Oppression Through the Eyes of Haitian
American and African American Male College
Students
Danielle Jackman, Pamela Hall, PhD, & Gladys Ibanez, PhD
TQR Conference January 8, 2011
Table of Contents

Oppression



Types of oppression
Effects of oppression
Theories:


Critical Consciousness
Social Intervention Theory

Photovoice

Research objective

Methods

Results/Discussion

Future Direction
Oppression

Unjust use of power


Domination
Sustains inequity

Process and outcome
References: Watts, Williams, & Jagers, (2003); Schiele, (2007)
Types of oppression

Classism

Ageism

Sexism

Racial Discrimination

Ethnic Discrimination
Effects of Oppression

Ethnic identity

Self perception


Learned Helplessness
Health
Critical Consciousness
Friere (1970); Wang (1999)
Awareness
Awareness
Aware of their own responsibility for
choices that either maintain or
change the reality with which they
live.
Naïve
Naive
Social situation is sound but corrupt.
Not willing to accept their
circumstances but rather blame it on
others.
Magical
Magical
Acceptance of status quo and live a
life of ignorance. Attitudes of
helplessness.
Social Intervention Theory
Social Intervention Theory


Empowerment
Social change

Just society
References: Watts, Williams, &Jagers (2003)
Photovoice
Participatory action research

Engage in active listening


Create safe environment
Move people toward action

Inform policy makers
References: Friere (1970); Wang, & Burris (1994)
Research Objectives
View of
African
American
males
View of
Haitian
American
males
Research Questions
1.
How do you view oppression in your community?
2.
In what ways can you reduce oppression within
your community?
3.
In what ways can your community leaders and
community reduce oppression?
Method

Participants (n=20)

Discussion about oppression

Camera handed with first research question

Compensation given

Audio-taped meeting held

The process was repeated two more times

Responses from the participants were placed into
categories.
Results
Figure 1. Results showing categories formed from responses to Question 1:
“How do you view oppression in your community?”
Pictures- Question 1
“The bright leaves represent the
beauty of Miami and the trash
underneath represents how Blacks
are treated. You do not see it until
you look hard that Blacks are
treated poorly in Miami.”- African
American
“Haitian Americans are treated
like trash in Miami; other
ethnicities are not. They may be
close to the trash but we Haitian
Americans are treated like filth.”Haitian American
Results (cont.)
Figure 2. Results showing categories formed from responses to Question 2: “In
what ways can you reduce oppression in your community?”
6
5
4
3
2
1
African American
0
Haitian American
Pictures- Question 2
“ We have to be agents for change in
order to change our community. It is
easy to talk about it but you have to be
about it. Voting is one way for me to be
about change and hopefully I can
encourage others in my community to
vote as most do not. If we vote, our
voices will be heard.”- African American
“All the flags in this picture represent the
multiculturalism in Miami. No flag is
higher than the rest. Lack of tolerance
and ignorance of other cultures lead to
oppression. Therefore, if I get an
education of other people’s cultures, I
can teach others that we are all equal.
That will hopefully reduce oppression
and celebrate diversity.”- Haitian
American
Results (cont.)
Figure 3. Results showing categories formed from responses to Question 3: “In
what way can your community leaders and community reduce oppression?”
Pictures- Question 3
“We need to be like fish and band together as one
community to discuss our concerns and issues of how
we are treated. The leaders can take notes and at the
end then they will better be able to serve all the
members of the community.”-Haitian American
“Local church leaders in Miami
like Bishop Curry of New Birth
could help out the community
even more by holding programs
at his church to talk about
discrimination and oppression.”African American
Discussion

Differences between the groups may be linked to
history

Method useful in empowering (90% of participants)

Participatory research style may reduce oppression
and increase community action
Limitations

Pilot study

Preliminary Data

CAMERA PROBLEMS!!!
Future Direction

Repeat using larger sample size

Use digital cameras

Invite policy makers and participants to presentation
and display
Acknowledgments

Minority Access to Research Careers Grant, T34
GM008021-25, Barry University


Dr. Flona Redway
TQR Conference
QUESTIONS??