The Stack
In Just Walk on By, I've learned a little bit about what it's like to be a black person. I've learned what it's like to be marginalized, to be labeled off, and associated with robbers and muggers. The racial profiling that America has adopted is causing black people and marginalized groups to be silenced in society. Not surprisingly, the problem is growing as society has become increasingly racist.
Specifically, marginalized people often feel silenced in voicing their opinions in public meetings. One of the interesting, and honestly stupidest strategies to combat this issue is something called progressive stacking. The basic idea is that minority groups (colored people, women, LGBT, young people, old people, etc.), are given greater priority to speak than groups of majority (whites, men, young adults). This idea is part of the Occupy movement, which is dedicated to advocating justice through "new forms" of democracy. The "stack" is a list of people who are allowed to voice their opinions on topics, and meetings are regulated by "stack-keepers". An instance of its use is at the University of Pennsylvania, where graduate teaching assistant Stephanie McKellop explains "I will always call on my Black women students first. Other [people of color] get second tier priority. [White women] come next. And, if I have to, white men." As I read in Just Walk on By about how Staples "had no way of proving" who he was, or how the community of black people in Champion of the World lean in so closely to listen to their "Master's voice", I couldn't help but imagine a world in which the sociopolitical tables were turned. However, it's not a viable solution in the long run. Reverse racism is still racism. Stacking is still stacking whether it's reversed or not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCP-pH3JtWA
Specifically, marginalized people often feel silenced in voicing their opinions in public meetings. One of the interesting, and honestly stupidest strategies to combat this issue is something called progressive stacking. The basic idea is that minority groups (colored people, women, LGBT, young people, old people, etc.), are given greater priority to speak than groups of majority (whites, men, young adults). This idea is part of the Occupy movement, which is dedicated to advocating justice through "new forms" of democracy. The "stack" is a list of people who are allowed to voice their opinions on topics, and meetings are regulated by "stack-keepers". An instance of its use is at the University of Pennsylvania, where graduate teaching assistant Stephanie McKellop explains "I will always call on my Black women students first. Other [people of color] get second tier priority. [White women] come next. And, if I have to, white men." As I read in Just Walk on By about how Staples "had no way of proving" who he was, or how the community of black people in Champion of the World lean in so closely to listen to their "Master's voice", I couldn't help but imagine a world in which the sociopolitical tables were turned. However, it's not a viable solution in the long run. Reverse racism is still racism. Stacking is still stacking whether it's reversed or not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCP-pH3JtWA
wow marvin. i, as well,saw that tweet by mckellop and let me tell you i laughed. I def agree with your pov on this topic. great post
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting analysis. I suppose by trying to solve one problem, another one has been created of the same nature. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your points. Except you say that these groups have become silenced, but I feel as though they have become more pronounced in speaking their opinion.
ReplyDeleteGreat job looking at society’s racism through a different lens. To truly eliminate discrimination would mean equal treatment for everyone, regardless of race or sex or whatever. Your sentence “Reverse racism is still racism” really highlights this idea. Great job!
ReplyDelete