CR#3 Identity Crisis due to Dominant and Subordinate Identities Shape Our Society
Tatum defines dominant and subordinate in his article as identity social groups. He deeply explains how the domination group holds the power. I assume that the whites are the domination and the “others” or the people of color fall short in the subordinate group. “Domination holds the authority in social relative to the subordinates.” The domination group is considered the white privileged. They are the ones who have the greatest influence on determining the structure of our society. Before I read this article I already had an idea of who fell in which class. In my opinion the dominate group are in this bubble where they don’t see there privileged and they aren’t aware of how they are the oppressors. Never the less, the subordinate is the group that is considered the oppressed. The subordinate group have it hard because they are aware of there oppressive trials. The subordinate group as Tatum points out is have positive attributes about their oppressing group because they have developed converted ways of undermining power of the dominate group which basically means they are two steps ahead of the oppressing game that the dominate class has established since day one in America.
The power relationships between the two groups according to Tatum is that the subordinate group is aware and are focused on surviving, and protecting themselves from the group segregation which is knowledge that the dominates are blind to notice because they are too busy living in the privileged bubble. That awareness in the subordinate group is considered power. Tatum classifies this power s anomaly qualities.
Realistically the unequal relationship between the dominant and subordinate groups change for the better if the dominant group is willing to give those in the subordinate group more opportunities to prove they are just as equip and capable of being dominant. Seeing how far the oppressed have came over decades of time battling against the structural violence, poverty, and the criminal justice system they have proven to have commonality with the oppressors also known as the dominant group.
Based on the reading of his NY Times article, I think Abraham Verghese would suggest that every person no matter the group one may need a helping hand one day, and no matter what we are all human and have needs. The traits and descriptions of all humans are common yet complex.
The perspective-taking can influence or even change the dominant-subordinate dynamic if one is able to imagine living in the others shoes for one day and experience the trails the oppress have to bare on a daily. Being an African I witness a lot of unequal actions that take place within the high power positions and even the law enforcement. The decision makers like the Marin County board of supervisors are the oppressors in my eyes who are trying to erase the projects that I’ve grew up in my entire life. They don’t care how this redevelopment plan would displace many in my community, they don’t care that my community is already gentrified. As the subordinate group I find myself angry at time because the only power I or others like myself really have is our voice. The voice to stand up toward those oppressors.
