Reflective Essay

Bale Kader
Social Justice Capstone
4.18.19

In my time here at Hamline I cultivated an understanding of Race & Racism in the

context of the United States. The Social Justice program helped me develop an understanding
of how I see the world around me and how my skin influences how the outside world
understands me. How perceptions being made about me and the people that look like me hold
no merit, but because that narrative is repeated so often and broadcasted so wide it almost
becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Not only do other people believe this false narrative but we
believe it as well. So much so it almost feels like it’s a part of the fabric of our society. The
system that governs our society through policy and law subject its residents to poverty,
segregation, marginalization, and criminalization. Difference is manipulated and strategically
used to gain or maintain power. The socialization of ignorance, hate, and fear contributes to
maintenance of the cycle that criminalizes, marginalizes, segregates, and impoverishes
residents. Even though these points may seem conspiratorial there’s evidence throughout the
history of this society and the way it’s structured today that reaffirm these claims. Most
importantly, I learned that even though fighting the very way society is built can seem like a
daunting task that I may inevitably fail. Heroes have come before me that gave their lives for the
rights that I have today and it's my job to at least learn their sacrifice & fight for the rights of
humanity tomorrow.
When I first arrived at Hamline I knew that in the future, after I graduated, I wanted to
work with people and make a lot of money doing so. One of these ideas would be subject to
change during my duration at Hamline. But at the time I thought a double major in both
Psychology and Business would set me up best for that future. That changed rather quickly. I
remember feeling so lost and confused during that first semester. Getting good grades wasn’t
hard for me in high school but it seemed like no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t understand the
subject matter my professors were trying to teach. So I decided that maybe school wasn’t for me
and took a leave of absence. During my semester off my mom thought it would be a good idea
for me to visit my father in Ethiopia. I was reluctant at first but thought it would be a good
change of pace after my mother practically forced me on the plane. It would be my first time
being back since I was three. The abrupt change helped me forget about the extremely rough
semester I just had.
My time in Ethiopia was filled with conversations with my father about what it is that he
wanted me to do with my life. By him continuously pestering me about what it is that he wanted
for me, I slowly started to cultivate an understanding for what it is that I wanted for myself. I
remember a conversation that we had while looking for gas one night. We were talking about
how so many of the people in Ethiopia were poor and how the few people who had means were
reluctant to give to those in need. My father said something to the extent of “There’s no way me
or you can change the world, so why try. It's better that we do our best to get rich so that we
may live better lives.” At that moment I agreed but for some reason that moment kept coming
back to me over and over again throughout the rest of the summer.
The following fall I decided that if I didn’t find out what it is I wanted to be, my father
would end up choosing a career path for me, and I couldn’t have that. So I gave the idea of
going back to school another try, and I’m very glad I did.
That fall I decided to take Intro to Social Justice with Professor Chepp. In that class I
learned real heroes do exist and that my father was very wrong. One person can change the
world not by themselves of course, but with the help others anything is possible. I majored in
Social Justice, dropped my business major and delved deep in the business of making peace. A
career path that’s not one to make me rich but one that gives me a rich life; a sense of purpose,
a sense of understanding, and a burning desire to give to those whose lives have been taken,
forsaken, cast aside and forgotten.