SJCU activity (Social Justice Cultural Understanding)

Last week, in SJCU, we did an activity based on race, and how it gives you either advantages or disadvantages in society. We were broken up into four groups: The Highlights, Middle Town, the Destructors, and the Oh No’s. The Highlights were the upper class, who were given anything their heart desired, and were looked up to by everyone. The Middle Towns followed in the Highlights' footsteps, and as they saw them popping the balloons that the Oh No’s were supposed to protect, they did the same. The Destructors mostly stayed to themselves, doing their puzzle, and working together to figure out a way to communicate. Lastly, the Oh No’s were treated the worst, being constantly attacked both verbally, as well as having their balloons popped.

This activity was hard on everyone. It showed us some of the things that we aren't aware of in our day-to-day lives as young girls. We had a discussion at the end of the class about how we felt. Some people said that it felt unfair, because when the Highlights ran, they weren't called out on it, but when the Oh No’s ran, they were told not to do that again with a stern look from the teachers. It ultimately all came down to one thing... What is racism?