic studies courses, to actively engage with their history. The reading gives us a good sense of how the current system prevents academic progression among Latinx students. The authors provide claims that state how incorporating ethnic studies courses into a curriculum could lead to improvements in student engagement as well as expose them to higher education. In the documentary, we get to see more clearly. The students in these ethnic studies courses are actively engaged in discussions about their roots. This is often brought to life by an instructor who shows passion and dedication to the subject. The reading highlights the importance of having adequately trained instructors to teach these topics. I find this topic to be something that I have seen firsthand. Coming from a majority Latino school, it was easy to see they lack a push factor towards Latino students to pursue higher educations. Looking at the graphs presented in the document surprises me, since a lot of Latino students who go to school are told by their parents that they should pursue higher education to not end up like them. Even with a strong push factor coming from parents, Latino students still are choosing not to graduate. The system continues to pull students away from reaching higher education, by continuing to make it difficult to get in more college level classes and the inclusion of trade skills in curriculum.

  • Angel Acosta Leon Wk 3 Response

    The document Whiteness as Property by Cheryl I. Harris presents an interesting perspective on how one would look at whiteness. For most of my life and many others, being white was simply a type of race. Harris challenges this view by claiming that rather than being something immaterial and assigned, she sees it as something more physical, with the ability to contain it as property. To further prove her point, she mentions cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson to exemplify how the white man consistently sought to withhold their whiteness from other people who claimed to have been white. This brings up one of her major points, in that the ability to restrict other people’s claims to their whiteness further proves her point of it being property. As I see it, something you buy at the store, let’s say an apple, prevents other people from having a claim to that apple. You’re able to enjoy the full benefits of said apple. Similarly, white people, through the cases, seek to restrict whiteness from other people, especially those who are white-passing. The decisions of these cases would then restrict others from experiencing the benefits of whiteness.

    Harris goes further into her argument by mentioning cases that sought to challenge one’s claim to their indigenous identity. For instance, Mashpee Tribe v. Town of Mashpee in which descendants of the Mashpee tribe sought to reclaim Mashpee land, however, the decision ruled that the plaintiffs were not Mashpee, as they had assimilated with non-Indigenous society and had lost their Mashpee claim. Instances like this present the power of whiteness throughout history. Laws were made to specifically benefit the white population and further justify their presence on indigenous lands. Harris also dives into affirmative action, and how it serves as a remedy for the injustices of whiteness. Strangely though, those who possess whiteness claim such actions to be unjust to white people.

    Harris’ takes on whiteness is certainly interesting. I had never thought that being white could be a form of possessing property. But looking at recent events, such as companies rolling back on their DEI affirmative action policies, we get to see groups of white people feel as if their privileges of whiteness are being taken away. So, they decided to roll back on programs that aimed to control the benefits possessed by whiteness.  It’s truly disappointing how we still see such instances today.

  • Angel Acosta Leon Wk 2 Response

    The document Land as Life (LAL) by Mishuana Goeman, goes into detail on the contrast of the meaning of land between Native people and white Europeans. Goeman reveals the white Europeans assault on a Native American’s personal relationship with land as a place. Decolonization is not a metaphor by Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang seeks to inform readers on the realities of what decolonization is. They argue that the phrase is tossed around without considering the realities faced by displaced cultures. Both documents go into depth on the effects of white colonials on native people, more specifically having to do with the connection with land. Goeman goes into what land means for native inhabitants. As opposed to the white view of land, a connection with land is established within a culture. Land holds more value in this sense as it contains important history for the Natives. To have that minimized to a resource of monetary value is an example of colonization. Tuck and Yang goes into depth in the aftermath of colonization. Once an evil is recognized colonials seek forgiveness, wanting to make things right through what is called “decolonization.” Both documents share this idea of an attack on Native culture and how it leads to the social injustices we see today. These documents were eye-opening. I was previously taught in school about the processes of decolonization. At the time, I thought that it was a good thing. However, getting to hear from both authors made me realize how difficult it is to make things right.  The effects of these injustices had already been felt, and current efforts to make things right could be seen as an attempt to erase history. It’s important to remember that there is no simple solution to this, if any. It must be done with the intention of helping a fellow person out, not trying to right a wrong. Instances similar to this can be seen today with the recent immigration raids. It makes me wonder if later down the line when the effects of mass deportations are felt, will Americans seek to reverse the wrongs done? These texts remind us that true justice requires more than just symbolic gestures. It demands a deep commitment to confronting and addressing systemic harm.