Reflections of "Whistling Vivaldi" by Claude M. Steele

Reflections of Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele

I have just started reading Whistling Vivaldi by Claude Steele for a doctoral course at Howard University. The term "identity contingencies" truly speaks to me for some reason. The author defines identity contingencies as the "circumstances you have to deal with in order to get what you want or need in a situation". As an African-American female, I can certainly speak to dealing with certain situations because of  my race and gender. I pride myself on not harping on those contingencies. I am of the mind that there are NO EXCUSES success

The question was asked..."How do identity contingencies influence us?" I am extremely aware of the "stereotype threat".   I do everything in my power NOT to "fit the stereotype...After all, when you think of stereotypes, it almost always is negative when it relates to African Americans and females for that matter.

I was so curious to know what the connection to the title was....Alas, I finally came to it's meaning (I will not spoil it for you).  As the author states, "Whistling Vivaldi is about the experience of living under such a cloud--an experience we all have--and the role such clouds play in shaping our lives and society."

I really found the  blue eyed/brown eyed experiment by Jane Elliott, third grade teacher  in Iowa, truly fascinating.  She wanted to show her students the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King's life and work the day after he was assassinated.  I must find the ABC News documentary that reenacted the entire exercise.  She used felt collars to identify the students. Steele noted that Ms. Elliott deliberately set out to downwardly constitute her students, temporarily, but the college he visited was not trying to make a point.  Students felt too much of the time they didn't belong.  

I hope the author continues to document the findings of his research with the students at the distinguished liberal arts college in the Northeast throughout the book.  Steel contends that listening to the students, it seemed that a "concentration of factors" provided a better way to understand what might be causing their underperformance.

"Almost invariably, they take an observer's perspective, and they are trying to explain poor performance, not success."   The author provided an analysis of the coaching change with the Sonics. The sport writers had to now explain winning and not losing.

Claude Steele explains how identity contingencies forces us to face and overcome in a particular setting and how it affects our daily behavior.  Stereotype threat is the fear of what people may think about us solely because of our race, gender, ethnicity, age, etc.

With so many recent events that have taken place around race, stereotype threat is more "real" than I had previously thought. From the arrests and murder of several young black males to the racially motivated shooting in Charleston, SC it really makes you wonder if we are making any progress with race relations.

Steel focuses on how identity threats influence interracial interaction.  Actions truly contribute to persistent racial segregation.  I do believe that racial segregation is not always intentional.  People often time retreat to what is familiar.

We need to be "identity conscious".  I think it is time out for people saying "they don't see color". In order to improve race relations, you must see and embrace color!

This photograph taken by photographer Devin Allen of Baltimore, MD of the Baltimore Riots after the murder of Freddie Gray is a  fitting description of the book and recent events that have occurred.