ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: racism

Another aspect that I find so interesting about American History X was how writer David McKenna was able to pull directly from real life situations to add dialogue into this screenplay. McKenna and Edward Norton actually rewrote a portion of the script quoting from Governor Pete Wilson’s speech advocating Proposition 209 in 1995 (Goldstein). More importantly, it was used in a scene where Derek is trying to energize a group of young skin heads before they vandalize a grocery store owned by minorities. I find it so ironic that the character of a racist Neo-Nazi was reciting actual words from a speech promoting the removal of affirmative actions polices that were, allegedly, intended to reduce discrimination and increase equality. When I discovered this tidbit of information I was completely blown away. I had no idea how closely this movie reflected real problems going on in society in the 1990s. McKenna’s use of Pete Wilson’s speech is clearly an example of art reflecting reality, but Pete Wilson’s speech was not the only source from reality in which McKenna got his inspiration.
Topic: racism

McKenna grew up in Southern California, where the film story takes place, and personally witnessed bigotry and racism (Bruce). From his encounters and extensive research, McKenna decided that the point he tried “to make in the script is that a person is not born a racist…[McKenna] wanted an accurate portrayal of how good kids from good families can get so terribly lost” (Bruce). Personally, I think McKenna succeeded in having that be the main message of the film: the impressionability of a young mind and that all behaviors are learned.
Topic: racism

Tony Kaye was the director of American History X and, ironically, he also turned out to be a major competing persuasive force throughout the entire film making process. Kaye battled with directors, producers, writer David McKenna and Edward Norton himself claiming that New Line Cinema never allowed him to create his vision of the film going as far as to take out full page ads in trade magazines bashing the film and even requested to have his name removed from the film entirely and replaced with the pseudonym “Humpy Dumpty” (Goldstein). In a statement made shortly after the film’s release, Kaye contended that Edward Norton edited a majority of the film in order to increase his screen time in the film and that the producers did not allow Kaye an “opportunity to present a black voice to provide depth and balance to the film” and furthered that he wanted the film to be an “homage to free speech and responsibility” (Leinberger).
Topic: racism

I think the main reason why Kaye’s original vision never made it to the film was because it clashed so much with McKenna’s original message. McKenna wrote the film based off of his personal experience witnessing acts of racisms in Southern California in throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Whereas, Kaye is not only much older than McKenna, but grew up in United Kingdom and had only been living in the United states for a few years before he got involved in the film at all, and, therefore, did not quite have the same outlook for the script (Topel).
Topic: racism

It should also be noted that this was Kaye’s first feature film and his previous directing experience came from extensive work with TV commercials and music videos (Goldstein). And while McKenna himself may not have been directly involved during the filming process, as most writers are not, I think Edward Norton and the producers all believed in and followed McKenna’s vision because of how much it related to the struggles that America was facing at that time. This is not to suggest that Kaye’s vision for the film was wrong, but that producers have to consider what the audience wants and expects to see.
Topic: racism

From studying American History X, I have learned how racism evolved in a very peculiar fashion. As racism, specifically towards black people, became less and less accepted by whites over the last 150 years, certain segments of society seemed to find ways to continue a small, but undeniable level of racism since it was no longer socially acceptable among the general population to outwardly express it with for instance, lynching. Racism and discrimination has certainly come a long way over the last sixty years, but it has definitely not been eradicated. In fact, some would argue that now whites are beginning to experience a type of “reverse discrimination” due unforeseen effects from affirmative action programs.
Topic: racism

In regards to American films however, one would have to sit down personally with directors and producers of 1990s films to determine if they intentionally created these magical Negro characters in order to perpetuate racism. Aside from the fact that it is highly unlikely that anyone would ever openly admit to that, I personally think that cinethetic racism and the magical Negro were just an unintended consequence of a fad that was going on throughout Hollywood at the time, the fad being to have black people portray certain qualities of wisdom and “magical powers” within films.
Topic: racism

In either case, it is very curious that a movie such as America History X meets the qualifications for cinethetic racism. In my opinion, for a film that was intended to enlighten the audience of the problem of racism in America, yet ultimately perpetuated a veiled version of it, could no more flawlessly fit into this concept of cinethetic racism. Also, the argument of whether or not reality reflects art or if art reflects reality is just as frustrating to argue as whether the chicken or the egg came first. But in the case for this film, I would contend that American History X, art, is reflecting reality. In fact, the notion behind cinethetic racism and the magical Negro tie in so neatly with the arguments for Proposition 209 and Gov. Pete Wilson’s speech that it is just uncanny. With a closer look into both, one can see that each share their own masked form of racism veiled as though whites are helping minorities. Art was imitating the subversive racism that was occurring in reality.
Topic: racism

As an actor myself, I think it is unfortunate for director Tony Kaye that, for whatever reason, he was not able to get his original vision of the film produced. I think because of the numerous racially historical events that were occurring the 1990s that producing a movie which centered on the freedom of speech around racism as Kaye originally intended, was the last thing any audience wanted to watch in a theatre. All in all, I think film did a fabulous job highlighting historical events and attitudes going on throughout society during the 1990s, despite the fact that the film may be perpetuating racism at a subversive level.
Topic: racism

Bruce, David. “Racism in America=Hating Others.” American History X: A Hollywood Jesus Film Review. HollywoodJesus.com, n. d. Web. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. . Goldstein, Patrick. “Courting Trouble.” Edward Norton Information Page. N.p., 13 1998. Web. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. . “Hopwood v. University of Texas Law School”. Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012 .
Topic: racism

Hughey, Matthew W. “White Redemption and Black Stereotypes in “Magical Negro” Films.” Social Problems 56.3 (2009): 543-77. www.jstor.org. University of California Press, 2009. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. . Leinberger, Gisela. “Film Director Tony Kaye Makes Statement at Berlin’s Brandenberg Gate; Director of ‘American History X’ Speaks to Film’s Issues.” PR News Wire. N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. . Parker, Beth H. “The Impact of Proposition 209 on Education, Employment and Contracting.” ERA: Prop 209 Impact. Equal Rights Advocates, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. . Preacher Phil Snider Gives Interesting Gay Rights Speech. Perf. Rev. Dr. Phil Snider. Www.YouTube.com. YouTube, 13 Aug. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. . “Prohibition Against Discrimination or Preferential Treatment by State and Other Public Entities. Initiative Constitutional Amendment..” California’s 1996 General Election Web Site! . N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. . “Riots erupt in Los Angeles.” 2012. The History Channel website. Oct 21 2012 . Tomaskovic-Devey, Donald, and Patricia Warren. “Explaining and Eliminating Racial Profiling.” Contexts. American Sociological Association, 2009. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. .
Topic: racism

The name of the book is ” Black and White”. It is written by Eric Walters. The illustrator of the book is Joe Baker. This book was published by the Penguin Group in 2009. The genre is fiction. Black and White is book about Thomas and his best friend Steve who tries to persuade him to watch girls play basketball on a sunny afternoon, and Thomas reluctantly follows him. As they started to watch the game, a black girl named Denyse caught Thomas’ eye with her basketball skills.
Topic: racism

On a Friday night, through a series of funny coincidences because they had a lot in common, they end up going to the movies together, and affectionate feelings develop between them. After confessing their love for each other during a ski trip, but start to encounter racial problems. They cannot understand what the big deal is, but the pressure of this relationship break them apart. I would definitely recommend this book to everybody and I would rate this book 9/10.
Topic: racism

Also, it is a nice book to read for Black History Month. It’s perfectly suitable for a young age group, with a complete lack of swearing for example but I think this book is perfect for normal ten years and up because the book has some high vocabulary. I don’t think audience under 10 might be able to understand so it’s good for middle school kids and up. I think the author’s point of view was that love is blind, no matter your skin colour. Definitely, this book brings racial discrimination to light.
Topic: racism

Feagin defines racism as a consistent problem that has lingered in American society since the founding of the country. There are many things that can be held accountable for this issue. Feagin’s min idea is that there is a different state of mind between the races, especially in the United States. History has proven to repeat itself as far as racism goes. There have been many changes that have pushed this country in the right direction as far as abolishing racism, but many problems are still very much alive.
Topic: racism

They have always been in power, and they have always been “higher” than any other population. It has always seemed normal to them, without considering that if they are on top, it is not possible for everyone else to be. What needs to happen is a double consciousness for white, as well as everyone else. By white people acknowledging that there is a problem that is continuing day in and day out as far as racism is concerned, that there will be more focus on trying to fix it. Without being aware, there is no way to fix the issue.
Topic: racism

The same goes for the white population. It seems that it is easier for oppressors and victims alike to pretend that there is not an issue. A common theme here is the lack of knowledge. I must also admit that I too am guilty of an unaware racist ideal. It easy to believe that since racism is technically against the law, therefore it can’t exist. I would also be wrong if I did not also admit that there has been much improvement in this country concerning racism. However, the problem is far from being fixed.
Topic: racism

Being a sociology major, as well as having an extreme interest and background in criminology, it would be impossible for me to say that this is not an ongoing issue. In my first college writing and research class at Carlow, I focused my term research paper on racial profiling by the police. When beginning my research, I thought for sure that I would prevail in believing that it cannot happen much more to other races as it does to whites. Unfortunately I was very wrong, and in doing my research I proved that there is a serious racial profiling problem in the criminal justice system.
Topic: racism

I will admit that I find it to be heartbreaking and ridiculously disastrous. It is hard for me to rationalize what exactly is the basis of the racism still alive today. These people are no longer slaves. The law prevents harassment due to race. The law also prevents racial bias in the work place. It is an unfortunate situation. Fixing it will not be easy, but I do believe that it needs done. I hope that eventually we will come to an understanding as a country that a problem is still at our feet. Until then, there needs to be some serious focus on awakening the justice within each and every one of us.
Topic: racism

Page 1: The significance of the first chapters title “Born to Belonging” is that quite actually whites won’t be questioned about whether they are worthy of to be here, living in this condition. They will not be questioned about how they got such wealth and it is simple for them to get this wealth. For instance, his grandfather Jacob with his great principles was able to encounter success. His success sees typical. Nevertheless, there are many individuals of color who have great or much better work ethics than Jacob and still they are not recognized or reach success due to the fact that they aren’t “Born to Belonging”.
Topic: racism

Page 2-3: Tim Wise’s main theme/subject is the reality that white people are literally as his title claims born to belonging in the United States. He is explaining about his life and how he was born to be accepted into the society that we live in even when he isn’t high class. He is stating that even if he wasn’t rich, heterosexual, or male he would still be in a better position due to the fact that he was white.
Topic: racism

Page 3-4: Tim’s response to the fact that white people are diverse is this. Yes they are diverse. All people are different. They all had different experiences and they have all lived different lives. However, they are all placed in the same level because of their whiteness. He compares white people to snowflakes. All the snowflakes are different, however they all have the same experiencing of landing. So even if all white people live differently they all are still placed above the people of color and have benefits given to them that are similar. Page 5-6: Wise’s ancestor Ephraim McLean became a landowner with his move to America.
Topic: racism

Before that they had lived in Scotland as a prosperous clan who lost all they had in the military defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie. The McLeans would gather and then move to America. In America Ephraim gained twelve thousand acres of land in Nashville and North Carolina. They, in Tim’s idea, gained more money by “surveying the land”, relieving the soldiers, and cheating the natives. Page 7-8: In page 7 wise explains about how his Jewish ancestor, Jacob, worked extremely hard, putting in 18 hours of work a day and literally just pushing as hard as he can in order to make his have a chance to live.
Topic: racism

He was even able to send his son to a university and make the living space for his children at least comfortable. They have also established a successful liquor business. However, Wise says that even though Jacob worked hard he was able to succeed this much and this easily (well it wasn’t easy) not only because of his hard work but also because of his whiteness. There were surely other people of color who worked hard and even harder than Jacob but because of their color they could not conform and be seen as white while Jacob could. Page 9: The difference is this.
Topic: racism

The first experience of racial others is the experience or event in which a white person meets or sees a person of color for the first time in real life. Either their first encounter with someone of different race or their first realization that there were people of other races. The first experience of race is the actual experience in seeing that race makes a difference. By the mere fact of seeing someone of a different race for the first time or being isolated from other races is experiencing race because these things happen because of race.
Topic: racism

Page 9-13: He first starts how he was privileged as a white by talking about how he his family was able to easily gain an apartment with the help of his grandfather, who was established way before because he was white. Also the complex was segregated at first and so even after the end of the “apartheid” it was still hard for the people of color to come in. He then talks about how he was able to gain a sweet job which would lead to his stardom as an antiracist activist. But the only way he ever got this job was because he knew two people. Two people he met a Tulane, his college.
Topic: racism

And the fact that he was able to go to Tulane was in itself because of white privilege. It was because he was white that his mother was able to easily gain a loan. And this loan was only gained because his mother’s family being white was able to have a house to use for collateral for the loan. -The last paragraph is trying to show white people to open their eyes and help out the movement for antiracism. Many white people talk about how all this is in the past and so they never got the benefit from it. But what Tim is saying is even then the things that their ancestors had is passed down to future generations.
Topic: racism

It is not like these things just disappear after they die. And so whites have an upper hand. This means that it isn’t fair and so white people should be helping out to break this racist system. Privilege Page 15-17: a) White privilege is literally ingrained into the school curricula. First it is the white kids who are placed in advanced classes, segregated from the people of color so that it is only the white kids who get a better education or at least one that is more meaningful. Then most school activities are based around white culture, ostracizing the colored community.
Topic: racism

Also the curriculum in school is very Eurocentric. The history being mostly from the European point of view. This ingrain of white privilege in schools factor into the attitudes of the teachers. They punish African American children harder than the white children even if the crime of the white kid is harsher than that of the African american kid. b) I think this is very true. I mean if you look these days all the advanced classes are filled with Asians and Whites. Even our magnet program which is supposed to have more “minorities” than whites is obviously overpopulated by whites.
Topic: racism

And in the past when I got into fights with black kids I was the one who was always let off easily. Sure I might not be white but it shows that there is still a sense of privilege. Because whites see Asians as higher than blacks and not being ethnocentric but it is true. Although whites don’t really have the backs of asian they put us in a position where we are seen as higher than blacks. Even in school today I can ditch my classes and walk around without a pass and not be questioned while the Hispanic kid right next to me will gain negative attention by the administrators.
Topic: racism

b) Well it kind of seems true. Even for JROTC I see this. In JROTC there is a group of people called the All-City Staff which consist of the top ten cadets in the district. Well I am part of the group and we had to entertain a few “high” officials, including the superintendent during a Military Ball. Well the only white cadet in our group was placed with the supposedly “more” important people including the superintendent. I’m not saying that the personal, an army colonel and master sergeant (both high in rank), weren’t of any importance because I had quite a conversation with the colonel.
Topic: racism

I mean literally I’m not stupid but I act it and even then a lot of people say that I’m still smart. I don’t get great grades but somehow I’m advance in my classes. Sure I am not white but even then being a few level higher in the minority chain I get more benefits. Page 23-27: a) What Wise finally understands after his playground experience is the fact that those children of color understand, know, and felt race even before he heard about it. They felt it before any other white children had and so they were able to pull a prank like that on Tim.
Topic: racism

The two children used the word, the very taboo word to even whites, in a way that only those who have actually experienced being treated that way could use. They knew it’s meaning and knew how to use it. And then after this even Tim regained his power. Although at the playground he had no power once in the classroom he had full control. b) It’s kind of sad that kids have to know about racism or even know that they are going to be hated and discriminated against. That they are already having to fight the system and that they know that they are already at a disadvantaged.
Topic: racism

Page 31-35: a) Wise believes that debate is a white activity because first off the fact that it is a costly activity makes it some what exclusive to the higher class. Tournaments and camps and letterman jackets are so costly that a low working class would not be able to participate. And usually those who could afford were rich and white because they had the system that had built up their wealth from past generations. Also whites can actually look at war, racism, starvation, and other world issues that they are not facing as a game.
Topic: racism

They could use fake I. D. s and get high as much as they wanted too. Even then all that happened was that the cops would cruise by and tell then to pipe down for the neighbors. However if it was in a black or latino community the response would be totally different. Also the fake I. D. s made by whites were hard to catch and once caught was let off so easily. Wise talks about how in college he started smoking weed like crazy and about how all the other white kids were like that too. The black kids however were scared and amazed at what the white kids did. The whites were going full out with bongs, pipes, everything.
Topic: racism

b) This is bullshit. I wish I could drink as under age and not worry about anything. I’m not saying that I drink a lot or anything, I don’t. I’m more into wine and such than hard liquor and beer so I don’t have to worry about getting arrested for under aged drinking but just the fact that whites can do this and get away with it is bs. And the fact that blacks and latinos get blamed for drugs and are stereotyped as druggie is bs as well.
Topic: racism

Page 38-50: a) Whites are not racially profiled in our society. As Wise tells of about how he was able to go to someone’s house, anyone’s house, when he was lost and ask if he could use the phone. But obviously if a black man asked the same thing the response would probably have been totally different. Also the fact that after 9/11 whites have immediately (not only whites but colored people as well) have immediately began to racially profile all Arabic, Muslim, or Eastern Asians as terrorists who were going to bomb their plane. Even when there was a lot of whites who did things as bad or even worse as the “terrorists”.
Topic: racism

They have little or no role models to help them decide where to start and what the have to do to effectively fight this system. There are barely any well known white anti-racists and so it makes the new recruits feel like outcasts. Then there is the problem with the family. Most white families are socialized to believe that there is either no racism or that it is okay. They believe that whites are superior and that it is okay to leave it this way. They are afraid of talking to their friends about race in fear of being pushed aside.
Topic: racism

b) It is sad that it is this hard for whites to resist racism. I can almost connect because in a sense there is a complaint that Asians don’t participate in civil right movements. This is true but I mean who can we really connect to? In the African American and Latino community there is a line of examples and they all contributed greatly to the civil rights movements. But Asians we don’t have civil rights activists. I mean sure we had a long line of freedom fighters who fought against Japanese and Chinese invaders. But this was to protect Korean soil. So I can kind of relate.
Topic: racism

Culture is the set of values and ideals unique to a certain group, community, or race. Here, the members find validation of their behavior, reactions to specific issues, and ways of dealing with life in general. With culture comes tradition, which is an acknowledged ritual or concept followed by a specific community that signifies their identity. Within these parameters, various expressions are created in forms that lend themselves to communication, such as music. The blues are both vocal and instrumental music forms, composed on the basis of blue notes.
Topic: racism

The early manifestations of the blues are shouts, chants, hollers, and rhymed ballads, which are the roots of popular music categories such as bluegrass, R & B, and jazz. With the term ‘blue’ originally used to refer to depression and melancholia during the Elizabethan era, and the term ‘blues’ credited in 1807 to writer Washington Irving (Baker, 1995-2004), blues music is owned and started by an ethnic group of a particular era—the African-American slaves.
Topic: racism

The hardship and suffering jointly experienced by African-American slave families brought about the need for self-expression, for a way to communicate their sorrow without resorting to resistance or physical violence. Deprivation of a birth date and a name, a recognized structure of family and legal rights gave them less stature than an ordinary human being. This was only resolved when the deprived Africans finally recognized the relationships imposed upon them, and subsequently realized that they are not the barbarians they were made to be—the actual barbarians were the masters who caused their deprivation (Gates, 1987).
Topic: racism

Thus, to provide an outlet for their grief—over backs breaking under the heat of the sun, the rape of women, the death of a child, the murder of men—these African-American slaves resorted to oral expression, by way of wailing, howling, and hollering. With their roots in the drum-beating tribes of Africa, the blues came to life. The blues are the definite collective expression of generations of black Americans subjected to the unjust politics followed at the time; these are representative of their character and ideology as members of the lowest social class in 19th century America.
Topic: racism

This music began as folk tunes sang by both men and women in the cotton plantations of the 1890s South, and traveled through the next four decades until it came into fruition in the ghettos of urban cities. Therefore, the blues tradition symbolizes and works with the social conditions and transformation of consciousness of working-class African-Americans during this time (Barlow, 1989). One does not have to be African-American to experience the blues, but it takes an African-American to appropriately sing the blues—as it is part of their history.
Topic: racism

The popular names of Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and Robert Johnson bring about the music of a generation of blacks, communicating through sound and lyrics the melancholy of history and remembrance. Robert Johnson’s “Crossroad Blues” () contain allusions to escape, as well as mentions of several men’s names, depict the sordid reality of African-Americans in the mid-1930s, when most Southern states still followed the racist traditions of separation and quasi-slavery.
Topic: racism

Every move made by blacks, particularly black men, was followed and judged by traditionalist whites—causing African-Americans to be beset by fear and paranoia all the time. Johnson’s song contains the blues’ signature repetition of lines, as well as the stereotyped ‘black’ language in the use of words like ‘gonna’ and ‘I haven’t got no sweet lovin’ woman’, as well as non-words like ‘uumh’. This reflects a language style unique to blacks, used to this day, aptly pronounced with an accent that is undeniably southern.
Topic: racism

The music lived on and the social issues have changed and evolved, and, while it still exists in some areas, racism is no longer a major national concern. Though the blues indeed had their beginnings with the problem of slavery, it was, in the end, the universal emotions of love, pain, and sadness that caused the emergence of blues as a culture. III. Remembering Through Music Remembrance is essential in the African-American culture, because this is what defined them as a people.
Topic: racism

The pain and suffering brought upon by slavery created concepts and ideals that needed to be passed on to the coming generations; the result was a collection of musicians whose passion was for cultural preservation. The black lifestyle of the period was documented through songs, complete with stories about people and events that expressed their feelings about their conditions. Field hollers were used by plantation workers to communicate with each other, and slaves made use of work songs as a means to measure time allotted for chores.
Topic: racism

Most often, the pieces were quite short, only to reflect the workers’ mood and identity. These early forms never really became actual songs, but they share the same conventions and purpose with the blues. The call-and–response style present in these old formats can still be found in the blues, except that the response was also made by the blues singer himself or herself (McElrath, 2008). Outside of the slave experience, many elements that define the blues are still autobiographical, with very specific references to desire.
Topic: racism

Most blues lyrics appear to be sexual in nature, and are personal expressions of emotions such as betrayal, loneliness, and unrequited love. Unlike regular songs, the original blues had irregular rhythm and often copied speech patterns—examples of which are the blues songs recorded in the 1920s and 30s by iconic blues artists Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Charley Patton, and Robert Johnson (Baker, 1995-2004).
Topic: racism

“If you believe that discrimination exists, it will.” -Anthony J. D’Angelo. Discrimination has actually been around given that the start of time. In Harper Lee’s unique, To Eliminate a Mockingbird, the storyteller, a girl by the name of Scout, concerns understand all of the different types of discrimination. Her daddy Atticus is an attorney and fights for the rights of others; Scout is taught by her father at a young age, that discrimination is erroneous. With the guidance of her dad, she sees what can happen when prejudice mindsets are taken too far, and how it can impact the lives of individuals.
Topic: racism

Consequently, when individuals drop the requirement to mention others differences and judge them on superficial things, individuals have a much better understanding of one another. Frequently in life, individuals do things without fully considering the consequences and how it will impact the other person. This is the very first instinct, and usually happens naturally without fully believing it through. However, this harms the person emotionally, and produces things like racial stress. Eventually, individuals discriminate because they are insecure, and feel the requirement to feel better about themselves. Individuals also feel the need to point out another’s differences due to the fact that they are odd to them, and do not totally understand the beauty of being unique.
Topic: racism

Equality between men and women is probably the oldest type of discrimination there is. Women have been treated without respect, due to their gender. Women are expected to act proper, and to do what they’re told. Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird, gender discrimination is prevalent with the character Scout. Her aunt Alexandra constantly points out the fact that Scout’s behavior is very unladylike. Alexandra is quick to call out at the fact that Scout should wear dresses and not her overalls. This becomes hurtful to Scout because all she wants is her aunt’s love and approval. Scout also starts to become citizen by her brother. He constantly rags on her because she’s a girl. When the children are younger, Scout is seen more as her brother’s equal, but as Jem matures and grows apart, he too becomes more critical of Scout’s behavior and actions.
Topic: racism

“Scout, I’m tellin‘ you for the last time, shut your trap or go home—I declare to the Lord you’re gettin’ more like a girl every day!” –Jem Finch. Jem uses this as a derogatory term towards Scout, because he knows that she takes offense to it. When Jem uses this, Scout immediately does what Jem wants because she’s too proud to back down, and loves to prove Jem wrong. Jem is showing superiority because he is her older brother, and also the fact he is male. When Jem starts to grow up and grows apart from Scout, he tells her she needs to grow up and start acting like a girl. This hurts Scout because she takes pride in her tomboy attitude, but also the fact that she has acted more like a male to gain her brother’s respect. Lee sets the novel in Alabama in the 1930’s to show the importance of acting like a southern belle.
Topic: racism

The ladies are well dressed, have social clubs, and know their place within society. Through Scout’s experience, racial prejudice is the main type of discrimination, but Lee is showing that gender discrimination has the same amount of impact. She’s also showing that becoming prejudice starts at a young age. Scout is only six when her family starts to voice their opinions on her behavior and attempting to change who she is as a person. This leads Scout to have to cling on to what makes her unique, and also makes her resentful towards her aunt and brother throughout the book. While Scout personally encounters gender discrimination, it does not have the greatest impact on her.
Topic: racism

“What good is social class and status? Truthfulness is measured within. Pride in one’s status is like poison – holding it in your hand and eating it, you shall die.” Status is something that the individual craves. The ability to be taken into consideration and listened to because you have some sort of power. There are people high on the status scale, and then you have those who sit in on the bottom; these people are known as trash. People are disgusted to see them, and usually cannot even bare to look at them. People do whatever they have to do to reach the top; lie, cheat, steal, just to have some pride within themselves. Though, if the individual has to sin in order to get there, how much pride would people really have? Others hurt and sacrifice members of the human race without realizing how much damage they have done.
Topic: racism

Humanity repeatedly hurts one other and becoming further apart. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout encounters social status discrimination when she decides that she’s going to befriend Walter Cunningham after feeling bad about being prejudice toward him. Her aunt Alexandra, stops Scout saying that Walter wasn’t suitable enough to play with, based on his upbringings. “The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem”. This confuses Scout because she’s finally made a grownup decision, and because Walter is white. Scout understands that Walter was raised differently than her, but does not care. She is a child and just wants to make friends. In the town of Maycomb, the Ewells are considered the town’s white trash. They live next to the town dump, have little money, and no mother. The kids are uneducated, the father is an alcoholic, and spends the relief checks on alcohol. When Mayella kisses Tom, her father is extremely upset, and Mayella regrets her actions. She blames Tom for her actions because she is too ashamed to admit it to herself.
Topic: racism

Mayella uses this as an excuse as an attempt to keep her dignity, and not to fall any lower on the social ladder. Lee is showing that every human needs to be understood and accepted. Through the character Mayella, she shows a girl that is hungry for love and attention, and a burning desire to be accepted within society. Though Mayella is doing this to protect herself, Atticus manages to expose her to the people of Maycomb. Mayella will never be like a Finch. “As you grow older you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, of how fine a family he comes from, that white man will always be trash.” -Atticus Finch. Mayella
Topic: racism

Throughout the book, Scout has come into context with discrimination. Scout learns that discrimination can hurt and affects the lives of people, and the only way to change it is to not be a part of it. Atticus is a big influence in Scout’s life with this. He shows her that she needs to be the bigger person. Racial discrimination. One of the most felt hates around the world. People are judged because of their ethnicity and heritage, and not on what kind of person they are. Racial discrimination was popular in the Southern States before and after slavery was abolished. Even after slavery was abolished, Caucasians felt the need to show African Americans that in no way were, or would they ever be equal. Caucasians felt that they were better than African Americans because of their skin color and felt the need to treat them with absolutely no respect. Caucasians called African Americans were called hurtful names such as “darkie”, “nigger”, and “negroe” without realizing the .
Topic: racism

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, racial discrimination is very prevalent in the character’s hometown, Maycomb. Racism becomes recognizable during Tom Robinson’s trial. Tom is convicted of raping Mayella Ewell, even though Atticus had proven that Tom was innocent and the jury had limited evidence to prove Mayella innocent. Atticus says he has never had a jury consider a black man’s case as they did with Tom’s. The jury knew what was right, but still went with the knowledge that they’ve always known, not trying to challenge it.
Topic: racism

The jury hurt Tom and his family by convicting him. Tom lost his self-worth, and his family would have to live without their father and his financial support. Scout is also guilty of being racist. Throughout the book, Scout uses the term, “nigger,” a couple of times. Scout picked up these terms at school, where these kids had learned them from their parents. In the novel, Lee is trying to point out how society, and parents poison the minds of young children. Kids are not born prejudice, they are either influenced by their peers or parents. These kids grow with the attitude that this behavior is acceptable because that is all they have ever known. These kids grow into adults and they use their racism as an excuse to attempt to raise themselves higher on the social scale.
Topic: racism

Many of us cannot count the amount of people that we’ve hurt on our hands. People have hurt others in many different ways, whether it be with words or physical actions. Society does not stop to think of how this will affect the victim with their violence. It is an initial action to just prejudge others before even getting to know them. These people have to live with the hurt that has been inflicted on them, and the constant reminder that they are considered worthless. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout realizes the damage that discrimination can do to others. This teaches Scout to take others feelings into consideration and learn to empathize.
Topic: racism

Scout also decides that she wants to start to make a change. Scout refuses to use hurtful terms and learns not to judge others before she gets to fully know them. When people learn to accept others for who they are, or even taking the time to sit and consider what it is like to be that person, they fully do not understand how they effect and seriously hurt others. If people sat down and considered the consequences of their actions and words, people would connect to each other better. As the great character Atticus Finch once said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
Topic: racism

Abstract This paper is about my reflection of White Privilege in the United States. I got my information from four resources. The first resource was the handout provided for this assignment; White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh. The second resource was the website, www. jstor. com. Access is provided via Northeastern State University as a resource for peer-reviewed articles. Thirdly, the textbook, Cultural Diversity, by Jerry Diller was used as a resource. The fourth resource is the most important, in my opinion.
Topic: racism

This is an opinion/reflection paper; therefore the mind of the author is most definitely significant. The paper is a reflection of how I feel after reading Peggy McIntosh’s handout. White Privilege: Reflection Paper Race is obviously still a huge issue within the United States. Not only do we have racism against people of color, but white people are coming into more racism and hate than ever before. The reason for this is because the rapid changes in what race is the majority and what race is the minority.
Topic: racism

We live in a country where everyone has the same chances. Some have harder roads to travel down, and I’m not going to say that some don’t have it easier than others. I however do not feel that it is mostly whites that have it easier than colored people. I know many white people who have struggled their entire life with hate, society, economics, etc. I know many colored people who have had a great privileged life. It goes hand in hand. Due to the lives that our families before us lead, we will be given different paths to success. Although they are different, we all can achieve the same goals.
Topic: racism

I am a huge supporter of helping out people who truly need help, but I am also a huge supporter of getting off of handouts and helping your own self. It’s really hard to see our country turning to be a welfare nation. The struggling is true for all races, so no one should feel obliged to be taken care of, or given things just because they are a minority. “Few white are aware of the benefits they receive simply from being white and that their actions, without malicious intent, may undermine the well-being of people of color. ” (Puldio, 2000) What about the other way around?
Topic: racism

There are many privileges that people of color get that white people have no chance at getting. For instance, when I was nineteen, I had to have pre-cancerous lesions removed from me. I had no medical insurance, so the hospital forced me to apply for a medical card. I called to see what I needed to do. The lady on the phone was rude, impatient, and uncaring. She asked me three simple questions. First questions was, are you a minority? Second question was, are you pregnant? Third question was, are you a single mother? My answer, to all three questions, was no.
Topic: racism

She responded with a laugh stating that I definitely did not qualify for one, and I didn’t qualify for any other assistance either. So even though I was nineteen, a full-time above average college student, a full-time worker, and had pre-cancerous lesions I didn’t qualify because I wasn’t a minority, pregnant or a single mother. That is terrible. If anyone deserved it, it was me. I had worked since sixteen, and had paid money into the systems that were now denying me assistance. Although the minority, pregnant, uneducated people of the world could get all the free help they applied for.
Topic: racism

Like I said, I do agree with helping those in true need of assistance. However, there are too many people who are cradle to grave welfare recipients, and that just isn’t right. Somewhere in the system there needs to be a program in assisting those to get off of the system. According to Peggy McIntosh, her reasons for feeling that whites have privileges were legitimate reason, like I said, fifty or sixty years ago. For instance, “I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
Topic: racism

” (McIntosh) This is a true statement for all races. The United States has done a good job at trying to display all races equally in public broadcasting and publishing. She also says that if she was to move, her neighbors would more than likely be pleasant with her. This also isn’t true for white people. I lived in a predominately white small town, and my neighbor legitimately hated my family. I never knew why, but she would do things that were dangerous to my family. The only thing we could think of was because we were Catholic. That’s the only thing that was different about us.
Topic: racism

We even had African American neighbors also, and this lady was nice to them. One time she even lit a match and threw it in a pile of mulch that was five feet from our front door. These types of things happen to everyone, and everywhere. The one that gets me the most, from the article, was “I can worry about racism without being seen as self-interested or self-seeking. ” (McIntosh) This statement is so untrue for white people. Anytime we talk about anything that has to do with embracing our white culture, we are setting back other races.
Topic: racism

If white people had an organization similar to the NCAAP, it would be racists, and politically incorrect. Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton have made racism against blacks and whites a more prevalent issue, because they make every little thing about race. Even politics is all about racism. “The effects of growing up in a racist system embed racist thought and behavioral patterns deep inside. ” (Eichstedt, 2001) Although I do not agree that white privilege is an issue, I do believe that racism, among all races, is very much still an issue.
Topic: racism

It’s not just white people who are racist and prejudice. There is racism and prejudice against all. When you connect racism with power, you must reevaluate the power that is being talked about. Fear is power. I lived in a town where the African Americans would use fear to control us. White people “knew” / feared not to go east past the railroad tracks after dark. White people “knew” / feared to never play basketball at the eastside courts. White girls “knew” / feared to not look at black mean because the black women wouldn’t have it.
Topic: racism

These black people would go around using white derogatory names with no consequences due to fear. As with everything, there are always exceptions, but for the most part that was what went on in the town that I lived in, while growing up. This power by fear can come in all shapes and sizes. Racism comes from all races against all races. It is not something that only white people can be. As previously mentioned, race is, and unfortunately, probably will always be an issue in the United States. “Human beings go to great lengths to avoid new evidence that is contrary to existing beliefs and prejudices.
Topic: racism

” (Diller, 2011) The differences in other cultures tend to disgust or scare others that do not understand it. My solution, with most issues that society faces, is education. The more people can learn about others, the better we can start to not fear differences. One way to help this problem might be to make high school curriculums include two or three culture diversity classes. All in all, if we were more open to knowing what it meant by others actions and behaviors, we would more than likely become more accepting of it.
Topic: racism

Guilt is an unhappy feeling that you have done something wrong or you think you have done something wrong. Or it also refers to the fact that you’ve done something wrong. It also can be explained as the state of having committed to an offense or the remorse caused by feeling responsible foe some offense. However, white guilt is the individual or collective guilt often said to be felt by some people for the racial treatment of people of color by whites both historically and presently.