Dear Facebook, I have noticed a disturbing trend amongst my peers at Guilford. In an age of interconnectedness and rapid access to information, I have noticed conversation and dialogue shifting in their meanings. Conversation and dialogue used to entail listening, analyzing what is being said, and openness to sharing. Now, in my eyes, they have come to mean one sided affirmations free of any challenge, discussion of hard topics only at the surface level and an expectation (but not gratitude) for an educational experience. As a black woman in higher education, I am asked and even expected to answer questions, discuss hard topics and provide thought provoking analysis on a daily basis. More often than not, the free analysis I and other marginalized folks at Guilford give goes unappreciated, is selectively listened to and does not effectively constitute a dialogue. To that end, I have created a paypal account to help relieve this trend. If you have a question (e.g.: is this racist? why cant i wear that? how do you do your hair?), please refer to my price list and provide the appropriate amount. Upon receipt of your payment I will email you with a response within 3-5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). Paypal me here: chelseayarborough234@gmail PRICES -Cultural Analysis-25.00 with JSTOR links included for further reading-5.00 extra -Rosetta Stone questions (questions about the universal black experience in the U.S.)- 30.00 -Cultural appropriation, is this racist? questions-15.00 with links-5.00 extra -Explaining racism, homophobia and other systems of oppression-25.00 links included-5.00 (Other questions that fall outside of these categories yet encompass some form of education, explanation or teaching will be considered on a case by case basis and assessed a price at the time of receipt of the question.) I hope that this will force a change in the ways we approach marginalized folks for education at Guilford and beyond. As a black woman,I am constantly explaining myself, my identity, my blackness for free. I am constantly expected to be on all the time, and people do not realize that systems of oppression are not just theories in a SOAN textbook, but are real things I deal with on a daily basis. Expecting a free education about my identity and my people is violent. Engaging with peoples lived experiences in a way that only makes you feel comfortable as a white/straight/cisgender/upper to middle class person is violent. Selective listening, dismissal and invalidation of someone who is educating you is violent. And while I feel these discussions are important to have, I refuse to compromise my safety for a teachable moment. I hope this will mitigate the violence enacted on my black womanly body every day on this campus, and force people to engage on a level that creates real dialogue and discussion. With love, Chelsea
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 05:42:21 +0000
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