The Personal

It is awkward to have discussions in class for me, particularly ones that relate to race. I feel my age. Not in a bad way. But that I find myself getting more and more jaded about the world and yet I enjoy watching the excitement of discovery when the other students learn or feel something strong when it deals with class, race and economic struggles in the South. I am not a spokesperson for the black people of South Carolina, but we share a legacy that has impacted in a uniquely common way.

I am a Yankee. My father is from the south, but if you asked him, he would say he was Yankee. My mother is from New Jersey. Discussions about race are personal for me and I am self-conscious. I am obviously the product of a mixed-race union. I was raised by hippies and when I was a kid, I thought nothing of civil rights marches and political rallies. I lived the civil rights struggle. I remember the time I saw some girls I played with marching on the opposite side of road, marching against racial unity and equality, and we never spoke again. I didn't speak to them. They never spoke to me, but a line had been drawn for us and we knew there was no compromise.

I was the ONLY child of color in my classes for most of my elementary school years. Children were told not to play with me and my sisters; we weren't invited to parties; we were called names; and teachers were openly prejudiced. My sensitivity is heightened and I hope I don't die with the chip that still resides on my shoulder. I want to make my children aware and proud of their mixed heritage, but I don't want to give them pieces of my chip.

Going to Bamberg is a way for me to help, just a little, and make things right for all the people of Bamberg, regardless of race. But yes, I am conscious of my duty to my people, my fellow black folk. My duty is to help them find a way to be heard and to REPRESENT. Represent means to not embarrass them and be a postive reflection on the rich soul of the black people. That is a heavy burden and I feel it every day. I am scared and excited to get on with it and learn how to help heal old wounds via the design workshop.

Race, Place and Bamberg

Class discussion today was very good. I liked the idea of meeting at Joe's at Clemson's Madren Center. It made the session seem more like a casual coffee shop chat. Perhaps that made people feel a little less timid about talking about JIM CROW and THE SOUTH.

I write those two things in caps because they are huge, loaded names. You can't talk about either without a discussion about racism, segregation, civil rights, class strife, lynching, miscegenation, the Civil War, or other contentious topics. But talk we did and it was a very open, respectful conversation. In fact, I did not detect any unease, awkwardness or hostility. Is it our maturity? I think it is perhaps because we all voluntarily signed up for a class to work with an economically depressed town that is predominantly black. We are obviously not afraid of race. I also think that everyone who signed up for this class is empathetic and has a social conscience.

We had the assignment this week of reading exerpts from two books: "The Mind of the South" and "Race, Place and the Law." In addition to the reading, we each watched "Corridor of Shame" the movie I mentioned in the last post. The point of the assignment was to read and watch analyses of the state of race, place and South Carolina over a period of time. Yeah, things are quite a bit better in terms of race relations and interactions. Yeah, Jim Crow is dead! But the legacy of the oppression remains and creates a fertile ground for the neglect of an entire population of people simply because of their race and socio-economic status. South Carolina in 2008 is a prime example of the problem. Until this is acknowledged and addressed decisively, South Carolina will continue to be known by and be dragged down by its worst schools in polls and status. Plain and simple.

I am a bit overwhelmed at the thought of how little we, as students, can do in the town of Bamberg, SC this semester. The legacy of racism and inequality is a hurdle that only the residents can jump. Assistance is there, but the oppressed towns have the greatest power to make the changes they want to see.