More to do

I have so many thoughts on power and privilege. One of my very favorite subjects is the Civil Right's movement. I love the pursuit of social justice, and although I know that we are NO WHERE near where we ought to be, we are all very privileged to be able to voice our opinion and vote to ensure that it gets better.
I have been the minority several times in my life, and it does not feel comfortable or natural. I feel that everyone should have to be in a situation as "other" in order to gain some empathy for what our "others" in our communities may feel.
When I lived in Dorchester Massachusetts, I was surely the white girl. I walked to work through Roxbury and was offered many things on the street from hairdryers to crack. I pretty much stayed tuned to my surroundings but I would always smile and say hello to the children. Did I feel endangered, no, but did I feel comfortable, no. Boston I feel has much more segregation than Portland, it is much older and the housing policies from the past still are effecting the present.
Living in North Portland, I have felt not uncomfortable but some moments of guilt. One of my prior co-workers who grew up in North Portland told me how when she was young and would order from Pizza Hut they would not deliver after 9 pm. Now, she feels that the white people have moved into her neighborhood getting pizza at any hour is no long an issue. I am aware of the gentrification that is occurring all over American cities. But, I don’t think the solution would be for me not to move in. The solution is with politics and policies. We need more policies to promote minority loans to ensure business ownership and home ownership.
I can’t wait to finish the movie tomorrow. I think that it is such an incredible experience for anyone to be able to learn in Africa, but really, the solution should be bigger than that. If 74% of African Americans boys are not graduating high school, then we need better policy. We need to give all children an equal playing field. And, obviously by the 74 percent drop out rate that field is nowhere near even.
I feel if you ever hear anyone talking against affirmative action, raise your voice! Do it in a way that is nonjudgmental in order to create dialogue, but it is important for people to realize that we still live in an unjust society.