Crossing Boundaries with Marc Steiner

After listening to the Marc Steiner presentation online, I regret not being able to attend the event in person. Steiner is such an inspirational and motivational speaker that he makes you want to just jump out of your seat and start breaking ground. I was really intrigued by the way Steiner incorporated the history of America and all the myths that have cultivated our society into his theme of crossing racial, gender, and other boundaries. Growing up in America, you are predisposed to stereotypes and discrimination that do affect the way we as "the people" view the world. We learn the white race is superior or women are supposed to be subservient to men; however, all of these are social constructions created by the "common American man". Once we the people realize that these false statements should not dictate our lives, we can challenge them. In addition, Steiner states it isn't a leader who creates a movement but a group of individuals willing to challenge such inequalities and elect a leader to represented what they have started. He references MLK Jr. and the women's movement, which were two critical movements sparked by average individuals fighting for social change. Once a group of individuals unite to fight for a cause, change can take place. 

I love the fact that Steiner is challenging the prison system because in one of my previous american studies courses (gender & inequality) i had learned just how corrupt the prison system had been and still is. The prison system is an institution that reinforces the inequalities that we are still fighting to break. Groups of Anti-prison activists have formed to deal with the unfair treatment of own Americans. This is the 21st Century where we all should be equal and have an equal opportunity at living the American dream; however, much of America has not changed. 

I feel that our work within the Baybrook community will help elicit or contribute to a movement that will bring together the marginalized and challenge America's system. The students after our class will follow our imprint and use their abilities or talents to further develop the movement until change is made.