The sort of conversations that happens between graduate students in education are quite odd but unique. One thing we remark on is the way education had affected us, namely professors or lessons that made a profound impact. I was talking to a classmate of African American descent last Thursday, who did an amazing powerpoint presentation on how media images construct culture and what that means to the way we see and relate to one another in society. I also shared similar agreement with her but find that in addition, history is often told by a 'master narrative' therefore making us believe that we are mono-cultural whether it be in the U.S. or anywhere in the world. That could construct division among people in society. Since my classmate went to U.C. Berkeley as an undergraduate student, I had to ask her about Professor Ronald Takaki who is a historian, scholar, and teacher at Berkeley. I had 'sneaked' into one of his lecture back in the '90s even though I didn't go to school there. Well, after all these years, my classmate told me that he's retired now, but had left a huge mark with his work on multi-cultural history and education. So, I was so glad I had the opportunity to hear Prof. Takaki speak. What I've learned from my classmate, from Prof. Takaki and from my own 'schooling' is that we can't really get there unless we get there together. I didn't understand this as much when I was in my 20's, but now I truly get it. When I was a kid, I asked my dad why all the black kids didn't live in our neighborhood but I would see them at school?? He said they lived in another part of SF, not because they want to but because there are forces in society that said they should. He told me that in time, I will understand how things operate in society, and that I should keep asking why all the time. I get that more and more....
A nice short article on Ronald Takaki's retirement:
The Daily Californian :: Ethnic Studies Pioneer to Retire
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