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Accelerating Racial Justice 2015
Undoubtedly, ARJ 2015 has been the most meaningful and amazing experience I’ve had this year. By participating in the Accelerating Racial Justice program from August 9th- 13th 2015, I have emerged as a more aware, responsible and committed person dedicated to build racial justice and an inclusive leadership community at UC. Initially, my goal was to become more educated about the issue of race, color and privileges in USA and learn about ways to combat those issues on campus as a student leader. Not only did I achieve those goals, but actually walked out of the 5-day program with a lot more than what I expected. Below is an encapsulation of my ARJ experience which I represent till date. On the first day, I remember standing outside our yurts (yes, yurts that are typically used by nomads!) at Camp Kern and observing the tall green (forest) trees that surrounded us and my fellow ARJ participants. I thought, ”For the next 5 days, I am going to live with these new people to discuss sensitive issues that affect us all in different ways. It definitely is going to be an interesting experience”. With this thought, I took a deep breath, braced myself to genuinely understand racial justice and inclusive leadership and walked in our discussion room. Each day began at 9 a.m. with fun sessions (to wake some of us sleepy ones) which were followed by intensive discussion sessions that concluded at 6p.m. with everyone reflecting on the day’s discussions/activities. We participated in many activities and discussions which occurred in big group settings as well as in smaller groups. The aim was to have meaningful conversations and challenge and teach one another. Through ARJ, I learned many important lessons. One of the most thought-provoking notions was thinking about ‘Intent Vs Impact’. In our everyday life, we interact with many people for various reasons but often don’t realize the impact our words have on others. For example, if you meet a transgender person and want to show your support to the trans-community, and you say, “Hey, you are inspiring many people to be confident about themselves” or “I’d like to know what your story is?”. While your intention might be to be kind and supportive or you are simply curious in a non-judgmental way, the trans-person might feel offended about the fact that his/her “identity” comes before his/her work, personality and attitude. I believe people should consciously think about the impact they have on others and likewise, think about the intention others might have. It’s all about perspective. It’s all about Intent Vs Impact. Having learned so much about racial issues, another lesson I learned is practicing racial justice is like brushing your teeth…you’ve got to do it every day. Attending the 5-day program does not mean I’ve combated racial issues. It’s a continuous process that needs to be a natural habit. When you see someone being oppressed, stand up for them by being aware and educate others. Apart from the insightful experiences, I made many valuable relationships at ARJ 2015. I feel fortunate to have grown closer to other passionate and bright students. We did so many fun activities after sessions—from hiking every day to having a bonfire and stargazing! I am still pleasantly surprised by how those 5 days have created meaningful relationships and how my new friends continue to inspire me by their ideas and personalities. ARJ 2015 had indeed been an interesting experience. On the last day when I wrote my last reflection, I couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed and positive about this experience. Emotional hugs were exchanged, photos were captured and promises to be active advocates of racial justice and inclusive leadership were made. |
Thanks for reading! I hope you feel as joyous and motivated as we do in this picture! :)