Oppression Through the Eyes of Haitian American and African American Male College Students Danielle Jackman, Pamela Hall, PhD, & Gladys Ibanez, PhD TQR Conference January 8, 2011

Table of Contents Oppression Types of oppression Effects of oppression Theories: Critical Consciousness Social Intervention Theory Photovoice Research objective Methods Results/Discussion Future Directio n

Oppression Unjust use of power Domination Sustains inequity Process and outcome References: Watts, Williams, & Jagers, (2003); Schiele, (2007)

Types of oppression Classism Ageism Sexism Racial Discrimination Ethnic Discrimination

Effects of Oppression Ethnic identity Self perception Learned Helplessness Health

Critical Consciousness Friere (1970); Wang (1999) AwarenessNaiveMagical Awarenes s Aware of their own responsibility for choices that either maintain or change the reality with which they live. Naïve Social situation is sound but corrupt. Not willing to accept their circumstances but rather blame it on others. Magical Acceptance of status quo and live a life of ignorance. Attitudes of helplessness.

Social Intervention Theory Empowerment Social change Just society References: Watts, Williams, &Jagers (2003)

Photovoice Participatory action research Engage in active listening Create safe environment Move people toward action Inform policy makers References: Friere (1970); Wang, & Burris (1994)

Research Objectives View of African American males View of Haitian American males

Research Questions 1. How do you view oppression in your community? 2. In what ways can you reduce oppression within your community? 3. In what ways can your community leaders and community reduce oppression?

Method Participants (n=20) Discussion about oppression Camera handed with first research question Compensation given Audio-taped meeting held The process was repeated two more times Responses from the participants were placed into categories.

Results Figure 1. Results showing categories formed from responses to Question 1: “How do you view oppression in your community?”

Pictures- Question 1 “The bright leaves represent the beauty of Miami and the trash underneath represents how Blacks are treated. You do not see it until you look hard that Blacks are treated poorly in Miami.”- African American “Haitian Americans are treated like trash in Miami; other ethnicities are not. They may be close to the trash but we Haitian Americans are treated like filth.”- Haitian American

Results (cont.) Figure 2. Results showing categories formed from responses to Question 2: “In what ways can you reduce oppression in your community?”

“All the flags in this picture represent the multiculturalism in Miami. No flag is higher than the rest. Lack of tolerance and ignorance of other cultures lead to oppression. Therefore, if I get an education of other people’s cultures, I can teach others that we are all equal. That will hopefully reduce oppression and celebrate diversity.”- Haitian American Pictures- Question 2 “ We have to be agents for change in order to change our community. It is easy to talk about it but you have to be about it. Voting is one way for me to be about change and hopefully I can encourage others in my community to vote as most do not. If we vote, our voices will be heard.”- African American

Results (cont.) Figure 3. Results showing categories formed from responses to Question 3: “In what way can your community leaders and community reduce oppression?”

Pictures- Question 3 “Local church leaders in Miami like Bishop Curry of New Birth could help out the community even more by holding programs at his church to talk about discrimination and oppression.”- African American “We need to be like fish and band together as one community to discuss our concerns and issues of how we are treated. The leaders can take notes and at the end then they will better be able to serve all the members of the community.”-Haitian American

Discussion Differences between the groups may be linked to history Method useful in empowering (90% of participants) Participatory research style may reduce oppression and increase community action

Limitations Pilot study Preliminary Data CAMERA PROBLEMS!!!

Future Direction Repeat using larger sample size Use digital cameras Invite policy makers and participants to presentation and display

Acknowledgments Minority Access to Research Careers Grant, T34 GM , Barry University Dr. Flona Redway TQR Conference

QUESTIONS??