By taking this course, I am able to learn more about race and ethnicity. At the beginning of this class, I identified myself racially as an Asian and ethically as a Filipino. I believe that my identity has shaped me in many ways. For example, our customs and beliefs as a Filipino is something that I live by as it was taught by my family. I also said that my racial and ethnic background has shaped me through personal experiences with loved ones. In addition, my racial or ethnic background has influenced my interactions with others in a more positive way. For example, with our national language Tagalog, I can effectively communicate with others who know Tagalog as well. I believe that these statements are still true and by taking this class I…show more content… One important thing I learned is the outstanding and continuous support of all the ethnic groups. Like even though they faced a lot of challenges, the people fighting for equality still break the systemic barriers and are always up for a better change for the future. One of the readings I enjoyed was the Exposition of the American Dream by James Baldwin. At the expense of the American Dream, we see James Baldwin disclosing arguments regarding the challenges faced by African Americans regarding the American Dream. Baldwin talks about discrimination, systemic racism, and the inequality in society. In the end, Baldwin agreed that true equality and fairness could be achieved through tremendous efforts to break the barriers that perpetuate racial injustice. I chose James Baldwin’s reading because it really intrigued me about how significant equality is for all groups. Baldwin agreed that true equality and fairness could only be achieved through tremendous effort, but we still need to overcome a lot of obstacles like equalization in diversity, education, and equal…show more content… At the risk of sounding excessive, what I always felt when I finally left the country, I found myself abroad in other places and watched Americans abroad. That these are my countrymen and I do care about them and even if I didn't, there is something between us (Baldwin, 1965).” I chose this part of the speech because it really caught my attention and I believe this part has helped me gain a better understanding of how ethics, equality, and race relations have changed over time. The next reading I chose is the Aoki v Deane case because this reading gave me an insight into the educational inequalities that were happening in the Asian communities. Tape's and Aoki's families played a significant role in addressing educational inequalities in California during the late 29th and early 20th centuries. They helped raise awareness of having equal access to education and fought against discriminatory policies. In the reading, Wolberg and Spring said: “Almost all Japanese parents refused to obey the Board resolution, choosing to keep their children at home rather than accept segregation (Spring and Wollenberg, 1977).” The Aoki v Deane case helped give way for more inclusive educational opportunities for everyone.Tape's decision led to challenging segregated schools in
