Dear White People

Last week, Taylor and I went to watch "Dear White People" in theaters. The film was the winner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent and is a funny, satirical conversation surrounding racial politics in a predominately white and affluent college. Interestingly, on the face of it, "Dear White People" was a direct conversation with privileged whiteness but perhaps even more so, the film asked how blacks find acceptance among other blacks despite the many different challenges they may face related to assimilation. 

Don't get me wrong, as a white woman of privilege, the film made me think quite a bit. As the one of the only two white people in the theatre (with the other being Taylor), I couldn't help but grow a little embarrassed and shocked at the ways that white culture can largely ignore movies that are specifically crafted to uncover the privilege that we take for granted. Not to mention, the humbleness that overcame me as I realized how often and easy it is for a white woman of privilege to put their foot in their mouth when discussing race. 

However, the ways in which "Dear White People" addressed the enormous challenges of the affluent black middle class was the most startling. The film spoke to the ways that my generation's black community is perhaps confronting new problems: assimilation vs culture, mobility vs loyalty. I laughed and felt uncomfortable the whole way through which in a wonderfully metaphysical way captures the ways that most of us deal with race and politics now. While I was impressed and probably could only ever understand 1/8th of what my black counterparts did from the film, there are other ways where I have tried to be a firm ally for the black individuals in my community and other racial minorities. 

To start with, I have recognized that I come from a place of privilege in which often times the best thing for me to do is to shut my mouth and have a good listen. As a white, educated woman, it is my responsibility to be sensitive to the needs of my community, especially those that have a history of disenfranchisement. Touching upon this, is this concept of whiteness. What is whiteness and how do we develop a culture of whiteness without regressing to the Jim Crow South? A new project titled The Whiteness Project is one way of starting to look at the ways in which whites identify today while also being deeply concerned with the racial tensions that underline whiteness as a concept. 

All-in-all, the message of uncomfortableness is an important one. I encourage each of you to check out the film and reflect on where you personally fit into the dynamic that it sets up. I know I for one will continue to be thinking long and hard as I piece together where I fall and the ways in which I can help create the most equity. 

Imprisoned Because of a Volleyball Match

Sign the petition here. 

In June, Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25 year-old, dual Iranian and British citizen was arrested along with a dozen other women as they tried to enter a stadium to watch the Iranian national men's team play volleyball. She was subsequently placed in solitary confinement in Tehran's Evin Jail, which has a reputation for holding political prisoners and journalists. 

The Iranian government has banned women from football games since 1979 and has since extended the ban to volleyball since 2012 claiming that the government hopes to protect women from the "lewd behavior of male fans." Amnesty International has called for an Urgent Action for Ghoncheh as they believe she has been put under psychological pressure due to the multiple threats she has received by prison guards and public officials in addition to her unjust confinement. 

Due to current political relationships between the UK Government and Iran, it seems that the UK has been thus far unwilling to help her and relieve the suffering of her family. Her family is hoping that with the pressure of the global community placed upon the UK that she will be released to be with her family once more. 

As a volleyball enthusiast myself, I hope to reach out to all of those who have yet to hear Ghonchech's story. Commit yourself to being part of the community that advocates for the rights of women and make volleyball a safe place for spectators globally!

Brittany Maynard

     

Brittany Maynard

Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old, teacher, wife, and daughter that was terminally ill with cancer, chose to end her life in Portland, Oregon by utilizing the Death with Dignity Act last Saturday night. Patients that choose to utilize the Death with Dignity Act take a fatal dose of barbiturates, prescribed by their doctor, when their suffering becomes too great to bear. As a hospice volunteer and a Catholic I have heard a spectrum of arguments and opinions in which individuals try to place the Death with Dignity Act somewhere on a moral spectrum.

To me however, Brittany Maynard is a hero because of the courage she displayed while showing the world the true challenges within the death and dying process. As a hospice volunteer, I have had the experience of seeing some of the most dignified deaths. However, I have also had the challenging experience of seeing individuals pass with no friends or family members and in debilitating pain. I believe Brittany's story speaks to those dying in loneliness. Brittany hoped to bring awareness to something most of us choose to ignore each day--death.

In a perfect world, I choose to believe that patients would not choose to remedy the death and dying process with the Death with Dignity Act because they would be treated with the upmost compassion by our society, they would be dignified with a supportive hospice or palliative care rather than barbiturates, and they would be held in love by all those that surround them. However, I also recognize that the rates of individuals dying in hospitals rather than in the support of hospice care is increasing, I have seen first hand with my Papa's death and my research as an undergraduate that the restricted funding for hospice has caused hospice care workers to devote less time to patients and their families, and that the fear of death is being promoted by our societal misunderstandings of death being a scary, horrible event.

For those that have grown disgruntled with Brittany Maynard's choice, I understand the uncomfortableness that accompanies someone willing to take their own life in what many deem an "unnatural way". However, I encourage you to consider the ways in which your actions promote individuals in that situation to lack choices. Does death as a concept make you uncomfortable? Do you promote compassion and love to those living on the margins of society? Would you be willing to accompany a stranger, a friend, or a family member on the challenging and unforgiving road of death and dying. These are all questions that accompany a dignified death that excludes the use of the Death with Dignity Act. Too many people are dying in group foster homes, with no access to friends or family members, too many people are dying too early because of systemic issues that are awaiting our effort in changing.

I challenge you to consider what death looks like for Americans in 2014. Is it something you are satisfied with? I for one am not and am dedicated to changing the ways that our society views death, accompanies the dying, and creates policies that promote compassion for patients and their families. So for this reason, moral arguments aside, Brittany Maynard is a hero. She took an issue that tends to fall into a category of black or white and asked us to see the grey in-between. The Brittany Maynard Fund has fittingly been set up to support Compassion and Choices. As an advocate for compassion and with the hope that the lives of those that are in the death and dying process can be dramatically improved, I encourage you to read through her website with an open eye and heart.