HD 361

Reflection
HD 361 Social and Political Contexts of Human Development
Maura Maldonado
Pacific Oaks College

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Social and Political Contexts of Human Development

When I read the title of this course I felt doomed. Other than the utterance of the word
math, politics or political are the fastest way to make me tune out or shut down. Reading
the course description created a great feeling of anxiety. How was I going to express my opinion
on the attitudes and behaviors toward gender, socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, disability,
sexual orientation and privilege when I felt I had no opinion or voice that were worth expressing.
At the beginning of this course I truly felt that my opinion didnt matter or wouldnt make a
difference. As the course progressed, conversations and lectures were presented on historical
events that I actually remembered from high school and my first years in college. Now at this
time in my life I actually became interested and began to look forward to Thursday night class.
As I reflect on course discussions regarding race and social justice in connection with
todays current events, I realize that the way they are portrayed by the culture of power such as
law enforcement, politicians and social media is not always the whole truth. This realization, I
believe, is the result of my journey at Pacific Oaks. In discovering who I am through the many
self writings and reflective exercises, I have discovered that I do have a voice and an opinion,
and my opinion matters to me. My life experiences constitute my culture, and how I view the
world. What people see of me is only a portion of the truth. They do not know my struggles or
my accomplishments, my dreams or my fears. A judgement or belief of who I am is based on
what is portrayed on the surface, the same way I judge or believe what I am told by those in
power.

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I learned that the Freedom Riders were militant, trouble makers and law breakers. As a
student at Pacific Oaks, I learned that they were students who peacefully participated in the fight
against racism and achieving social justice on the bus lines. I knew that Coretta Scott King was
an activist for civil rights, but I never knew that her contributions to social action through the
freedom concerts were not recognized until after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. Through
music and poetry, stories of the civil rights movement were told. I learned that Angela Davis
was a communist and political activist. She was arrested and indicted for supplying weapons to
execute a crime and she was a member of the Black Panthers. Not until this class did I hear
about her academic success, that she was an author and courageously fought for equality of
women and prison reform.
Social injustice is still prevalent today. Those in power manipulate and control how
much of the truth is shared. On the larger scale, negative portrayal of groups and specific
individuals trickles down and influences the masses. Actions are taken against others and
opinions are formed, a reminder of the injustice of manifest destiny.
I definitely have found my voice. Because of this new voice one of my favorite
assignments in class was writing my final reflection. Expressing myself in written form and my
contributions in class to my classmates were thought out and had a purpose. I was contributing
and making a difference. My desire to listen and hear their opinions deepened my class
experience. Through my participation in this class I found a new interest to share with my
husband. Instead of leaving the room or tuning him out, I now share my opinions. It may not be
the same as his, but I have something to offer. I no longer feel ignorant. This feeling is
empowering.