I understand the need for "Empowering Males of Color", but the tone of this is exclusive offensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So where do you draw the line. I have 2 poc in my family tree. Some of us look darker than others. Do the dark ones get to be poc and the rest of us not?

You’re still POC if you’re POC. If you’re 90% white you’re not poc....but feel free to try and claim whatever.

Also dark ones? If you mean those with darker skin tone, it doesn’t make them more POC but it does make them a greater target of racism.

As a mixed person, I receive the benefits of having lighter skin, while still experiencing some forms of racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So where do you draw the line. I have 2 poc in my family tree. Some of us look darker than others. Do the dark ones get to be poc and the rest of us not?

This sounds like a really good-faith question!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem with this, but they should have added a line saying all students are welcome.

I know from experience that people get upset when you focus. I ran a woman's group at work for years. Females have different challenges in the work place and we focused on those. One man complained and wanted us to end it, so I added that anyone can join. If a man wants to hear about breast feeding at the office or the glass ceiling they should feel free to join.

A DCPS student who does not fit the focus group
may find that nothing applies to them, but they should be invited.

That man shouldn’t have been invited in your space. You should have instead advised him to form his own group.
Just like a woman may not speak as comfortably in a space where men are present, the same goes for people of color. Sometimes our conversations and deeply personal experiences are best shared amongst people like ourselves. We have very few spaces where it’s just US. Let US have something.

I disagree. I think by making it a "woman's group" or a "POC group" or whatever, you continue to make it something separate and apart from the white, male "norm." If we really believe that women's issues are people's issues and that we want white people to better understand the issues POC face, then I don't think it is helpful to make it seem like men or white people aren't welcome into the conversation. I don't think anyone is asking someone to go out of their way to invite them or make sure they are attending, but it does send a signal that "this isn't for you" when you see language like that. There are definitely mixed signals going on here.

it's really not up to you to decide what disadvantaged groups want to do to help themselves, you know? if you want to start a multiracial leadership discussion group, go right ahead. but trying to argue that you need to be admitted to women's groups, black groups, Jewish groups, whatever ... is beyond the pale.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cool, cool. Let invite your white son to the how not to get killed by the police talk too..

I am white and female. Every child I know, male and female, black and white and anything else, gets a series of police talks while growing up.

[Anonymous]

Wow. You guys sound incredibly racist.

This thread is the definition of white fragility.

Grow up, guys. Seriously. It’s past time.

[Anonymous]

I found it strange that they’d specifically only invite people of color. If you want to show inclusiveness why not just invite everyone? Seems a bit counterproductive otherwise.

But no, I’m not offended; just seems like a missed opportunity to demonstrate the inclusiveness they rightly seek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If u don't like then u prob shouldn't live in a "chocolate city"

It ain’t Chocolate City anymore.

DCPS enrollment is 80% black and latino. Whites are 15%. "Other" (Asians?) is 5%.

So DCPS is hosting events for the majority of their population and not treating the minority equally? Seems to go against the ideals of the civil rights movement. Or was that wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem with this, but they should have added a line saying all students are welcome.

I know from experience that people get upset when you focus. I ran a woman's group at work for years. Females have different challenges in the work place and we focused on those. One man complained and wanted us to end it, so I added that anyone can join. If a man wants to hear about breast feeding at the office or the glass ceiling they should feel free to join.

A DCPS student who does not fit the focus group
may find that nothing applies to them, but they should be invited.

That man shouldn’t have been invited in your space. You should have instead advised him to form his own group.
Just like a woman may not speak as comfortably in a space where men are present, the same goes for people of color. Sometimes our conversations and deeply personal experiences are best shared amongst people like ourselves. We have very few spaces where it’s just US. Let US have something.

I disagree. I think by making it a "woman's group" or a "POC group" or whatever, you continue to make it something separate and apart from the white, male "norm." If we really believe that women's issues are people's issues and that we want white people to better understand the issues POC face, then I don't think it is helpful to make it seem like men or white people aren't welcome into the conversation. I don't think anyone is asking someone to go out of their way to invite them or make sure they are attending, but it does send a signal that "this isn't for you" when you see language like that. There are definitely mixed signals going on here.

it's really not up to you to decide what disadvantaged groups want to do to help themselves, you know? if you want to start a multiracial leadership discussion group, go right ahead. but trying to argue that you need to be admitted to women's groups, black groups, Jewish groups, whatever ... is beyond the pale.

This is a public school event, financed by public taxes- not a private group, which can gather in whatever configuration it chooses.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you also frustrated that you can't use the N word? Does it feel unfair and discriminatory that you can't?

Get help.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe how nasty people can get on threads involving race. The OP is not racist for voicing her opinion. Lots of people offered good explanations as to why this event should only be for POC. People should be able to express their concerns without being labeled a racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think asking questions about this event makes anybody a racist. That is crazy and throwing around the term so casually really makes it difficult for people to engage in a meaningful conversation.

I mean, what do you want to discuss? The finer legal points about how you could bring a reverse discrimination lawsuit? The need to block black kids from getting support tailored to their lives? The fact that your white child feels excluded? You want a White Empowerment seminar for your child?

About the ONLY thing people of good will have to discuss here is the fact that DCPS would be well-advised to add an asterisk “all are welcome” to deal with the new “concerned” citizens, and hope for the best there is no trolling or disruption.

Is anyone suggesting blocking Black kids from these opportunities? Why not extend the invitation to every child? Why perpetuate the division?

Because modern political parties have lost all ability to maintain their power structure without othering large swathes of the population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem with this, but they should have added a line saying all students are welcome.

I know from experience that people get upset when you focus. I ran a woman's group at work for years. Females have different challenges in the work place and we focused on those. One man complained and wanted us to end it, so I added that anyone can join. If a man wants to hear about breast feeding at the office or the glass ceiling they should feel free to join.

A DCPS student who does not fit the focus group
may find that nothing applies to them, but they should be invited.

That man shouldn’t have been invited in your space. You should have instead advised him to form his own group.
Just like a woman may not speak as comfortably in a space where men are present, the same goes for people of color. Sometimes our conversations and deeply personal experiences are best shared amongst people like ourselves. We have very few spaces where it’s just US. Let US have something.

I disagree. I think by making it a "woman's group" or a "POC group" or whatever, you continue to make it something separate and apart from the white, male "norm." If we really believe that women's issues are people's issues and that we want white people to better understand the issues POC face, then I don't think it is helpful to make it seem like men or white people aren't welcome into the conversation. I don't think anyone is asking someone to go out of their way to invite them or make sure they are attending, but it does send a signal that "this isn't for you" when you see language like that. There are definitely mixed signals going on here.

it's really not up to you to decide what disadvantaged groups want to do to help themselves, you know? if you want to start a multiracial leadership discussion group, go right ahead. but trying to argue that you need to be admitted to women's groups, black groups, Jewish groups, whatever ... is beyond the pale.

This is a public school event, financed by public taxes- not a private group, which can gather in whatever configuration it chooses.

sure if you want to go down that road and file a lawsuit go ahead. it will publicly demonstrate you are a racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If u don't like then u prob shouldn't live in a "chocolate city"

It ain’t Chocolate City anymore.

DCPS enrollment is 80% black and latino. Whites are 15%. "Other" (Asians?) is 5%.

So DCPS is hosting events for the majority of their population and not treating the minority equally? Seems to go against the ideals of the civil rights movement. Or was that wrong?

again with the good faith questions! wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how nasty people can get on threads involving race. The OP is not racist for voicing her opinion. Lots of people offered good explanations as to why this event should only be for POC. People should be able to express their concerns without being labeled a racist.

protip: if you get an email about a program intended to help black kids and feel “offended” and “excluded,” you are indeed racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how nasty people can get on threads involving race. The OP is not racist for voicing her opinion. Lots of people offered good explanations as to why this event should only be for POC. People should be able to express their concerns without being labeled a racist.

protip: if you get an email about a program intended to help black kids and feel “offended” and “excluded,” you are indeed racist.

Agree.