Chapter #2 Reflection

Chapter two of Identities & Inequalities by David M. Newman discussed cultural and historical ideas about race, class, gender and sexuality. It stressed the point of how who we are is how we view our selves and not what society deems us and how this can be a difficult obstacle to overcome. As long as people continue to recognize differences in races and sexes society will not be able to truly become and equal and accepting place for everyone.
The example in chapter that stood out most to me was about Gregory Williams, an extremely successful academic who while growing up could not be classified as either white or black. Growing up in a segregated Virginia as a white child he spent most of his time in white only areas and was considered to be privileged. Living like this would have also caused him to look down upon African Americans as an inferior race. But after moving to Indiana and finding that he was himself part black would come as a rude awakening. Unlike more African Americans that would stick together and have their own groups such as whites, he was shunned by both. To white to be black, and to black to be white.
In my opinion if someone who was racist could be put through a this it would teach them that there really is no difference between races and that it does not make them inferior. Growing up in a primarily white school with only a couple of African Americans no one really looked at them and being black or inferior. Because they were raised in the same area, social and economic class they were looked at as equals and often acted as though they were white. This in my mind proves that you are what you view yourself as, and not what society says you are which can help anyone overcome obstacles in life to achieve their dreams.