Race, Gender, Difference Blog Post #1(Talycia)

With this reading Collins is talking about how white men control the western world and the views, traditions and epistemologies within that world. Ultimately she is talking about how since the white views are seen as supreme then those are the views and norms imposed on the rest of society. She also talks about how the results of this leads to black women's experiences, expressions, and thoughts distorted and subjected to the white man's thought, and how this leads to the black woman's constant struggle against the white interpretation of the world. She describes epistemology as something that constitutes an overarching theory of knowledge, says that it investigates the standards used to asses knowledge and why we believe what we believe to be true. (Pg328) She talks about how epistemology is different from paradigms and methodology and how it is important because it determines which questions merit investigation, which interpretive frameworks will be used to analyze findings, and to what use any ensuing knowledge will be put. She notes that there are two different types of epistemologies one that represents white elite male interests and another that represents and expresses black feminist concerns.(Pg328) Epistemologies show what and whose thought is important. Not only that but whose thought will we base our truth and knowledge off of. It speaks to when someone is reputable and they have status so one might trust them to give advice that is true, and then not only for them to give the advice but then for themselves to take it as fact. We see this when people of status (politicians, celebrities, parents, etc.) have a view or opinion about a certain thing many times people who look up to them or see their views as important they will conform to the way that person of status says things should be, or their views. Another example of this could be with going green and being conscious about our carbon footprint. This idea has been talked about for decades but when people who the society view as important and reputable started talking about it only then did it blow up and begin to be this big movement for the betterment for our planet. So in relation to this reading she is talking about how society and the white western people have placed value and trust in the white man's views and values, despite all information that may have proven them wrong or if anyone else had their own views is was subjugated and saw as inferior to theirs. With the black feminist thought this is a problem because their ideas and values are just as valid and shouldn't have to be judged against the white western view, it only is because of the bias and the type of white supremacy society America and the west are.