Who is Dr. Brice Eboule?

 

Introduction to Dr. Brice Portfolio

Dr. Brice Eboule: A Journey of Faith, Education, and Leadership

Dr. Brice Eboule, originally from Cameroon, has navigated a life shaped by his faith, dedication to family, and passion for education. As the firstborn of seven children, Dr. Brice grew up in a Seventh-day Adventist family where financial hardship made education a luxury. Despite these challenges, he has pushed through with determination, fueled by love for his family and a deep belief that "nothing is impossible for God," a conviction anchored in his favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11.

 

Academic Background and Professional Pursuits

Dr. Brice’s academic journey is as diverse as it is impressive. After moving to the United States in 2016, he initially settled in Dallas, Texas, for two years before relocating to Berrien Springs, Michigan, to pursue his first master’s degree, an M.A. in Communication at Andrews University. Upon graduation, he seamlessly transitioned into a Ph.D. program in Higher Education Administration at Andrews University. His dissertation, titled "Funding Models for Christian Higher Education: A Comparative Study of Business Models," focuses on identifying sustainable business models for Christian higher education institutions—a critical area, given the financial struggles many of these institutions face. His work is driven by the goal of evaluating and recommending financial models that can ensure long-term sustainability.

In addition to his Ph.D., Dr. Brice also pursued two more master’s degrees concurrently, demonstrating his extraordinary commitment to education. He completed a Master of Science in Data Science from the School of Engineering and Computational Sciences at Merrimack College and a Master of Science in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate from East Texas A&M University.

Currently, Dr. Brice works at Epsom Institute, where he leads and collaborates with a skilled team of machine learning engineers. Their collective mission centers on partnering with East Dallas school districts to develop cutting-edge, user-friendly online learning technologies. Dr. Brice and his team are committed to transforming the educational landscape by integrating advanced machine learning algorithms and data-driven solutions to create platforms that are both engaging and accessible for students and educators alike.

Their work involves designing adaptive learning systems tailored to meet diverse student needs, enhancing personalized learning experiences, and ensuring seamless navigation across digital tools. By harnessing innovative artificial intelligence methods, Dr. Brice’s team is able to identify trends, predict learning outcomes, and adjust educational content in real-time, helping bridge learning gaps and promote equity in education. This collaboration with the East Dallas school districts not only supports modern teaching methodologies but also empowers educators with resources that streamline their workload, enabling them to focus on impactful teaching and student growth.

 

Skills and Specializations

Dr. Brice is proficient in various programming languages and tools essential to the data science and finance sectors:

- Programming languages: Proficient in Python and R for data analysis and model building.

- Data Management: Expertise in SQL, NoSQL, Tableau, and SPSS for data cleaning, transformation, and visualization.

- AI and Machine Learning: Experience with supervised and unsupervised learning models, with a strong focus on healthcare analytics.

- Real Estate Finance: Specializes in property investment strategies and development analysis, stemming from his finance studies.

 

Professional Affiliations and Interests

Brice is actively engaged in the data science and healthcare analytics communities. He is a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and INFORMS, participating in several industry summits like the Ai4 2024, TAMEST 2024 Annual Conference, and AMIA 2024 Informatics Summit.

 

Languages:

French (native)

English (fluent)

German (Intermediate)

Spanish (Intermediate)

Professional Aspirations

Dr. Brice’s professional aspirations reflect his diverse skill set and experiences:

- Academic Administration: With his Ph.D., Brice aims to pursue leadership roles in higher education, such as Dean of Students, Director of Academic Affairs, or Provost. He hopes to shape educational policies, manage academic staff, and improve institutional strategies to benefit students and faculty alike.

- Educational Technology Leadership: His work with Epsom Institute has positioned him for potential leadership roles like Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Director of EdTech in educational institutions or tech companies that specialize in learning platforms and solutions.

- Real Estate Development and Consulting: Leveraging his Master of Science in Finance with a concentration in real estate, Brice is poised to work as a Real Estate Investment Consultant, Real Estate Developer, or Commercial Real Estate Analyst, helping organizations make informed property investments and manage development projects.

- Research and Data Science Leadership: With his Master of Science in Data Science, Brice is well-positioned for roles such as Chief Data Officer, AI/ML Engineer Lead, or Head of Data Analytics in both businesses and academic research centers. His goal is to explore AI, machine learning, and data-driven solutions to solve real-world challenges.

Entrepreneurship: Ultimately, Dr. Brice dreams of establishing his own educational consulting firm, offering expertise in sustainable funding models for higher education institutions. He also envisions launching a real estate investment firm focused on commercial properties, combining his financial acumen with his entrepreneurial spirit.

Personal Passions and Growth

Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Dr. Brice has a rich array of personal interests. Dr. Brice enjoys cooking, particularly experimenting with new recipes from YouTube, and takes pride in fixing things around his home. Outdoor activities like biking, camping, fishing, kayaking, swimming, and gardening bring him joy and relaxation. He dreams of having a self-sustainable home where he can grow all the food he needs, reflecting his connection to nature and sustainability.

In terms of intellectual and artistic growth, Brice is currently pursuing his passion for photography and videography, taking online courses to sharpen his skills. His creativity also shines through his two YouTube channels: One is called “Dr. Brice Finance” where he  share financial and business tips, particularly in commercial real estate, and another channel called, “Green Dataverse”, which offer free short courses and insights on Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning for learners from any background.

Community and Faith

Dr. Brice’s involvement in his community is grounded in his faith. He is actively engaged with his local church in Dallas, serving as a deacon and a member of the media team. Additionally, he volunteers as an instructor for the church’s children’s club, teaching young minds and helping shape their future.

At the core of Dr. Brice’s life is his unwavering belief in Christ. His faith informs not only his worldview but also his approach to overcoming obstacles. "Nothing is impossible for God" is more than a belief; it's a guiding principle that pushes him through life’s challenges.

Family and Legacy

Above all, though he was married had to divorce in 2020, Dr. Brice is a great father to his beautiful little daughter, who is the light of his life. He is a devoted father. He loves his daughter beyond words. She is a source of immense joy and motivation for him. As the eldest of seven children, Brice’s deep love for his family remains a powerful force driving his resilience and perseverance, even in the face of adversity. His family’s financial hardships continue to remind him of the value of education, and he seeks to honor them by making the most of every opportunity that comes his way.

Future Vision

Looking ahead, Dr. Brice aims to become an authority in the business and academic world, conducting original research and presenting forward-thinking ideas that span multiple disciplines. He hopes to influence higher education policy, drive innovations in technology, and contribute to the commercial real estate sector. His ultimate goal is to integrate his knowledge and experiences across many fields to make lasting contributions that benefit students, educators, businesses and communities.

Not on My Watch

Without a doubt Language influences our view of reality. It’s defines how our reality is transmitted to others. Languages have different words and meanings around the world. We create our reality based on our culture, the experiences we have within and language is the way we communicate those experiences. Researches show that in the world there is about 7,000 languages spoken and they are all different from one another in all kinds of ways. Some languages have different sounds they have different vocabularies and they also have different structures very importantly different structures that brings the question does the language we speak shape the way we think?

 

 I personally speak two international languages, French and English and three African local languages Bassa, Ewondo and Bulu. I will say depending what language I’m using my perception in equality between race is influenced. For example, in Bulu language, there is no word to differentiate human races. And that affects the value that the Bulu society attach to the race of an individual. In order words from a bulu prospective the color of your skin does not count when it comes to define who you are and your place in the society. But in the Other hands, when I came to the U.S and started learning English, one the first think I noticed was that English gives an exhaustive classification of skin colors and that emphasis in how people look like influence somehow the perception of their place in the American society. 

 

I honestly believe that understanding the nonverbal communication from other cultures is useful so you can interact better with those from another culture. Understanding significations also can make you appreciate the culture better and know what to do or not do when communicating with others. During the recent US presidential election campaign, it was curious to notice all the verbal and nonverbal messages used by the candidates. Hillary Clinton seemed more conservative and maybe because she is used to all the protocols and how to get along in those situations. Her appearance, posture and paralanguage were interesting to see.  On the other hand, Donald Trump said what he wanted and when he wanted, without thinking about the consequences of his words. It was intriguing to see all his nonverbal messages, facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc.

 

The importance of understanding nonverbal language result into the fact that non-verbal language or communication of a culture plays many important roles in an intercultural situation. In the Bassa language, the person who speak, provides through his gesture, nonverbal cues that clarify the context for interpreting and understanding how the verbal message should be understood. In that regards, neglecting non-verbal language can create either confusion or misunderstanding. For example, body posture can convey power structures, attitudes and levels of civility. Slouching in the Bulu society is considered disrespectful, while other parts of the world may not think much of it one way or another. In America, standing with hands on the hips may suggest power or pride, but in Cameroon, it may suggest anger or a challenge. Many cultures also frown upon showing the bottom of the shoe, something that is considered dirty for a Cameroonian. Therefore, sitting with the foot resting on the opposite knee is strongly discouraged in Cameroon. In my opinion, some of the challenges in reading accurately a nonverbal message are ethno-centrism, lack of cultural exposure towards other cultures and stereotypes. 

 

The article that really caught my attention is “Lesson Learned: A University Administrator’s intercultural Journey” by Alfred J. Guillaume Jr. the article relates the experience of a black man from the south side of the country who manage to have a successful life despite all the walls of limitations imposed to him by a racist social culture cause of the color of his skin. The article speaks about social perception of the value of black person life and potential in the prism of prejudices, stereotype and racism.   

I think in the article Dr. Guillaume gave what I believe will be the essential mindset strategy I will use in order to create in my circle of influence a better inter-cultural communication experience. “Race, ethnicity, and gender are secondary factors in communicating with others. I’ve learned that trust can only be earned, not expected, and that the way to earn trust is through collaboration and sincere demonstration of respect for others.”

 

Intercultural communicative competence, or ICC, refers to the ability to understand cultures, including your own, and use this understanding to communicate with people from other cultures successfully. ICC could include understanding how gestures and the distance between speakers vary from culture to culture. As a competent intercultural communicator, I think some of my capacities are the fact I can identify a situation where there is a misunderstanding due to cultural differences. I can be more aware of the challenges faces by others when interacting with me because of the differences of our cultural backgrounds. In that sense my responsibilities would be to create cultural differences awareness, become the bridge between cultures, stand against stereotypes and prejudice in my circle of friends and family. Voice and act against racism and ethnocentrism in my daily words and actions. 

References:

• Kim Y.Y.(1995), "Cross-Cultural adaption: An integrative theory.", in: R.L. Wiseman (Ed.)Intercultural Communication Theory, 170 – 194, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Messner, W. & Schäfer, N. (2012), "The ICCA™ Facilitator's Manual. Intercultural Communication and Collaboration Appraisal", London: Createspace.
• Messner, W. & Schäfer, N. (2012), "Advancing Competencies for Intercultural Collaboration", in: U. Bäumer, P. Kreutter, W. Messner (Eds.) "Globalization of Professional Services", Heidelberg: Springer.
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 Perception  of  life 

in  America

I think the importance to see that we are reflected in every aspect of the life of our society, especially in good standing and in the sphere of power can be illustrated by the story of Kamala Harris. For her to be chosen  as a Black and South Asian American woman on the Democratic ticket sends a message to young girls of color that she often projected when she was running her own presidential campaign: "I see you, I hear you. "All across the nation, little girls woke up, especially little Black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today they're seeing themselves for the first time in a new way. "It just feels like Black girls like me can run for class president, Black girls like me can go for the big things in life like she did," said a 14-year-old Paris Bond on CNN in an interview on Tuesday.

 

 

Social isolation can impact our many foreign students, especially those who from, Asia and Africa.  They usually struggle with the challenge associated with stereotypes and discrimination. Many us as a student from those part of the world feels marginalized or like we do not belong because of the way we can be perceived sometimes.  find ways to feel more socially connected and part of a group. As a black student, I have experienced bullying and racial slurs at school or at work ... and sometimes it makes me feel like I don’t want to live in the United States because I feel marginalized and uncertain about whom to trust. I think school administrators should elaborate on more strategies to help students coming from other countries feel protected and appreciated. And at an individual level others, students should feel compelled to mingle with students from a different cultural background.

 

I do agree with Imahori on his decision to change his name, in the sense that legally changing your name does offer quite a few potential benefits. First of all, it can give you a fresh start. Whether you want to put a difficult past behind you, escape the attentions of a stalker, or start fresh during a new phase in your life, a legal name change can be very empowering.

 

 

I strongly believe that people with European American cultural backgrounds are privileged. Because If someone has never had to worry that the color of his or her skin might work against him during a job interview or when he will be trying to find a place to live, then he or she is privileged. If  you ever have to feel afraid to put your arm around or kiss your romantic partner in public because people might assault the two of you if they saw, or if you never had to deal with unwanted sexual advances, comments, or ogling, then you probably enjoy the cultural privileges of some type, due to your white skin color.

 

 

 

Recent researches suggest that today, more than 40 million people living in the U.S. were born in another country. The United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world. Those who wish to do so may apply after meeting certain qualifying conditions. In 2018, the top country of origin for new immigrants coming into the U.S. Mexico is the top origin country of the U.S. immigrant population. In 2018, roughly 11.2 million immigrants living in the U.S. were from there, accounting for 25% of all U.S. immigrants. The next largest origin groups were those from China (6%), India (6%), the Philippines (4%), and El Salvador (3%). In 2020, Immigration has become far more central in public conversation in the United States. The wrong implication by politics and mass media of bad deeds of some immigrants has contributed to creating a state of fear towards immigrants. That fear has influenced historical immigration policy and is echoed in recent immigration laws. First, the nature of migration selection appears to have changed over time. Immigrants from European countries that, though poorer than the US, were not as dissimilar as those from third world countries.  One factor that can explain why some countries are more represented in the U.S through immigration is the quota of the number of immigrants allowed yearly. According to the United Nations, under the Trump administration in 2019, the United States, allow Germany, and Saudi Arabia had the largest number of immigrants of any country, while Tuvalu, Saint Helena, and Tokelau had the lowest.

 

References

Authors Unknown. (nd.) Unpacking the invisible knapsack II: Sexual orientation; daily effects of straight privilege. Retrieved from http://www.cs. earlham.edu/~hyrax/personal/files/ student_res /straightprivilege.htm. Rosenbloom, S. R., & Way, N. (2004) Experiences of discrimination among African American, Asian American, and Latino adolescents in an urban high school. Youth & Society, 35, 420-45. Boysen, G., & Vogel, D. (2009). Bias in the Classroom: Types, frequencies, and responses. Teaching of Psychology, 36, 12–17. Brandon. W. (2003). Toward a white teachers' guide to playing fair: Exploring the cultural politics of multicultural teaching. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (Special Issue: Whiteness issues in teacher education), 16, 31–50. Campbell, R., & Schram, P. (1995). Feminist research methods: A content analysis of psychology and social science textbooks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 85–106. Deutch, B. (1996). The male privilege checklist: An unabashed imitation of an article by Peggy

 

Cultural History

Studies support the assumption that the majority of people believe that death is not the end of one's existence but rather a transition from one life to another. Different religions have provided belief structures that support the religious and social needs of practitioners.

Cameroonians have a variety of religious beliefs, and many individuals combine beliefs and practices of world religions with those of their own cultural groups. Approximately 53 percent of the population are members of Christian denominations, about 25 percent practice mainly “traditional” religions, and approximately 22 percent are Muslim

In Cameroon, traditional religions are systems of practices and beliefs that adapt to changing social conditions. Most people are animist despite their religion. They are involved in the veneration of ancestors and the belief that people, animals, and natural objects are invested with spiritual power. They believe that upon death, there is rebirth to another life. Death is accepted as inevitable and not feared. The moral of their actions is very relative. The good and wrong are subjected to individual judgment.

As a Christian, I believe that Jesus is the son of God and the Savior,  that there is an afterlife, based upon the promises of the Holy Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his disciples. Upon death, I believe that we will come before God and we will be judged according to the choices we would have made in our earthly lives. That perception indeed influences my actions in the daily basics. 

I think Slavery is America’s “original sin” and undeniable negative legacy.  It was not solved by the framers of the U.S. Constitution, nor was it resolved by the horrendous conflict that was of the American Civil War. It simply changed its odious form and continued the generational enslavement of an entire strata of American society. In turn, the Civil Rights Movement struck a mighty blow against racism in America. Even when America rose up to elect its first Black President, Barack Obama, the U.S may indeed have lost ground as a collective nation along the way with the election of Donald J. Trump. Due to that, many social conflicts. The most hateful remnants of slavery persist in the U.S. today in the form of systemic racism baked into nearly every aspect of American society. The police systemic brutality has to lead the country to distrust in governmental institutions and raise up the question of equality and life dignity in America. 

National history has long played a prominent role in the forging of national identities. This historiographic nationalism has contributed to xenophobia, exclusion, discrimination, violence, war, and genocide. In the U.S today, some people think that America belongs only to whites because they conquered the land. In another hand, some believe that America is a land of immigrants, it belongs to everybody who chooses to love and cherish it as his or her home country. That divided perception can be illustrated in the political approaches of the two main political parties in the country, Republicans, and democrats.

In a 1969 editorial in Television Quarterly, communications scholar Cedric C. Clark wrote that minorities are often subjected to predictable stages of treatment in media depictions, particularly on television. According to Clark, there are 4 stages of minority representations: non-recognition, ridicule, regulation, and respect. The representations or applications of these 4 stages can be observed in the mass media as follow:

●       Stage 1: Non-recognition: Amid the pandemic of Covid-19, there no special spotlight on how the Indian Americans community who are struggling since they constitute one of the most vulnerable ethnic population in the U.S.

●       Stage 2: Ridicule: the life of Kanye West is more on media than the scientific accomplishments of black-dominated Colleges and Universities. 

●       Stage 3: Regulation: The research demonstrates that U.S. television has primarily used 2 ways of portraying immigrants: either criminals or job thieves.

●       Stage 4: Respect: The Election of Kamala Harris has given brought a lot of respect and praise to black and Asian communities but especially to women

References

Bechtel, L. J., Chen, A., Pierce, R. A., & Walker, B. A. (1992). Assessment of clergy knowledge and attitudes toward near-death experiences. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 10 (3), pp. 161-170. Becker, C. (1981). The centrality of near-death experiences in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Anabiosis - The Journal of Near-Death. 1, pp. 154-170. Becker, C. (1984, Spring). The Pure Land revisited: Sino-Japanese meditations and near-death experiences of the next world. Anabiosis - The Journal of Near-Death. 4, pp. 51-68. Becker, C. (1985, Spring). Views from Tibet: Near-death Experiences and the Book of the Dead. Vital Signs. 4, pp. 2-4. Budge E. A. W. (Ed.) (1989). The book of the dead. New York: Arkana. Couliano, I. P. (1991). Out of this world - Otherworldly journeys from Gilgamesh to Albert Einstein. Boston, MA: Shambhala. DeSpelder, L. A. & Strickland, A. L. (1983). The last dance - encountering death and dying. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield Publishing.

 

International Film Review

 The African Doctor

 

 

According to Havard Business Review, in the U.S, racial and ethnic minorities have higher rates of chronic disease, obesity, and premature death than white people. Black patients in particular have among the worst health outcomes, experiencing higher rates of hypertension and stroke. And black men have the lowest life expectancy of any demographic group, living on average 4.5 fewer years than white men. African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, but only 4% of U.S. doctors and less than 7% of U.S. medical students.

In the Mass Media, the career of doctor has always being advertised more suitable only for  whites reinforcing the political and cultural stereotyping of people of color. I was among the people who was disapproving the fact that a prodigy in the world of health and science as Dr. Ben Carson, one of the best Neurosurgeons this world ever had, was picked by Donald Trump  as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, instead of united states secretary of health and human services. 

The African Doctor, tells the true story of Seyolo Zantoko, a French doctor, who struggles to serve as a doctor in a small French village and obtain French nationality in order to expose his family to a wider world. The comedy-drama film is based on the real-life father of French musician Kamini Zantoko, who is also one of the co-writers, and the movie is directed by Julien Rambaldi.

The movie starts out with our main character Seyolo, who graduates from a French medical school. He is offered a job in his homeland of Zaire/Congo working for a corrupt government official. Despite the money and the perks attached to this position, Seylo decides to go to a small French village which has been seeking a doctor for its citizens for years. He decides to take this job in the hopes that it will allow him to also become a French citizen. From there, Seylo and his family are given the fish out of water story treatment. The family deals with many issues when trying to integrate themselves into the village. Not only are they battling against prejudice people, but they deal with their own culture shock, and adaptability to an entirely new way of life.

Even though the film is set in the 1970’s and deals heavily with race issues, The African Doctor is labeled more of a comedy. The issue of race is a heavy issue in our culture, but I just love how this film uses comedy not just to say something about our characters, but displays humor with the challenges Seyolo and his family go through. It uses comedy so well in order to sympathize with our main characters and the comedy is used for some great character development that viewers will feel a connection and relate to Seyolo.

Throughout the movie, I identified myself with Seyolo. Despite all the comedic struggles Seyolo goes through, he maintains a positive outlook on everything, and encourages his struggling wife and kids without displaying his own inner agitation when things appear to be down in the dumps. The film has a great balance between comedy and drama, allowing viewers to understand the conflict between Seyolo and his wife Anne as they adjust to the consequences of his decision for their family. This provides a realistic and relatable view many people face, yet our characters provide an inside look for some viewers, and are examples of how anyone can work through difficult times. Anne is a great support despite the fact that she does not approve of their move and throughout the film, she mentions how much better it would be to live in Paris.

Seyolo’s character and even his comedic moments are used as a mirror to reflect each person he encounters in this small village, and reflecting back what is in their hearts. The actress who plays Anne Zantoko is a great blend of spirit, style, and a stellar personality that viewers will fall in love with. Similarly, the children also do a great job portraying the difficulties of fitting in at a school where they are mocked and bullied for the color of their skin, while also struggling to adapt to their father’s expectations at home.

Most people know of the American issues and history during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The African Doctor provides a look that I personally didn’t heavily consider before seeing this film and that’s how other countries viewed racism and cultural differences during this era. I’m not sure if this film accurately displays the French attitude towards race as the setting is in a quiet rural village which had not been exposed much to outsiders and diversity. France may have viewed equal rights more in the bigger cities, where it is a little more common to see other cultures and diversity amongst the people who live there.  Seyolo’s wife’s family shows up a couple of times in the film, driving in from their home in Brussels.

Therefore, the film states that their family is a quite international, well-traveled, and one with exposure to other cultures other than their own people. Seyolo’s in-laws actually provide some of the funniest moments in the film; they are loud, rowdy, and over-the-top. They challenge Seyolo not to lose his cultural identity yet while trying to mix-and-mingle with a new one. The in-laws help with not just a few comedic moments, but using comedic moments to help us understand and appreciate our family history even at times when we may not want to fully acknowledge it.

Overall, the African Doctor is a very funny film that often puts a humorous spin on the absurdity of ignorance and culture shock on display. The film is a great reminder of the social impact that one person can have when they live a life of kindness, humbleness, and acceptance. 

References: The African Doctor, Havard Business Review, Wikipedia

 

Stereotyping 

According to the website Quebec.ca, Stereotypes are characteristics that society instinctively attributes to groups of people to classify them according to age, weight, occupation, skin color, gender, etc. Sexual stereotyping involves associating girls and boys with separate and, at times, opposing sets of characteristics.

 

When a child sees a stereotyped image over and over or hear something stereotyping his culture, again and again, that will automatically affect his perception of himself and the world around. Impacting negatively his identity.  For example, on TV and socio-media, stories about black people are mostly about crimes, drugs, gangster life etc. that situation empowers this quick classification of black African American as people who are citizens of second-zone. And most of the black children grow up in that stereotyped net because they hear it from the music and the politicians, they read it in their textbooks and Novels and they see it in their films and commercials

 

Framing describes the practice of thinking about news items and story content within familiar. context. Framing is related to the agenda-setting tradition but expands the research by focusing on the. essence of the issues at hand rather than on a particular topic.

It is not justifiable for a person from one culture to encourage a person from another culture to disregard his or her own cultural values for the simple reason that all culture matters and valuable. 

        Ethno-centricsm: liam G Summer defines it as “view of things in which one’s own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.” 

 

For more than 100 years, Thousands of native American children were ripped from their families and sent to boarding schools to be “civilized “among them was Denis Banks. He became the founder of the American Indian movement. Here is his what he says about the way the U.S government framed their education at the boarding schools: “They wanted to destroy our identity. They put us on this boarding school, I'm one of them that they put in these boarding schools. They said they will destroy and kill the Indian in order to save the man.  Over 100,000 children were taken from their homes. I was living with my mum and my grandma. They came and took me away from them. We were taken by force from our mothers and fathers, from our grandparents. That destroyed the language, the songs.  I couldn't sing any native song anymore. I couldn't speak any native language, the vernacular would be English and English only. There was Corporal punishment at the boarding schools for doing otherwise. I would never forgive the U.S government for allowing a policy like that to be inflicted upon us.  Centuries after, the historical trauma is still with us till today and will be carried on the next generation.” 

 

Media framing theory is the idea that an article is constructed in a certain way to convey a particular message; the way in which a reporter organizes the information, chooses what information to include and how it is worded is how it can be framed. Olasunkanmi Arowolo (2017) said "Frames can be defined as organizing ideas or themes, ways of linking together stories historically, building up a narrative over time and across political space"

 

Personally as a black man, I’m always surprised to see that there’re people of other culture who will love black music but don't love black people. They want to hear it but they don't want to fund the schools that have the music programs that will later help the students to turn into the next great musicians. In movies, I see white people in mostly honorable roles, like heroes and their princesses, doctors etc. But when it comes to people of color it is mostly roles that goes along with the stereotypes.  The popular culture and Media shape how we understand reality. I think by voicing more and more about stereotypes and valuating other people cultures and worldviews, I can become a diversity ally in my sphere of influence. 

 

 

References: Quebec.ca, heathychildren.org, “framing effects” by L.WAYS

 In the film Smoke Signals, Chris Eyre created the movies setting on an Indian reserve in 1998. It’s about Indian issues and Indian philosophy. According to some film specialist reviewer who commented on this movie, it appears that misunderstanding about this film might have arose due to its setting. 

    This story released on the Fourth of July on a small Idaho Indian reserve. Two Indian boys, Victor and Thomas move throughout this film facing stereotypes, strong roles of violence and alcohol, and also a very important tradition of storytelling. In this little town, most of the homes were not huge or full of nice and expensive things. I would call this a very run down town but it really helped the audience see how much everyone appreciated everything they did have. After Victor’s father left, he spent most of his time taking care of his mother. After Thomas’s parents were killed, he spent all of his time taking care of his grandmother. When the boys decided to travel to go see Victor’s father who had recently passed away, the setting really set the mood. He had been living in a trailer, without a running vehicle, in the middle of the hot dessert. This movie was set up to seem like the olden days and that really put the boys’ values into their right place. Back in the day more people appreciated family and love.

            One of the most important themes in Smoke Signals is the full understanding of a person’s past and how the past of their ancestors is essential for their future and also for self-healing. Victor had such a dark and pessimistic attitude the whole time after his father had left him and his mother. He could not find a way to heal from his past or forgive his father for how much he had hurt Thomas. Even though we do not know this for sure, it can be assumed that Thomas knew all along about what Victor’s father had done. Within this movie there are cultural tones, self-destructive behaviors, and hardships of overcoming stereotypical atmospheres. The scene when Victor was talking with Susan and found out that his father had gone back for him was a huge turning point in the film. He started to heal the whole in his heart after he knew that his father did not want to leave him.

         If I have to base my knowledge of the Native Americans solely on the cinematographic representations (movies), I will think that  Indians are essentially those isolated red skins people with feathers on their heads and arrows on their backs, carrying tomahawks and knives with their naked bodies glistening with oil. I honestly think that   Smoke Signals is such a great, heartwarming film that not only represents the Native American culture but also teaches a life lesson about how much control you have over letting your past affect your future. Even though some people might have a misunderstanding about this film, it is full of valuable culture information and also full of humor. Laughing during a movie is always the best part. The ending of the movie is the most important part. Right when Victor spreads his dad’s ashes, he finally forgives and forgets about his past and if ready to move ahead. 

Reference: Smoke Signals