Emma Holman

Week 14
Argument

The Roles of Allies as Agents of Change by Andrea Ayvazian
Combatting Intentional Bigotry and Inadvertently Racist Acts by Fletcher Blanchard

Blanchard believes that within our world there is still a significant presence of racial discrimination as he said "Your vocal opinions affect what others think and say." He states that he has seen racism from  experiments he has completed with college students. From some of his studies, he has discovered that the number of white people exposed to people of color before college is a minority. From this information Blanchard thinks that we all need to work to come together so we can accept each other presence and proximity as well as the friendship between a white person and a black person.

Ayvazian feels that if we are ever faced with some kind of oppression, the best kind of help is to become an ally. Ayvazian believe an ally is a member of a dominant group in our society who works to take a part all forms of oppression from where he or she is given a benefit. Ayvazian wants us all to take a stand, use our personal responsibility to make the societal changes that must be altered. She did not say it is an easy task as she states that questions the social norm consistently until change is made. It is not fair for some to be targeted with oppression while others are not.
Ayvazian continues on with "oppression" to show the combinatoin of prejudice and access to social, political, and economic power exists on the side of the dominant group. This leaves the other group of people to be considered the "target" who are denied the advantage.

These two articles go hand in hand as Ayvazian is speaking on behalf a more general "wall" she wants to break down while Blanchard is speaking for a more specific wall, which is racism. People who are of color can be seen as oppressed because not all people accept people of color. These people who are not accepting will target the group of colored people. Make them feel less of a human, not as important, unwelcome in the area. The group of unkind people will be advantaged with the power to be unaccepting and live comfortably while the group of black people will be "targeted" with disgusted looks, invalid judgements and hard jokes. Blanchard believes that to solve this issue it will take multiple little things as a whole. The little things can be seen a significant things, such as smiling or keeping the door open for someone. The movement we must make is large but taking baby steps is the best way to success. Blanchard reminds us that from a public poll, only a few white college students have grown up in an integrated area, attend school with a diverse body of students, watched their parents talk with people of color. Which can make college a culture shock, however this does not mean we treat blacks any less. It simply means what Blanchard states, to regulate racial harassment, aimed squarely at the well intentioned many, consists of urging civility. He also states an importance on the punishment of hurtful actions and/or words spoken. It will take more than laws to change this issue which encompasses civility and punishments.

This wall of issues could be represented in many other derogatory ways as well. For example people who identify as lesbian/gay/pansexual. However, if someone feels a little Ayvazian in them, they may step up as an ally. When stepping up as an ally, it may not break the wall down completely. Despite that you are raising the problems about the topic. For example, the PFLAG, which are Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays who organize support groups as well create advocacy among other heterosexuals regarding the problems of gay and lesbain liberation. When a "straight" person is taking instead of a people who is considered lesbian people may listen more. The speaker will show how that even heterosexuals have an impact on the LGBT community. People want to listen from someone they can relate to, a struggling single mom or a two adult mom and dad pair. They may think less of the gay couple who has adopted a child as an image can speak a thousand words.

 Frye states oppression means to be stuck in a bird cage, I believe that Ayvazian and Blanchard may agree because until we as a people improve discrimination and actually being an "ally"  many are stuck in a bird cage while others aren't due to their social class and appearance.

Comment:
This made me think of being an innocent bystander. When people watch someone else drop something, one person is eagerly ready to help while more than often others will walk right by. I think we need to work on being an innocent bystander as well as an "ally."