Racial Awareness Program (RAPP)
From LeaderShape and my experience in Guatemala, I wanted to try this program. At the very least, it sounded interesting. The mission of RAPP is "fighting oppression through individual awareness and collective action." For me, the program opened up my eyes to real societal issues and real experiences that up until this time I had not noticed. It also gave me direction an defined my passion and mission in life. I wanted to work for quality healthcare for Latin Americans.
The premise of RAPP is not a very comfortable one, especially for a white, heterosexual, middle class male. The first few months of the nine month program we discussed race, racism, and ethnic identity. Our 35 member group was incredibly diverse, and we talked and listened to each other's experiences. I became much more aware of my white privelage. Race, for most of my life, was something I never had to think about. Yet listening to stories of my fellow group members made me realize that many are made aware of their race every single day.
One story I found particularly striking was that one of my African American RAPPmates was walking down the street one day in a sundress, when she was stopped by a police officer who accused her of stealing the handheld video game system she had. This girl is one of the sweetest people I know, and hearing her experience of being stereotyped in such a manner was heart-wrenching. She wasn't alone, as most people had similar stories. We looked at polls and studies that proved the vast disparities in income and education, even in a supposed "post-racism" society. But one activity will always stick in my mind.
At the first of three retreats, our motley group lined up in a straight line. We linked hands. One facilitator would read directions over a megaphone.
"If you grew up with two parents, take two steps forward."
"If you have ever been asked where you are from, take one step backwards"
."If you attended a private school or high school, take a step forward"
"If you had to work to support your family, take two steps backward."
"If you are watched or followed in retail stores, take two steps backward."
"If your parents never encouraged you in school, take two steps backwards."
Before long most of our linked hands had been broken. At the end of the orders, some like myself were far in front of others. A few started even further back than we started from. We were now told to run to a finish line, about 100 feet from where I was standing. Everyone had a different starting point. I think I came in second place in that race, but suddenly I got it. IT wasn't even close to an even playing field. I had such an advantage over some of my fellow RAPPmates and friends, and I had conflicting feelings. I was happy to have the background I had, but I felt so sorry for those who did not have the same opportunities I had, especially when they were all out of their control.
Race is such a complicated issue that really the only way to understand each other is by talking and respect. I thought I knew a good amount about race from my volunteer experience and high school, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. I am still no expert, but I see issues surrounding race in a new light.
RAPP had a strong emphasis on race, but we also delved into sexual orientation, gender identity, religious identity, ability and disability, and social class. Every one of these has its own minority status associated with it. The traditional majority, in power, subordinates these other groups and thus makes members of these groups feel like second-class citizens. For example, the Muslim group members unanimously agreed that they had hostile experiences in public, especially after 9/11 even though they were only preteens at the time. While homosexuality is slowly becoming more accepted, almost nothing is being done for transgender individuals. Language like "That's lame" can be just as hurtful to disabled people as "That's gay" can be to non-heterosexual people. For all of the majority-minority oppression, there is just as much minority-minority oppression.
An important concept I learned from RAPP is the intersection of identities. Often, individuals have multiple identities that are suppressed. While certain identities may be more pervasive in someone's life, labeling the person by that identity limits that person and ignores other identities that may be more or just as important.
RAPP wasn't just about learning though. Just like LeaderShape, it was focused on action. Near the end of the program, we had to come up with our passion and write up a plan to combat oppression in this passion. Some RAPPmates chose education, some chose law, some chose activist groups. I chose healthcare. RAPP enabled me to see that I wanted to make quality healthcare more accessible to Spanish speakers who sometimes do not receive the same quality of care. RAPP gave me a great group of friends and for once a definite direction in my life.
During one of our normal meetings, I wrote a letter to my future self. I opened this four months after completing the program. I promised myself to "never become complacent," to "always fight for social justice." Volunteering as a medical interpreter was the first logical step.
The premise of RAPP is not a very comfortable one, especially for a white, heterosexual, middle class male. The first few months of the nine month program we discussed race, racism, and ethnic identity. Our 35 member group was incredibly diverse, and we talked and listened to each other's experiences. I became much more aware of my white privelage. Race, for most of my life, was something I never had to think about. Yet listening to stories of my fellow group members made me realize that many are made aware of their race every single day.
One story I found particularly striking was that one of my African American RAPPmates was walking down the street one day in a sundress, when she was stopped by a police officer who accused her of stealing the handheld video game system she had. This girl is one of the sweetest people I know, and hearing her experience of being stereotyped in such a manner was heart-wrenching. She wasn't alone, as most people had similar stories. We looked at polls and studies that proved the vast disparities in income and education, even in a supposed "post-racism" society. But one activity will always stick in my mind.
At the first of three retreats, our motley group lined up in a straight line. We linked hands. One facilitator would read directions over a megaphone.
"If you grew up with two parents, take two steps forward."
"If you have ever been asked where you are from, take one step backwards"
."If you attended a private school or high school, take a step forward"
"If you had to work to support your family, take two steps backward."
"If you are watched or followed in retail stores, take two steps backward."
"If your parents never encouraged you in school, take two steps backwards."
Before long most of our linked hands had been broken. At the end of the orders, some like myself were far in front of others. A few started even further back than we started from. We were now told to run to a finish line, about 100 feet from where I was standing. Everyone had a different starting point. I think I came in second place in that race, but suddenly I got it. IT wasn't even close to an even playing field. I had such an advantage over some of my fellow RAPPmates and friends, and I had conflicting feelings. I was happy to have the background I had, but I felt so sorry for those who did not have the same opportunities I had, especially when they were all out of their control.
Race is such a complicated issue that really the only way to understand each other is by talking and respect. I thought I knew a good amount about race from my volunteer experience and high school, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. I am still no expert, but I see issues surrounding race in a new light.
RAPP had a strong emphasis on race, but we also delved into sexual orientation, gender identity, religious identity, ability and disability, and social class. Every one of these has its own minority status associated with it. The traditional majority, in power, subordinates these other groups and thus makes members of these groups feel like second-class citizens. For example, the Muslim group members unanimously agreed that they had hostile experiences in public, especially after 9/11 even though they were only preteens at the time. While homosexuality is slowly becoming more accepted, almost nothing is being done for transgender individuals. Language like "That's lame" can be just as hurtful to disabled people as "That's gay" can be to non-heterosexual people. For all of the majority-minority oppression, there is just as much minority-minority oppression.
An important concept I learned from RAPP is the intersection of identities. Often, individuals have multiple identities that are suppressed. While certain identities may be more pervasive in someone's life, labeling the person by that identity limits that person and ignores other identities that may be more or just as important.
RAPP wasn't just about learning though. Just like LeaderShape, it was focused on action. Near the end of the program, we had to come up with our passion and write up a plan to combat oppression in this passion. Some RAPPmates chose education, some chose law, some chose activist groups. I chose healthcare. RAPP enabled me to see that I wanted to make quality healthcare more accessible to Spanish speakers who sometimes do not receive the same quality of care. RAPP gave me a great group of friends and for once a definite direction in my life.
During one of our normal meetings, I wrote a letter to my future self. I opened this four months after completing the program. I promised myself to "never become complacent," to "always fight for social justice." Volunteering as a medical interpreter was the first logical step.