Post service reflection
Brandon Wilson
Writing for multimedia
Professor Ellie
05–01–2021
The evolution of my personal understanding of social justice has always been in very close standing with my personal life experiences and circumstances that have been socially constructed by society. Throughout this semester through numerous interviews with organizations like sports teams and others like Rsaac I have realized that for the most part Parkside is standing by it’s students. My personal understanding of social justice is acceptance and recognition of a person’s differences. For me it’s never been about not “seeing color” or being friends with a different race it’s always been seeing that they are a person just like me and we both are the same and just accepting and recognizing their differences that come with their identity. I learned that my peers and as well as my coaches didn’t quite understand anger stimming from injustices casted upon the black community. But not all but most of them were ready to hear the other perspective. I was able to educate my fellow teammates and coaches and even peers in my classes about the different experiences based on demographics and experiences could cause you to have different experiences towards law enforcement. Unfortunately in my learning journey my expectations weren’t quite met but I still left with valuable information on organizations coming together when it counted the most to treat each other like family. I have made a huge difference on those around me such as sports at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. By being the diversity and inclusion officer I have been a voice for the unheard voices of those who are treated differently by society. I will bring this with me wherever I go I will bring the feeling of seeing people as people and not divided groups. I’ll remember my coaches and teammates being curious about my experiences and I’ll always give a person a chance to be enlightened and never meet their curiosity with anger. The most valuable lesson that I have learned throughout these experiences in the community would definitely be “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. A lot of people surprised me and I would have never known if this class wouldn’t have given me the chance to ask them. To conclude this class has been a very valuable learning experience and If could retake it without being in a pandemic I definitely would.
. Coming from a predominantly black and diverse school parkside was a culture shock. One of the situations that bothers me the most is when people in my classes my freshman year would correct my grammar as I spoke and made fun of me, I used a lot of slang because in my area that is just what we did. This situation taught me that a person only knows what they have experienced. I have learned to embrace racist people and look for an opening of optimism to educate them on differences. Thinking of it now as a young person I was fortunate enough to be in a diverse community growing up but now I know it’s my job to try and inform those who haven’t had the same privilege. To finalize and conclude one thing that I’ve learned in this course that I feel I will be able to bring with me throughout my life into my future. Will be patience and understanding because with all the different people and different perspectives I was able to see this course allowed me to be enlightened to understand that sometimes it takes time and understanding and that some people are taught the wrong way in life and my coaches and organizations like Rsaac allowed me to realize that throughout this course.
