Testimonials
“I love this class and this instructor. Part of the course objective is to learn in this class, and I really feel I did exactly that. The chronology of the readings and repetition of terms throughout I found very helpful. This is a course that makes me glad I went to college because I left with a whole new world view. 11/10 ! I wish we had more class time... like if we met another day during the week. That would have been beneficial, as opposed to only meeting twice a week.”
–Anonymous Student
“Dr. Mason is an amazing professor. She has not only given me the tools to have challenging conversations, but she has shown me how to use them. I think that the ideas she brings up are important in developing a more whole understanding of the world and our society, things that many people would probably not consider (mostly due to lack of exposure). I think she is crucial to our campus community not only as a scholar but as a person, as she has been nothing but helpful and caring to her students. She is someone more people on this campus need to meet and speak to, I am so so happy and grateful to have met her and gotten to hear her ideas.”
–Anonymous Student
“I love this class and this instructor. Part of the course objective is to learn in this class, and I really feel I did exactly that. The chronology of the readings and repetition of terms throughout I found very helpful. This is a course that makes me glad I went to college because I left with a whole new world view. 11/10 ! I wish we had more class time... like if we met another day during the week. That would have been beneficial, as opposed to only meeting twice a week.”
–Anonymous Student
“I absolutely loved Dr. Mason's class. Without even accounting for the subject matter, in my opinion, being really interesting and thought- provoking, she is extremely flexible and understanding, respectful, and makes you really think outside of designated class time. As an education major, she's the type of teacher I strive to be and I would love to model certain aspects of her teaching style. Additionally, I preregistered for a class she's teaching next semester and cannot wait to work with her again.”
–Anonymous Student
“I loved Dr. Mason. She treated everyone with love and respect. One of my favorite professors ever, very pleased with the class as well.”
–Anonymous Student
“I loved Dr.Mason! Her thoughts were radical and refreshing. I learned to think outside of the box and test my current knowledge, and I had lots of fun being able to speak my mind and conduct intellectual discussions with my class.”
–Anonymous Student
“Dr. Mason was one of the best professors I had. She constantly made everyone’s opinion feel welcome no matter what their opinion was. I even made sure to sign up for a class of hers next semester because she was so great!!!”
–Anonymous Student
“Dr. Mason is a wonderful professor who appreciated feedback and opinions from every one of her students. She was a fun professor to have always making us laugh or smile, and was extremely sophisticated and knowledgeable on all of her content. Had I been able to fit it in my schedule, I would have absolutely taken another course with her. I am very appreciative for her patience and kind-heartedness with the adjustment back to in person classes.”
–Anonymous Student
“Dr. Mason is an incredibly intelligent professor that truly demonstrates her passion for the content she teaches and the love she has for her students. The workload was very fair and her class was enjoyable and interesting to be a part of. I would recommend her to all students!”
–Anonymous Student
“Dr. Mason was one of the most personable and well-informed professors I’ve ever had. I’m excited to take another class with her next semester.”
–Anonymous Student
“Loved this professor and this course. Was definitely different than I expected when signing up for the course but not in a bad way. I learned many new things from this class and was able to participate in many class discussions. This professor was extremely understanding and supportive throughout the semester, and I would recommend this class to anyone!”
–Anonymous Student
“She was always very understanding and flexible when it came to any issues the students had. The workload was very clear from the syllabus on the first day and was not too overwhelming. She encouraged students to participate and made sure everyone felt comfortable that they were in a safe environment to speak their thoughts.”
–Anonymous Student
“This professor was very down to earth and understanding. She made this class interesting and always treated all students with respect. I enjoyed this class and wish to have a class with her in the future.”
–Anonymous Student
“This was easily my favorite class of the semester. I have nothing but good things to say about the course and the instructor herself. She is so understanding, smart, and incredibly easy to talk to.”
–Anonymous Student
“The course was conducted in a great manner, all materials in course were used, and the instructor was great! The professor was very interactive, hands on and informative during lectures. Dr. Mason loves what she teaches, and it shows!”
–Anonymous Student
“The Theory of Racelessness is not as scary as it may sound. Racelessness pertains to you identifying as having no race, but the theory in which it is situated has a profound implication, much more than race or what it means to be racialized itself. In “removing your race,” you may assume that you are removing your culture, history, past, ancestors, and the community you are situated within now, but this is simply not true. In fact, you are more so embodying your individual characteristics that represent your culture in its truest sense, instead of some watered down version of it, which “race” does. Race waters you down to an arbitrary category that does not account for YOUR true family and YOUR true history. It brings you and those who may physically look like you to this one simplified narrative that doesn't even account for a fraction of who you are, what you think, or what you believe. This brainwashing process seeps into us individuals and makes us miscategorize ourselves, which is always way more powerful and dangerous to the status quo than someone else doing it for you.
You may ask, why would one want to identify as having no race. Isn’t that worse or wouldn’t it give leeway to more atrocity ? It's a slippery slope if not thought about the right way, but this is also a reminder that no one “gets to keep their race.” It’s about wiping the entire slate clean. Historically and as it is embedded in societal roots, race and racialization have always had a social function and usage for various purposes. To degrade, elevate, belittle, humanize, and dehumanize individuals, to classify individuals as less than, biologically and (inherently), to excuse volatile behavior and promote ownership of property, culture, and humanistic rights, that in reality belong to all, to make clear where you belong and how you should fit within the classification given. Race tells us myths about ourselves by grouping us via physical attributions that anyone can possess, and sadly it creates a false sense of unification on the basis of cultural elements that we mistakenly believe are only ours.
So, the primary damage has already been done. How do we prevent a repeat atrocity? …by disabling race. The distinctions within culture and ethnicity and ideas that we can formulate of origin from geography are still there! Race just should not be the idea or language used to describe such.
After learning the philosophies of race, I see myself in a middle stage or journey of switching off a mindset I’ve been living with my whole life. I substitute it for the advantage of seeing and understanding the world, (specifically the implications of racism disguising as race), more clearly. I almost see the philosophies of race (naturalism, constructionism, and skepticism) as stages of enlightenment and achieving/understanding higher knowledge and wisdom of self and others. When you can change your perspective, you can literally feel the positivity and relief that comes with it.
One thing that I’d say is important to take away from the theory of racelessness is that like all notions against racism, the end goal is the same: eliminate racism. This theory sees race and racism as often being interchangeable and feasible to eliminate, unlike how I personally viewed it before, as a never-ending battle. Racelessness does not ignore the significance of all of our past struggles and does not exist to wipe those times from our imagination, but instead calls us to Reimagine how we want to live in the future, despite the painful existence of the past. It wants us to learn and grow from the experience, instead of continuing to circle in its older pain. The theory of racelessness continues to develop as its tenets become more concrete and exact over time. The logic of it all just makes sense. Dr. Mason thinks she’s crazy, and I do too. But the good kind of crazy. The type of crazy that can ultimately change the world.”
–Tenisha Terry-Moultrie, a former undergraduate student
“To me, the theory of racelessness represents more of a lifestyle. It means that no person is different from another on any basis other than personality, culture, values - things they can curate and decide for themselves. There is no such thing as race beyond what society has brainwashed us into believing, which can and should be debunked by current and future generations.
I think that knowing the various philosophies of race helped me to understand my own view toward race(ism), but it mainly showed me that there are people who think the same way I do. My entire life I was led to believe that race is real and divides us, but after hearing the different categories I was able to grasp that there are people out there who have deconstructed that narrative. I was able to explore more into the ways I can alter my own thinking and possibly help to educate others on the many possibilities out there.
My own thoughts on race have changed from day one, but I don’t think the change has really been all that drastic. I simply believe I was finally given the tools and information to develop my thoughts and discover for myself the ins and outs of my own concepts of race (or lack thereof, if you ask me). So, that being said, I think the theory of racelessness filled the space in my brain for everything that was left unsaid about race and racism throughout the rest of my life.
I definitely think that the theory of racelessness helps to free people from racism, but only if they allow it to. The theory’s foundation lies in the belief that people are willing and wanting a change, and providing the resources and knowledge to execute that. I think that the theory of racelessness is one of the most profound societal theories of our time, but people have to be open to those ideas in order for them to flourish.
I think that the theory of racelessness can truly change our world for the better if people allow it to. I think that oftentimes people rely on the concept of race as a means of identity, which has to be released if they are to fully understand what Dr. Mase is trying to say. It starts at the core of how to change a person’s mindset, which can be especially difficult after generations of racism being at the forefront of American society. So in short, my answer is yes, that the theory of racelessness is a better path for us to follow, but the shoe yet to drop is how to make more people see that (though it seems many are everyday!).
What I would want people to know is to be open minded while absorbing as much information as possible. Dr. Mason provides us with the tools we need to build a better society (for all peoples), but it is up to each individual to make changes in their daily lives in order for it to take effect on a grand scale. People need to be not only aware of the theory of racelessness, but open to its teachings, as I feel the theory (and Dr. Mase, of course) has taught me more about the world and my place in it than many other college courses (or otherwise). This is not the end of the world as we know it, but really a rebirth of a better world that is designed to benefit each person (and by that I really do mean each person).”
–Mikayla Reis, a former undergraduate student