Winter Quarter DAC Book Read Discussion Notes
DAC Book Read discussion – 2/18/15
Twelve Years a Slave – The Autobiography of Solomon Northup
Reflections on the System’s impact
We discussed how we were surprised that the free whites of the North were so vulnerable to being captured and
enslaved; had few rights and many struggles financially.
The humanity of the whites involved was compromised by being a part of this system; the less-abusive owner, Ford, and
others, were also diminished by participating in this system; the wife of Epps was an example of how being oppressed
as a woman made her even more cruel and abusive towards Patsy than her husband.
Reflections on the Legacy of Slavery
We shared about current aspects of the legacy of slavery
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Numbers of African-American men in prisons
White friends in Seattle say to avoid places like White Center, there are a lot of thugs there
Culture of white supremacy still evident in the South in a very blatant way, and also impacts our community,
examples of car in TN having Confederate flag on truck for landscaper and woman from Enumclaw wearing
earrings with this flag
Fleetwood’s story from the Collaboration Day DIF workshop that he shared with us shows how lower income
communities of color here are harassed and treated as inferior
There are sundown towns in WA state where it is not safe to be black
Police treatment of black and brown young men is a legacy of slavery; white supremacy still impacts us
At the end of slavery the South developed “Jim Crow” laws and the legal system created ways to put black men
in prison and use their labor for free again;
Whites often are blinded by their own experiences of being treated fairly for the most part by law enforcement,
so the attitudes are that those people who go to jail deserve it; ignoring the facts that whites are more likely to
use and sell drugs, and yet black and Latino young men are much more likely to go to jail; that there is a financial
incentive to keep people in prison as well.
Recommendations:
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Have an African American studies class (we don’t have one, the only thing close is an Ethnic Studies Class, no
history class). It is an important part of our history that we should never lose.
Would be helpful to better integrate black history into all of our relevant classes.
It is great to know about your past to perceive self, family, and within the context of your society. Better to
understand the cultural values that you have.
Having Dr. Quintard Taylor come was great and would be good to have him to come again to share about
African American history.
This was a great book to read, and reflecting on our history is the only way to learn how to dismantle the legacy
of slavery and white supremacy attitudes that still impact us today. Having these conversations on our campus is
critically important.
DAC Book Read discussion – 2/24/15
Twelve Years a Slave – The Autobiography of Solomon Northup
Reflections on the System’s impact
Participating in this system of slavery and white superiority clearly impacts the white slave owners in negative ways,
destructive of their humanity. This legacy still impacts the white culture today. Reflections shared about how
immigrants now must have their proper papers, just as Solomon had to have to demonstrate his freedom, and that
these papers could be easily taken away, along with their freedom. Epps wife is an example of the brutality
demonstrated by white women, being more abusive towards Patsy than her husband. White women’s culture in the
South still demonstrates backstabbing and jostling for power, as seen in “The Help.”
Reflections on the Legacy of Slavery
We shared about current aspects of the legacy of slavery
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There are high percentages of African-American men in prisons
Many whites blame blacks now for the poverty that exists in those community
Legacy of Jim Crow laws have impacted the opportunities for education, land owning, job access that impact our
community today
White privilege exists that allows the white community to ignore the history and legacy of slavery and white
superiority, including the red-lining that existed in Seattle that did not allow people of color to purchase
property in many areas of the North End; access to college education depends on a family having resources to
pay for it, versus those who have less getting into debt; financial success is not just about individual effort, and
yet is not acknowledged in our society
Recommend reading “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander; clearly demonstrates how racism continues in
mass incarceration of blacks and Latinos,
Another example is how poor whites vote against their own self interest in terms of policies that provide better
health care, education and job opportunities.
Voting rights are another way that the legacy of slavery and white superiority still exists.
Recommendations:
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Students who come from some other countries sometimes come with fears of black people, and we need to
consider how to address this issue, as some look for a confirmation of those prejudices in their interactions.
Would like to see the move to have 2 years of community college offered for free to eliminate higher
educational access barriers.
Provide better support for students of color, especially African Americans who are in poverty. Support for
getting up to college level Math is important.
Help students make connections that empower them.
Break down individual barriers, and work on getting people to give up their prejudice. Educate people about the
issues, as we should all be on the streets about the injustices.
How do we work on the educational system so that everyone can learn and move forward?
Highline College does compel students to come into the library and work in groups together, across racial/ethnic
boundaries. The instructors set up groups intentionally to be of mixed groups – supporting each other in class
and outside of class to learn together. Sharing stories to learn about each other is also a helpful approach.
DAC Book Read discussion – 3/2/15
Twelve Years a Slave – The Autobiography of Solomon Northup
Reflections on the System’s impact
The system of slavery impacted the North and the entire US culture more than many of the group realized until reading
this book. Even the “good Christian” slave owner Ford still did not question the system of slavery. In the film, “The
Abolitionists,” one can see the huge price that the Grimke woman who challenged slavery had to pay, as she had to
leave her family and the south; and still had her life threatened in the North due to being an abolitionist.
The book, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, shows the legacy of slavery. The horror of having no control, especially for
the women who could be married and still be raped and have to bear children of their owner/rapist, is so overwhelming.
The sexism of the culture impacted the white women as well and some became very abusive towards the slave women,
as evidenced Epps’ wife was incredibly cruel to Patsy.
Reflections on the Legacy of Slavery
The group shared about current aspects of the legacy of slavery
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The prison system as seen in “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
This history impacts all of us today, such as the white suburbs that separated whites from blacks
White privilege is demonstrated in the colorblind cultural approach to race, which keeps the system of
separation and legacy of oppression in place
Have to teach people that the legacy still exists today, as many people are unaware of the history
Both black and white people in this country are ashamed or upset about the topic and don’t want to read it or
see the film, as the content makes them uncomfortable. The topic is uncomfortable, and yet the legacy is
continuing until we talk about the legacy and seek to undo it.
The film (of this book) is a powerful way to feel the history, and the book provides a very intense way to
examine in more detail about the laws and full impact of the slave system and culture
There are rural places in WA state where it is uncomfortable to be a person of color, including places that show
the Confederate flag
Red lining existed in Seattle well into the 20th Century
As a person of color, one group member related that there are many places that are not safe, and she feels that
she must learn where it is not safe to go, and sometimes go with white friends as a form of safety
Recommendations:
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Remembering that we all share this history collectively, and we need to remember that as we consider how
people react to situations today.
Keep reading the books and having the conversations.
Would like to have the book read information go out to students more (we email to the seattlecolleges email,
ask instructors to provide extra credit, ask student leadership to promote, post flyers, have it on the screen saver
and newsfeeds – any other ideas? Please share with Betty Williams)
Might have been more participation if we showed the film? (There was a high cost to provide a public showing)
Encourage instructors to offer participation as extra credit (which we do encourage faculty to do)
It is very valuable to have the chance to talk about this book and topic with each other, and the more we talk
about these issues the more things will change and improve over time
The library has the film and it can be shown in classes without a fee