San Juan Hill

In our process of joining the Fordham community and acclimating to its environment, it’s our duty to learn about its history in the context of NYC. Of course, this means we must learn about the harm and damage our institution has brought to local communities throughout its history. With Fordham’s efforts to recognize and make up for its harmful moments, we can hopefully work to use our resources to empower the communities around us rather than exploit them for the sake of expansion like what was done in the past.

The dangers of a single story are how people can be illustrated as 2d and be falsely defined/categorized by one misleading identifier. In the case of Chimamanda, she was only told of her house boy’s poverty, so in her mind, that’s all was; learning that his family was creative and artistic shocked her because the only idea she had of them was that they were poor. When the only way that they were described to her was as a poor family, she has no idea of the talents or other unique and great qualities that his family may possess. Paralleling her story with the house boy and her story with her roommate perfectly illustrated how anybody can be affected and demonstrated the importance of enlightening people of the danger of only speaking about one aspect of a person or group. Adichie’s roommate viewed her in the same way that she viewed her house boy, as the only things that the roommate had known and been taught about people from Africa were that they were poor and foreign; spoke tribal languages, listened to native music, were not taught how to use modern appliances. Adichie saw once again how important it is to enlighten people of how multifaceted people are and how there is never just one story. No one person can be defined by one word or described in a single sentence, and her TED Talk beautifully encapsulated this.

The dangers of a single story are how people can be illustrated as 2d and be falsely defined/categorized by one misleading identifier. In the case of Chimamanda, she was only told of her house boy’s poverty, so in her mind, that’s all was; learning that his family was creative and artistic shocked her because the only idea she had of them was that they were poor. When the only way that they were described to her was as a poor family, she has no idea of the talents or other unique and great qualities that his family may possess. Paralleling her story with the house boy and her story with her roommate perfectly illustrated how anybody can be affected and demonstrated the importance of enlightening people of the danger of only speaking about one aspect of a person or group. Adichie’s roommate viewed her in the same way that she viewed her house boy, as the only things that the roommate had known and been taught about people from Africa were that they were poor and foreign; spoke tribal languages, listened to native music, were not taught how to use modern appliances. Adichie saw once again how important it is to enlighten people of how multifaceted people are and how there is never just one story. No one person can be defined by one word or described in a single sentence, and her TED Talk beautifully encapsulated this.

“Lunch in the Neighborhood” made a strong point of addressing power dynamics and going beyond just the act of community service in order to fully understand and serve a community. I think the aspect where they discuss the difference between social justice work and community service really spoke to me because there is something to be said about understanding the foundations of that community and how to tackle the more layered issues. It’s one thing to help, but it’s another to invest your time and care into actually looking at the root of the issue and inserting yourself as a part of the solution. I think going into social justice work needs that attention so that you show the true effort that you are willing to put in to make a real difference. I am going to take that mindset into everything I do for Urban Plunge and always try to go beyond the basics to see a bigger picture.

“Lunch in the Neighborhood” made a strong point of addressing power dynamics and going beyond just the act of community service in order to fully understand and serve a community. I think the aspect where they discuss the difference between social justice work and community service really spoke to me because there is something to be said about understanding the foundations of that community and how to tackle the more layered issues. It’s one thing to help, but it’s another to invest your time and care into actually looking at the root of the issue and inserting yourself as a part of the solution. I think going into social justice work needs that attention so that you show the true effort that you are willing to put in to make a real difference. I am going to take that mindset into everything I do for Urban Plunge and always try to go beyond the basics to see a bigger picture.

“Lunch in the Neighborhood ‘’ helped acknowledge both the strengths and weaknesses of The Bronx. Primarily, Gregory Jost and Eileen Markey highlighted the abundant upsides to the neighborhood, sharing how they considered it home after both being raised elsewhere. However, they stressed a handful of important issues that must not go unheard. First of all, they mentioned that in order to fully take in The Bronx, you must be aware of your privilege or else "you’re not going out and exploring in a responsible manner." Secondly, they distinguished community service from social justice and dove into digging to the root of the problem rather than fixing surface level issues. For example, you can help at a soup kitchen and that act of service would be greatly appreciated but social justice is going further and discovering why those people need the soup kitchen in the first place and working to create a society that is rid of that struggle. A final point that stuck out was “redlining in reverse.” Jost and Markey described how gentrification of The Bronx is so tragic because current residents have worked so hard to build a nice, livable community and just now investors are noticing this and attempting to take advantage of it. Understanding Intersectionality grouped together a few similar stories that communicate the issues that marginalized communities face when their issues are not recognized. The three stories work together to drive one point home: do not let one thing define you. “The Danger of a Single Story” was enlightening in regards to this point because Chimamanda Adichi only saw her houseboy as poor and began to pity him and his “sad” life until her eyes were opened when she went to visit his family and saw a beautiful woven basket and realized that they can be defined by more than “poor,” families can create and be happy whilst enduring poverty. Kimberlé Crenshaw discussed the issue of people only being recognized for one targeted group they are a part of. Women subject to black violence are lesser known than their male counterparts due to gender discrimination; African American women’s struggles are not equal to a white woman’s either and that must be recognized as well. In order to fix this, ‘intersectionality’ was introduced to the conversation, when you have no name for a problem it makes it difficult to see the problem, therefore, “intersectionality” can help people “move from mourning and grief to action and transformation” in a world of injustice. Loretta J. Ross introduced calling in, calling out, and calling on. When someone shares a controversial opinion you do not want to call them out, this makes them defensive or shut down rather than opening a conversation. When you love someone and can see all of their potential it is difficult to see them hold differing opinions from yourself; with calling in or calling on a loved one (or a stranger) can truly achieve justice by acknowledging that everyone is worthy of being heard and being loved and must not simply be defined by their difference in opinion.

“The Danger of a Single Story” really made me think and reflect on the two distinctly different stories I’ve heard about The Bronx. Whenever I tell anyone where I’m going to school, they give me an incredibly wary look and tell me to be careful because “it’s dangerous”. However, everything I’ve heard from Fordham University community members, students and staff alike, paints a completely different picture. Their perspective shows The Bronx as a lively and deeply misunderstood community that is incredibly affected by unjust and hateful prejudices and stereotypes. This difference was what made me want to join this program in the first place and help change the single story being told about The Bronx.

1. What is the difference between “calling in” vs. “calling out?” How is “calling in” an effective way to engage in conversation?
“Calling in” is more effective than “calling out” in combating ignorance within people or communities. “Calling in” is beginning a discussion with a person coming from a different or even disheartening perspective. The immediate reaction to a a potentially offensive or ignorant viewpoint should not be “calling out” or othering the person as that will result in more division.
2. What is your reaction to Crenshaw’s talk on the urgency of intersectionality?
I was shocked by the amount of violence against Black women that goes unheard. While I had previously heard of intersectionality in issues such as health care in Black women and children, I did not realize the severity of how it affects discrimination in the workplace and violence. I think that Crenshaw’s message is crucial in making sure no one is left behind in legislation and justice.
3. What are the dangers of a single story?
The dangers of a single story are not seeing people as whole. People tend to reduce people who are different to their limited knowledge of them. We must make a conscious effort to remember that we may only be aware of a small part of a person or situation. By using critical thinking and empathy we can better understand and connect with others no matter our differences.
4. Based on the “Lunch in the Neighborhood” article, how do you view your role as a Fordham student in the community?
I view my role as a Fordham student in the community is to work along side existing community members to support existing community features and to dismantle systemic injustices.

I think that Chimamanda Adichie’s Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” is very relevant to the first article, “Lunch in the Neighborhood: A Conversation with Gregory Jost and Eileen Markey,” in that the discussions between Jost and Markey bring forth examples of how a single story can affect a community. Markey noted that “[…] students arrive in the Bronx and only see the problems”, which stems from short-sigted preconceptions that people have of the Bronx and similar communities. Like Adichie’s roommate who had a warped perception of Africa, people hear exclusively negative information about the Bronx, and–without searching for other perspectives or doing any research of their own–form an idea of the borough being “dangerous” or having “[problems] that [they] need to solve.”

1. “Calling out” leads people to be defensive and take the callout personally, focusing more on the fact that someone is judging them than the problematic viewpoint they hold. “Calling in” allows people to reflect on themselves without the pressure of defending themself, and shows that the other person is attempting to hold a meaningful conversation rather than accusing or punishing them for something.
2. Crenshaw’s talk helped me better understand intersectionality and the danger of separating factors like race and gender when it comes to social justice. Issues like racism and sexism can affect a person at the same time, and avoiding the topic of intersectionality can lead to a limited understanding of how marginalized groups must interact with the world and how they are affected by today’s corrupt justice system.
3. A single story creates a singular view of a person or group of people that can lead to implicit biases against them. By focusing solely on one narrative, we can end up ignoring other parts of the story and create a false perspective of a person or community.
4. To me, the “Lunch in the Neighborhood” article highlights the difference between “discovering” or “exploring” the Bronx and doing community service versus looking at the strengths of the neighborhood and taking steps to dismantle structures that cause the weaknesses of the neighborhood. After reading the article, I view my role in the community a bit differently–I can approach Urban Plunge as a resident of the Bronx rather than a visitor or tourist.

1. “Calling in” is an invitation for an individual to challenge their own thoughts and behaviors through your inquiry of their bigotry. “Calling out” is when an individual points a finger at someone else for their beliefs and invites an argument with the other person. “Calling out” can force people to get deeper rooted in their beliefs or force them into silence because you ostracized them instead of asking them to think about their actions.
2. I found it difficult to understand why the government wouldn’t categorize Emma’s issue as a race and sexism issue because both labels apply to her. The video taught me that it’s important to recognize the labels that intersect to create you and how the issues that each label experiences impacts how they’re viewed or treated in society. This will warn you of the problems you will face and how the issues may cross and create a new problem for you.
3. When there is no effort to understand cultures and areas that aren’t your own, it is easy to make generalizations about others. This is harmful because it reduces the complexity of their existence to a single idea. It is difficult to connect with an idea, so first we must understand a person as a whole.
4. The “Lunch in the Neighborhood Article” taught me that understanding intersectionality contributes to dismantling systems of injustice through education. Learning about my environment, the inequities that are present in it, and working with the community to combat those inequities bridges me with the city I’ll live in. Delving into the culture of the city and valuing the work that goes into creating a diverse culture disrupts unjust dynamics and helps students further connect with the Bronx. This understanding can help you discover where differences lie and give you a method of combatting them.

What are the dangers of a single story?
This brief Ted Talk incapsulates so much of what I believe needs to be heard by many people in our nation. Hopefully, most people understand that some single stories, such as stereotypes are harmful. But how often do we stop and think of how “helpful” or “inspirational” stories can harm? A single inspirational story on the news showcasing a disabled person narrows down that person’s identity to only their hardships, leaving out their true feelings about their disability. I loved how the speaker addressed a misconception that she held and one held against her. This allowed for the viewer to understand that these single stories come from many different sources.

What are the dangers of a single story?
This brief Ted Talk incapsulates so much of what I believe needs to be heard by many people in our nation. Hopefully, most people understand that some single stories, such as stereotypes are harmful. But how often do we stop and think of how “helpful” or “inspirational” stories can harm? A single inspirational story on the news showcasing a disabled person narrows down that person’s identity to only their hardships, leaving out their true feelings about their disability. I loved how the speaker addressed a misconception that she held and one held against her. This allowed for the viewer to understand that these single stories come from many different sources.

Lunch in the Neighborhood
The Bronx is a place that is full of history, and it has shaped the Bronx into what it is today. The neighborhoods are made up of music, art, food, and culture. I agree with the Fordham alums that it’s important to be aware of the power disparity that exists in these neighborhoods and to educate ourselves about the history and issues that took place in the Bronx.

Understanding Intersectionality
This Ted Talk discusses the importance of recognizing and respecting the backgrounds of individuals. Dilemmas can arise when others view a certain group differently than how one views themselves because people can be prejudiced about someone’s culture and make assumptions about someone’s culture based on their appearance and this could be harmful since they’re being shown as one thing and not as a whole.

Kimberlé Crenshaw: The Urgency if Intersectionality
This Ted Talk was interesting, and it breaks down what intersectionality is and how it affects socially marginalized individuals. I found the case that Creshaw talked about interesting since black women face double discrimination when it comes to work. It’s important to address the challenges that arise as a consequence of intersectionality, such as the intersection of race and gender.

The TED talk “Don’t call people out—call them in” spoken by Lauretta J Ross resonated with me. Ross put simply how fear inhibits the human rights movement. She acknowledged that many people may choose not to intervene in situations that are “unfair” due to the fear that any anger or embarrassment generated from the situation would be then positioned on them. The root of this fear is a “calling out” culture, as Ross explains throughout her talk. Dismembering this culture and rebuilding it to a “calling in” culture can eradicate this fear and mold bystanders who know change is necessary, to confident up standers who know for certain they are the change in the human rights movement.

The problem with only representing a group with a single story, as Adichie describes, is that one fails to see beyond that story when thinking about a group. When we learn more about a person or group of people, and actually discuss with them and get to know them, we see beyond the single story. All people and groups carry many nuances and characteristics that cannot be reflected in one account. People tend to exaggerate and simplify what it means to be part of a certain group of people and this creates prevalent ideas in society that box people into certain roles or set attitudes towards them that are near inescapable. So it’s best to keep an open mind and interact with people before truly judging them.

Calling in requires you to have a meaningful and empathetic conversation with someone. This forces you to learn about and see their point of view. This creates a positive and helpful relationship that enables us to better understand colors the issues at hand. Learning and listening to multiple different people allows us to better approach the problem.

1. The Bronx is a very powerful and diverse place to live . It is filled with many different cultures and many different people, all from different backgrounds. Yet there sometimes seems to be one narrative suffocating it, usually perpetuated by people who have never even lived there. As somebody who is about to become a member of said community, I need to dig deeper. I’ll paraphrase what was already stated, as I feel this perfectly explains why so many social issues remain unsolved, and not only in the Bronx. I need to “ask about why so many people were dependent on soup kitchens in the first place, instead of being content with the surface level good deed.” I need to learn perspective from first hand accounts of locals.
2. This TED talk describes the responsibility that a person has when telling the story of someone else, or a group of people. Not allowing a narrative to demonstrate complexity can lead to extremely harmful assumptions, that very often lead to “well meaning discrimination.”
3. The current social justice movement can tend to be very black and white. It doesn’t leave room for the arguably very different experiences that different people who happen to be in the same group may have. When society has been built on multiple hierarchies, we have to look for multiple impacts. The current cultural expectations for a woman of color may be very different than that of a white woman. Overlooking this is ignorant, and will only lead to more inequality.
4. There are so many more ways to combat hate than with hostility. If we want a movement for inclusivity, was have to practice this ourselves. Letting go of rigid expectations for everybody to already be educated will lead to conversations that could really cause a difference in a person’s life. Everyone can forgive, and everyone deserves forgiveness.

Fordham Bridge Builders – Lunch in the neighborhood: 1. I agree that Social Justice work is important to help create real change within neighborhoods. When we are able to understand the root causes of the injustices we see in our neighborhoods to change the systems. We also need to make sure we are aware of current problems that the Bronx is facing, such as gentrification, so that we can work to preserve the rich culture and history that is so unique and special about the Bronx. It is important for me to learn everything I can so that I am able to help.

Understanding Intersectionality
1. Chimamanda’s speech provided a fresh perspective on how we tend to perceive others. The danger of a single story is that we miss so many details. Different people and different cultures have so much uniqueness and complexity to them, that when we tell just one story, we can miss so much. We might underestimate them and judge them unfairly. We need to be careful to make sure that we hear more than just one story so that we can be more understanding of others and make fair assessments.

2. Crenshaw’s speech helped me to understand what intersectionality means and how it can connect with social justice. It is important to acknowledge the connections between major social justice issues, and what those overlaps look like in societies. If we allow important issues such as race and gender to be separated, then we are unable to understand how they can affect people at the same time, and how they can be destructive; like we saw with the black woman’s workplace discrimination case.

Creating common ground
1. Calling people in can encourage productive conversation and prevent people from getting defensive when trying to have discussions about social issues. It is a way to discuss opposing viewpoints openly and peacefully, without ignoring them or having hurtful angry discussions. It is a way of having difficult discussions that do not promote hate or anger. Both of these can lead to unproductive discussions. Choosing to call people in can prevent these problems and lead to better understanding.

1. Calling out only creates defensiveness, leading to fights that ultimately turn people away from growth. Calling in encourages a culture of growth and understanding. When calling someone in, you are inviting them to confront their own viewpoints and consider other perspectives. Calling out is polarizing, whereas calling in brings people together to have meaningful discussions.
2. I had heard about intersectionality in the past, but Crenshaw’s talk made me realize just how important it is to have “frames” to view social problems. I have never heard someone use the term frames before, but it makes sense that being able to name a problem would make it easier to see and combat that problem. When there is no name for intersectionality, it gets forgotten in policy.
3. A single story is dangerous in that portraying a group as only one thing, you take away all of the nuances that make them complex, individual human beings. When you only recognize a group as one trait you disregard all of their capabilities.
A single story often leads to a patronizing sort of pity, and a missed opportunity to understand all of the ways that people are similar and equal.
4. Before reading this article, I was not sure how I viewed my role as a Fordham student in the community. Now I am starting to form a view, one where Fordham students work alongside the people who have already put so much of their own effort into this community. As Fordham students, we have to be aware of the structural injustices within the community. With this knowledge we can focus on fighting the systems causing injustice, instead of only addressing the products of injustice.

1. Calling people out tends to be judgmental and does not seek to impact, but rather to label. Calling people in addresses that not knowing is allowed, as long as people take the action to learn. When you call people in you invite them to question, engage, and widen their mindset in way that can positively change their lives and opinions.
2. Intersectionality is a topic so complex that often leads to it being neglected or ignored. The talk about the “crossroads,” and how victims to both ends receive nothing was extremely powerful and properly displayed the necessity that intersectionality be addressed. I think this connects with how “single stories” are dangerous and categorize people into groups, and simultaneously, ignore all the ones that cannot be properly categorized into said groups.
3. Single stories are ignorant and do not properly humanize people and issues. Singling out individuals to their status, consequences of their actions, and beginning their stories with “secondly,” only categorizes them into boxes that distract from intricacies and layers of their stories.
4. My role is to mobilize justice, seek to understand, and not be a “tourist.” I need to approach my surroundings and the Fordham community as if I am a part of it, take the time to really delve into its history, and act in a way that enables me to solve problems rather than eradicate symptoms.

1. Calling out is when someone believes another person has done something wrong and they need to be held accountable for it and punished for it. AN example Ross gives is telling someone “I can’t believe you just said that”. This method of confronting a topic invites the other person to a fight, not a conversation. “Calling in” is a way to confront someone about a topic with love instead of hate. Calling people out is what we are conditioned to do in this day and age but “calling in” is a much better way to challenge a topic, which shows the other person that you can or are willing to try to empathize with their point of view.
2. Intersectionality seems like it is a topic or issue that would be hard to address all at once in today’s day and age. There is so much controversy over racial discrimination and gender discrimination that it is very easy to see that the intersection between those two things could be overlooked. It definitely an urgent issue and it is definitely an issue that will continue to affect people if it is not taken into account like racial and gender discrimination are.
3. A person who only knows a single story knows nothing beyond what they are told. This can lead to true or untrue assumptions about a person. These assumptions can act as a first impression which, in turn, can slow the development of productive relationships.
4. As a person who is new to NY and the Bronx, it is important to at least become educated on the culture, issues, and landscape of the place I’ll be living in for the next four years. As a Fordham student I think that it is a good thing to serve my community in order to become more involved and better our own reputation and the reputation of our school.

1 – I found the conversation depicting the difference between community service and social justice work very interesting. The comparison to volunteering in a soup kitchen and actually fighting the problem that causes people to need soup kitchens got me thinking. I did a lot of community service when I was in high school including tutoring ESL elementary students and coaching a middle school CYO basketball team and I was very happy to help my community and as Eileen Markey says in the article “it was better than not doing [any] community service.” However, this conversation made me realize that even though my community service is helping people who are struggling, if I truly want to help them I should engage in more social justice work.

2 – One thing that stood out to me in this TED talk was the depiction of how simple a stereotype can be, like saying someone is poor, but it still having the power to completely alter how you view someone or something. Simply saying someone is poor can make you think of so many things that aren’t connected to it at all like being creative or having the ability to create something or in other cases intelligence. Just because someone is poor doesn’t mean they lack intelligence or creativity.

3 – I understood that there was an inequality in the representation of social issues like sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. However, I never knew there was a term for this. On top of this, it was very interesting to hear the conversation that revolved around the story Emma DeGraffenreid. This part stuck out to me mostly because of the courts decision, at first, seeming to be fair and just since the employer hired both African Americans and women. However, when looked at closer, it in fact was not since the employer only hired male African Americans and white women.

4 – This TED talk had me captivated from the very first second. It makes sense to not fight fire with fire because you will only make a bigger, more uncontrollable, and lethal fire. To put out a fire, you use a fire extinguisher, water, or letting the fire burn itself out depending on the fire. To end the fire of hate, you don’t use more hate, you show the people who hate the fire extinguisher of love, the water of kindness, and the time to grow.

Bridge: How does understanding our intersectionality help inform our role as bridge builders?
-Fordham bridge builders
*Lunch in the Neighborhood: A Conversation with Gregory Jost and Eileen Markey
•I think some of the main issues with tapping into the idea of social justice is exactly what these two were describing. The language in which we talk about disparity in different communities along with preconceived notions written by the majority almost immediately halts the openness that could be had with talking about these harder conversations on city culture. But with the efforts in analyzing the roots mentioned like looking at “what we can do to disrupt the systems that keep people relying on soup kitchens in the first place”, you can find proactive solutions that don’t reinforce the standing divides but bring overall development in the community.
-Understanding Intersectionality
*Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story
•A single story creates a false impression of the truth because it limits the versatility to which all narratives contain. If only one story is told then that means many facets to reality become lost and thus create not only bias but a disadvantage that can keep people under the same oppressions.
*Kimberlé Crenshaw: The Urgency of Intersectionality.
•It is hard for people to recognize that individuals can experience overlapping forms of discrimination based on various aspects of their identity, so understanding this concept through the imagery of intersections can help bring about social justice. Crenshaw underscores the urgency of embracing intersectionality in our pursuit of equality and dismantling systemic injustices where we can create more inclusive strategies for change that account for all overlapping oppressed peoples.
-Creating Common Ground
*Loretta J. Ross: Don’t Call People Out — Call Them In
•Ross identifies the main issue with modern social justice movements which is that we often do the easy form of accountability and call people out for wrongdoing and that’s it. Cancel culture has destroyed livelihoods over this however now we are called to take an additional step, to call people in, and to open dialogue to put in an effort to understand others. This is especially important because we could actually get a better idea as to how or why these people think a certain way and make real change if we honor the dignity we share with those who think differently than us.

Bridge
-Lunch in the Neighborhood: The discussions of power dynamics, gentrification, and service vs. social justice stuck out to me. Coming from a Catholic high school with a similar relationship to its surrounding community as Fordham and the Bronx, I’ve seen and experienced firsthand the difference between doing service to do service, and actively engaging in social justice work. For me, reading this article confirmed that this dynamic is real and that it affects communities all over. I also loved the point that Markey made regarding the new attractiveness and gentrification of the Bronx, that all the improvements investors have seen are a product of those who lived and fought for their community. I’m excited to discuss and learn more about this.
-the Danger of a single story: I’ve watched this talk several times now and it never fails to move me. Adichie explains the dangers of stereotypes brilliantly. While she uses personal anecdotes to communicate her point, her message can be received and applied to anyone who has been a victim of a stereotype. This talk serves as a reminder for me to remain open-minded and eager to learn.
-the urgency of intersectionality: Prior to watching this talk, I was familiar with the concept of intersectionality regarding how people struggle to address multiple social issues at once, such as racism and sexism, but I never knew there was a term for it. I’m relieved that there is a tangible term used to describe this phenomenon because bringing awareness to intersectionality is a key component of educating people on the often overlooked cases of discrimination and oppression. Bringing awareness is also the first step to creating lasting change.
-Don’t call people out, call them in: As a teenager active on several social media platforms, I’ve witnessed the shame and ostracization that our modern-day “cancel culture” can cause. Along with what a “canceled” individual may feel and experience, rarely any learning or growth happens for that individual and the surrounding community. I like the Calling In approach because when people feel less threatened and more comfortable making mistakes that they’re encouraged to learn from, they’ll feel more enticed to participate in the first place.

1. I agree with what the two Fordham Alum/ Professors had to say about the power dynamic that exists not only amongst Fordham students but between Fordham students and members of our Bronx community. “Community service” is better than nothing, but it’s important to acknowledge the systemic issues rooted in the history of the Bronx.
2. I watched this video in a class last semester and can admit that I have been a victim of single stories, especially in the Bronx. During my senior year of high school, whenever I told people that I was going to Fordham in the Bronx, people would question my decision making and wonder why I willingly chose to go to the Bronx for college. They’d tell me about how violent and unsafe it was, and it definitely made me question my choice. However, when I arrived and participated in Urban Plunge, I was able to experience the Bronx for more than what I thought it was.
3. Intersectionality I believe is such an important topic to be made aware of. I’ve see myself be impacted by the discrimination I face as not only a woman, but as a Mexican woman as well. When Crenshaw was listing the names of African-American men, I recognized most of the names. However, when she listed the African-American women’s names, I only knew one of them. I hope to stress the importance of intersectionality with fellow plunge members.
4. Although I was at first taken aback by the idea of calling in, I see now the beneficial impact it has in our society. The understanding struck me when Ross quoted her student, “A call-out is not an invitation for growth. It’s the expectation that you’ve already grown”. I’ve done many things in the past that I now regret, and I’ve been graced with the chance to grow. I’m only 19. I’m still growing. I want to extend that same chance to others, so I do like the idea of calling people in.

Listening to Crenshaw’s talk did not only flawlessly demonstrate how systemic issues are not one dimensional and intersectionality is used against targeted groups of people, but it also connected “Lunch in the Neighborhood” with what Gregory Jost said. He explained how volunteering for a few hours at the soup kitchen is simply not as effective as asking why people rely on soup kitchens to begin with, which is very similar to Crenshaw’s point of “if we can’t see a problem, we can’t fix a problem.” Both highlight a vital step in activism; being educated on something is not the same as being immersed in it. This is especially important when dealing with intersectionality, which demonstrates how deep systematic issues really extend and how it can be used dangerously against women of color.

Chimamanda Adichie’s Ted Talk was truly fascinating. There seems to be many similarities between single stories and stereotypes. Both assigning a single story to someone and stereotyping can be so harmful because it places a box around people. Adichie mentioned that her college roommate had made many assumptions about her before they had met. Adichie’s roommate had created an identity in her head and assigned that identity to Adichie. One of the biggest issues and dangers with single stories is that everyone is constantly creating single stories for all those around them all the time. People need to have an open mind, be willing to let each new person they meet portray and express themself without letting a predetermined notion undermine them. Single stories will always place people in boxes, but the more that people in our society can expose themselves to different cultures, nationalities, and religions the less harmful these single stories will become.

1)The difference between “calling in” versus “calling out” is that “calling in” attracts calmness, caring, and unity because you are helping the person understand and accept what they did incorrectly. While “calling out" attracts the lack of opportunity for the person to learn about the wrong thing they committed and all you are producing is more separation and blaming the person for what they did incorrectly. “Calling in” is an effective way to engage in a conversation because “calling in” creates an environment of empathy, understanding, education, unity, and a positive impact on the individual who did or said something that is not right. 2)Emma DeGraffenreid’s experience is very sad and her horrible experience is very educational to show how intersectionality affects an individual. With Emma DeGraffenreid horrible experience Crenshaw showed an example of Emma DeGraffenreid standing in the middle of a road intersection and I found that example very helpful to understand the effects of intersectionality because the road intersection shows how she is being impact by the law which is represent with an ambulance for both the racism and sexism that she experienced at the same time. It is very sad that there are people in the world who get discriminated against for multiple characteristics of their social identity at once, for example, race, nationality, gender, and sexuality preference and discrimination doesn’t only occur with two, three or four characteristic of social identity within a person, but in many people’s live discrimination happens with more than four of their social identity. Overall, it is sad that people still have to experience discrimination. Lastly, I liked how she education people about intersectionality by showing those women who didn’t get mentioned as much after their murders because unfortunately one of the discrimination that exist in this world is that women in many situations and places aren’t given the same respect as men get. 3) It’s important to give the full story with as much detail as possible because When someone shares a single story the negative effect is that you are not getting educated correctly or don’t get the full knowledge of the person or group of people that the story is about. As a consequence of not getting taught the full story you will very likely create a chain that could last for a very long time and it begins with you telling people incomplete information about that person/ group of people since you are telling others a single story of that person. Also sharing a single story about an individual and/or group of people could lead to discrimination towards that individual and/or groups of people. 4)Based on the “Lunch in the Neighborhood” article by Tom Stoelker, I view my role as a Fordham student in the community of the Bronx as a person who works with the Bronx community because in this way I will have a better perspective of what are the exact issues occurring in different areas of the Bronx and the issues will be solve in a much better way since it better to work as a community. Additionally, I view my role as a Fordham student by helping come up with solutions to help eliminate social injustice that exist in the Bronx. Moreover, not just by doing community services because removing social injustice has a bigger and more lasting impact on people’s lives and social injustice is the reason why many people attend locations to receive items such as food or clothes that they need since for many reason such as they may have lack of jobs opportunities in their neighborhood and may be due to social injustices that are occurring in their neighborhood.