Do I Look Illegal

Of course I've been following the buzz around the racism that's happening in Arizona. Of course Arizona's SB 1070 is awful, racist and scary. When basketball teams, academics, and Vanessa Bryant all I agree; I think this country has officially reached a consensus. SB 1070 scares me because so many folks bought into it... but I don't think it'll be upheld in courts. So I'm not freaking out.

What I'm actually frightened of is the state's HB2281. This act prohibits, "a school district or charter schools from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people." The bill does a wonderful job of not really defining what it is to "promote resentment."

For me, the legislation is infuriating on two levels. First, it's indisputable that the history taught in most grade school classes is the history of white people. As a product of California's public schools, and later a substitute teacher in them, I know first hand that children are taught that missions are good things that "civilized the Indians;" and that although Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and African-Americans made enumerable contributions to the development of this country, I don't think I could have named a single one prior to attending college. The pictures I saw of civil war soldiers, prized leaders, and scientific innovators were always that of white men. Though the Arizona law prohibits the teaching of curriculum that is "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group," it's clear that the education that most children get is designed for and biased towards white people. The law, therefore, isn't banning "ethnic" studies it's banning "non-white studies."

The second reason I'm infuriated is that the law prohibits classes that, "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals." Don't get me started on this country's obsession with perceived "individualism." There is no soap box tall enough. But this prohibition exemplifies the dominant culture's inability to step back and think about the realities of under represented groups. Being someone who is constantly the "only [insert identity] person in the room/school/office" is draining. When you don't show up in the history books, science books, or school newspaper you can feel down right invisible.

Since starting law school I've been very active in the Latino Law Student Association (LLSA) at my institution. Next year I'll serve as President of the organization. There have definitely been moments where LLSA was the only place in the law building where I felt validate, appreciated, and "normal." The ability to feel "normal," or at least passable, is a privilege that many white students (and legislatures) take for granted. Yes, Arizona, I am and will always be an individual but I also need my education to appreciate the value of community and affinity groups for underrepresented students.

And lets be honest, this bill is nothing more than hate and fear mongering. The Arizona House of Representatives wasn't worried about students not being treated as individuals...they are worried about people of color realizing their own strength. I'm not saying all us brown people would like to get together and over throw the government. I'm saying that right now students of color perform worse (particularly in law school) than our white their counterparts for absolutely no good reason. Maybe if we got together and realized the strength, compassion, and potential we possess when we work together we would organize and realize our full potential. Maybe we'd demand better social services, education, and funding in low income areas. Maybe we'd steal back the proverbial bootstraps folks are always talk about. Maybe we'd take over some of the legislative seats.

Also, check out this great article from The Nation.

If you can be in Arizona on the 29th, you should participate in this for me.