Creativity Project-Self Assessment of My Racial Identity

Reflections of the Past

Identify with the White culture because of the obviousAccess to resources but completely unaware of this statusAcculturation came easy as well as assimilationDid not completely understand my privileged racial socialization Learned what was around me and there was no question that this culture would accept meMy racial identity was pre-determined by my skin color

My Views Currently

Sincerely believe I still do not completely understand my privileged racial socialization fully The more I learn, the more I do understand how little I truly know about the oppressions of other groups and the many obstacles they have encountered Attempt to analyze situations and understand my point of view is not the only perspective while fully realizing my past has a major impact on my thoughts and actions

My Past

Grew up in a coal-mining town in southern West Virginia in the mid-sixties

Apparent to me that our family was not one of wealth and affluence

Did identify with some form of obstacles and oppression

My Past

Students were from a quite diverse background Need for labor contributed heavily to the diversityCan’t recollect any Black or other VREG staying overnight at my house. Remember White children staying with us. Remember my grandfather and mother always telling me to treat people as you would want to be treated-Quite interesting.

My Past

I remember my father telling me he had been promoted to a foreman position and we would now be able to obtain a better house and actually move to the “bossing” camp. Individualistic tendencies.

My Past

Most of the family shopping was done at the “Company Store.” The company charged outrageous prices and the miners were paid in company money called “script” which they exchanged for company goods. Many times the miners owed the company more than they made.

My Past

Remember my father coming home from work and his face being completely black from coal dust. Always had problems with his knees because I later discovered the coal seam he worked in was only 32 inches in height. Company dictated many facets of our lives.

My Past

Middle/High School, I remember my class consisted of various ethnic groups but I was still in the dominant group.

Friendships of all kinds were established with all groups. Great time for me.

There were many obstacles for Black students. They were not permitted to live in the main town, only in the coal camp across the track.

My Past

After graduating from college, I began my career as a coal miner just like my father.Underground laborer in the mines for sixteen years.Workforce was very diverse. Came to understand in some minor way the domination of one group over another through the treatment from the coal companies.

My Past

Safety was a concern-many injuries and I knew of two people who lost their lives.No support any type of professional development or improvement for their employees. While going to college, I was ridiculed by some supervisors.Difference was I could escape this situation.

Conditions

Conditions

Conditions

Summary

Student volunteer to be coal miner!My racial identity was prescribed and given to me by my skin color.Cannot identity with other groups completely as to what oppression they may have encountered but I can hope to gather understanding. Coal mining has contributed to my racial identity-oppression by the company, racial socialization of the coal mining community and exposure to diverse groups.