When I saw an open elective on my degree plan, I immediately knew that I wanted to take an African studies or sender studies class. I have always had a passion for social justice issues and thought that these would be topics I would enjoy learning about. As I was searching for courses to take during registration, I was frustrated by the limited availability of the courses and ultimately, I was only able to enroll in a course called African Masculinity. While I was hoping for a more female-centered course, I was just glad to be enrolled. But I had no idea what to expect.
Going into the first week of classes I was unsure of what this class would be like and honestly, I was nervous about how my experiences as a white woman would relate to a course about African masculinity. I walked into class on the first day to find my black female professor, Dr. Babers, one black male student, one black female student, and one white male student. At first, I was shocked by how small the class was and frankly a bit saddened and disgusted by my fellow peers’ lack of interest in such topics. However, I would soon find the small class size to be greatly beneficial and allow me to gain more from the course.
Being only 7 weeks in, I have already learned so much more, both in material and skill, than any other class I have taken. Growing up in a white, conservative town, I was unknowingly very sheltered from the realities of the world through an African or African American lens. This course has opened my eyes to how truly whitewashed the history courses I had taken are. Of course, the history of black people in America and around the world is colored by colonial violence and hardship, but I am still shocked, again and again, by the truly vile nature of the treatment of black people. Not only has this course awakened me to the nature of the crimes of my white ancestors, but it has helped me to understand the basis of racism and where it came from in the first place. It has also educated me on how truly deeply systemic racism is and how the intersections of one’s identity between gender, race, sexuality, and religion impact their experience. Having this foundational knowledge of the oppression of black people has given me a more comprehensive understanding of how I can be an ally in the fight against racism and feminism.
Along with the extensive knowledge I have gained from this course, I have also gained a plethora of life skills. With the class only having four students, and being discussion based, it has forced me out of my shell and encouraged me to share my opinions confidently. As a woman and a person with anxiety, I have always struggled to share my strong opinions out of fear. I have feared not being smart enough to have the opinions that I do, or that I won’t be taken seriously by the people I am arguing against. Having a safe space like this class to share my world view and my beliefs has not only given me practice in speaking my mind, but it has encouraged and validated me in my intellect. Along with being able to share my opinions, I have learned to discuss the sometimes-uncomfortable topics that come along with the course in a respectful and culturally sensitive manor. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, this course has taught me to think outside of the western-centered framework that American society has bestowed upon me. I am now able to truly examine issues from all sides of the coin, which is imperative in the fight for equal rights.
In my pursuit of a journalism career, these are skills that I know will make me a better-spoken and more well-informed writer and researcher. Taking African Masculinity at Texas A&M has not been what I had expected, but it has been so much more. I highly recommend taking an African studies or gender studies course to anyone with interest in human rights or activism because it just may open your eyes and mind more than you ever thought possible.