Stemming from discussion about the tension between diversity and unity that Parkers posits, I have found myself challenging some of my opinions or emotional responses to the ways different minority groups on campus appear to present themselves to the greater Middlebury. Organizations that bring minority groups together to share their common experiences are important in making people from minority backgrounds feel comfortable on campus. However, I personally believe that some of these organizations go too far in creating a divide between the group and the rest of campus, manifesting themselves in an us-versus-them attitude towards to others at Middlebury. Reading Ladson-Billings & Tate gave me a different perspective on this however, particularly in invoking the importance of shared stories in helping minority groups overcome existing in a dominating culture that is ultimately not theirs.
