ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: racism

They asked us what we were doing there and we answered without stress that we are going to pick up a friend of us to go at the club. One of us asked us, straight up on our face, if we were not here for other illegal purpose in the neighborhood. We were still acting cool, at the same moment two others police cars pulled over. We were surprise by the number of units just for 3 people. They start searching us with some brutality and still asking stupid questions. The car also has been check. They brought a K-9 dog to search the car. We did not know what they were looking for and even if they have a warrant on us.
Topic: racism

After some so long minutes, they let us go. The think that really made us feel that we were inferior was the fact that one of the cars was following us through the neighborhood until we got out. That experience was the most shameful one I ever been into. I really hate cops since this experience. Being a minority and particularly black is not a crime. I totally presume that most of the police are like that. Racial bias and discrimination are existent in the minds of many individuals, some of whom may have, if it is at all possible, a justification for such thoughts.
Topic: racism

But when it comes to the protection and justice of a society, race should not even be an issue. The criminal justice system of today fuels its flame of democracy with decisions influenced by a certain individual’s race and stature in society, and allows these preconceptions to be the basis of such decisions. Whether it is the African American motorist being pulled over with no probable cause, or the racially spurred brutalizing by the police, racism prevails in the world of criminal justice.
Topic: racism

“Biracial children face a myriad of concerns on a daily basis. Research reveals what common sense suggests–that all these problems are rooted in racist, biased, and discriminatory social attitudes, attitudes which children encounter from their first moments of pre-school. The sense of injustice that they instinctively feel when they sense these biases will manifest out of discrimination towards one or both of their racial backgrounds, as well as towards the fact that they have more than one racial background.
Topic: racism

“Why does he hate me so much? Is it me personally or just what I am? ” I have chosen to explore the idea of prejudice (judgments of a person based on race, gender, social class, and religion or group associations. ) These themes are evident in the short film ‘Chinese Whispers’ directed by Neil Paddington and Stuart McKenzie, and in three written texts ‘Noughts and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman, ‘Patches Hide No Scars’ by Haree Williams and ‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’ by Evan Hunter.
Topic: racism

This film relates back to events in the past in ‘our’ world with issues such as discrimination and the mistreatment of people of a particular race or religion. An example of this is the class-system in America. For many years African-Americans, (like Noughts), were judged by their skin colour and treated as inferior beings. Author Malorie Blackman used specific examples from events in the Black Civil Rights movement in the novel to add impact to her novel. An example used is the pioneering achievements of Robert Peary.
Topic: racism

Examples like these show that Noughts’ achievements are undervalued or ignored because they have white skin. I strongly believe it is important for children of today to be educated on issues like these to remove all racisim. ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ states “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights…. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Topic: racism

This novel has made me believe in the importance of educating young people on events and issues, like genocide (eg the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, only 18 years ago, where an estimated 7 Tutsi citizens were brutally murdered every minute for 100 days! ) and racism, in order to prevent the future from becoming a place like in ‘Noughts and Crosses’. How are we to learn from the mistakes of mankind if we are never educated on them? “Dreams of living in a world with no more discrimination, no more prejudice, a fair police force, an equal justice system, equality of education, equality of life, a level playing field… ” His name is Andy. ”
Topic: racism

This gang related short story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” relates to the theme of prejudice by exploring the idea of lost identity through group association. At the exposition of this story, Andy (a member of the ‘Royal’ gang) is stabbed by a rival gang (‘The Guardians’) during a ‘rumble’. The plot then follows Andy’s thought path as he slowly bleeds to death. “The knife had not been plunged in hatred of Andy. The knife hated only the purple jacket. The jacket was as stupid meaningless thing that was robbing him of his life. ” Andy wears a purple silk shirt, a symbol of his membership with the ‘Royals’.
Topic: racism

In his dying moments Andy comes to the realization that people don’t see him as Andy, a human being, but a member of the ‘Royals’. At the climax of the short story Andy uses his last strength to take off the jacket so that he can be Andy again. “I want to Andy. ” Sadly, just after his death, Andy’s girlfriend Laura, finds Andy’s dead body and races off to find a police officer. The police officer sees the purple ‘Royal’ jacket next to Andy’s body, the officer then proceeds to say “A Royal, huh. ” This shows that Andy’s efforts to remove himself from the gang have failed as the police officer judges him by the sight of the jacket.
Topic: racism

The police officer associates Andy as a part of the gang the ‘Royals’ and doesn’t see him as Andy, a sixteen year old boy. This short story by Evan Hunter has shown me how easily a person’s identity can be lost through association and how people can perceive you as a member of a group not an individual because of an item of clothing. “The world didn’t know he was Andy. ” ‘Chinese Whispers’ directed by Stuart McKenzie and Neil Paddington also relates to racial prejudice or judgments based on race before actually meeting a person.
Topic: racism

The short film “Chinese Whispers” is based around Wellington teenager Vincent Chan’s struggle to fit in. Vincent confused by the two diverse aspects of his culture. At the beginning of the film Vincent lives in fear of encounters with xenophobic bogans who dislike and harass Vincent because he is Chinese. “Vincent is ashamed to be Chinese. ” Vincent feels pressure to conform to the ‘social norm’ of his age group. He turns his back on his father’s cultural ways and instead joins Swan’s triad gang. Swan offers Vincent an illicit world of reward.
Topic: racism

Vincent sees this as an opportunity to stand up to xenophobic bogans but by joining the gang Vincent isolates himself from his family. Directors Neil Paddington and Stuart McKenzie use dark, blue lightening in many of the scenes in ‘Chinese Whispers’ to portray the sad, sinister world Vincent is being lured into. This is an effective visual feature because it stresses the consequences of Vincent’s decisions. An example of this is Vincent’s decision to conform to the Triad ways by taking illegal narcotics. Blue lighting is also used when Vincent’s father is sitting in a room lonely and longing for his distant son.
Topic: racism

This New Zealand film has made me more aware of the Chinese struggles in New Zealand. ‘Chinese Whispers’ has given me deep insight into the Chinese point of view and the pressures they withstand. It has shown me the importance of being accepting of minorities and their differences. Stuart McKenzie’s and Neil Paddington’s film has also shown me how important it is to end xenophobia and prejudices in order to help people like Vincent Chan to make better decisions to keep a balance between their culture and fitting in to society. All men are dangerous brutes, intruders, vagrants. ”
Topic: racism

Haree William’s poem ‘Patches Hide No Scars’ refers to young Maoris, turning their back on the way of their ancestors preferring the “direction, discipline and orders” of gang life. This New Zealand poem has captured the sad truth about the loss of the Maori culture as the lost youths turn to gang membership in a search to add meaning to their lives. ‘Patches Hide No Scars’ relates to the idea of prejudice by describing the members of Maori gangs as one group, a whole, not a group of individuals. How do we prosecute those already punished? How do we fine those lost in the street of no direction? ” Throughout this short text author Haree Williams continually uses words like ‘we’ and ‘those/them’, by doing this the gangs (‘those’) are separated from the rest of society (‘we’). By doing this Maori gangs distance from the rest of New Zealand is emphasized. This poem has raised questions to me: why do these youths find security in the rules and orders of gangs but not the rules and orders of regular jobs or life in the ‘normal’ society?
Topic: racism

And what is society doing to make the youngsters of the Maori race feel like they do not belong in society? By reading and viewing these texts, ‘Noughts and Crosses’, ‘Chinese Whispers’, “Patches Hide No Scars’ and ‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’, I have learnt of the struggles and pressures many people, fictional or not, suffer through due to the prejudices of modern society. “And just like that, I’d been assessed and judged. Nurse Fashoda didn’t know the first thing about me but she’d taken one look at my face and now she reckoned she knew my whole life story. ”
Topic: racism

Everything in the life of Troy Maxson is a big disappointment for him. And Troy is entirely discouraged that whatever and everybody about him is unreasonable, unfair and untenable. With his bosom friend, Jim Bono, they lament during their weekend drinking binge that they are trapped in an unjust work practice. They resent that they are being discriminated upon as black men and must simply be contained to lifting garbage and could not drive garbage trucks. The labor group had to sue their manager for such prejudiced acts.
Topic: racism

Troy is married to Rose and they have a boy, Cory Maxson. The dad and kid remain in consistent odds with each other. The terrible experience of Troy throughout his younger years due to being discriminated upon in the significant league– made him feel bitter that his child Cory has the chance to be hired to the college football group. Since of this chance with the league, Cory needs to quit his job with the grocers as he has to attempt out for the season video games.
Topic: racism

However, the interesting paradox is that Troy has use for Gabriel’s incapacity. Being the caretaker of Gabriel, Troy is the beneficiary of the pension of Gabriel from the army. Such money Troy uses to build his house. Troy Maxson therefore has bee in constant pursuit to be alleviated from the curse of failure, of discrimination, prejudice, of inequality. “Fences” is completely and comprehensively the story of Troy Maxon and his struggles – with his family, with himself, with his confusion in life, with his job, with his society. In dire need to be emancipated from the most traumatic
Topic: racism

And because of his confusion and frustration, he cheated and took for granted the one and only semblance of sanity and sincerity in his life – his wife Rose. Troy carried an affair with Alberta and their affair brought forth a child. However, Alberta died during childbirth. Troy eventually took Baby Raynell and begged Rose to stand as mother for the posthumous child. Because of the inert goodness on Rose, she took pity on the child and took care of her. The penultimate struggle in the story is the dragging and mind boggling delay in mending and putting up of the fence of the Maxson house.
Topic: racism

Rose struggles between Troy and Lyons and Cory to work together for once and for all to finish the fence. But all of the men in the life of Rose are preoccupied with their dreams, shattered dreams, near dreams, illusive dreams, false dreams, reachable dreams. And what is being sacrificed is the true harmony and unity of the Maxson family. Until finally Troy dies of heart attack and it was only there and then that Lyon and Cory finished the fence. The Symbolism The gnawing and complicated relationship of Troy with Rose, Lyons, Gabriel and Cory is the spring board of what the story portrays and symbolizes.
Topic: racism

Troy’s resentment about his failures makes him obstinate about the possibility of change of fate, if not for him, for his sons. Troy is perpetually a walking conflict with himself. As part of the generation in Southern America that went through the ordeal of slavery, Troy Maxson struggles to get past the trauma and disappointments. Travelling to the north full of hope to find a better life, Troy had a chance as a ball player but age defied him further glory in the major league and he ends up being a garbage man.
Topic: racism

This Troy attributes to a society that is unfair and unjust. “While African Americans who migrated north found greater political, social, and economic opportunities than they had in the South, the North did not fulfill its potential as a ‘promised land’. Blacks remained the last hired and first fired, disproportionately relegated to low-skilled and poorly paying jobs” (Levy, 1998, page 5) This made Troy conclude a dead end to the struggle for opportunity. But Lyons and Cory think otherwise. They have a definite plan and vision for their lives and future.
Topic: racism

To which Troy does not believe to be tenable because of discrimination and inequality abounds. Thus what psychologically holds Troy back is what he wants his sons to likewise be wary about. As African-Americans still struggling through civil rights in an industrial city, Troy is therefore at the same time resentful and defensive about their lives, especially that his sons are headstrong in pursuing their dreams. It is the trauma of racism and discrimination that haunts Troy. “My theory or conception of racism, therefore, has two components: difference and power.
Topic: racism

It originates from a mindset that regards ‘them’ as different from ‘us’ in ways that are permanent and unbridgeable. ” (Fredrickson, 1992, page 9) It should be further considered that Troy had a damaged and shattered relationship with his father – where all the resentment of slavery produced all the bitterness that Troy grew up with – their relationship did not nurture in Troy anything positive about human interaction. So Troy tried to make something positive rise above everything that is negative about him.
Topic: racism

The barriers that Troy consider himself in and as he compounds to everyone around him, are reflected in the struggle he went through being badly beaten by his father; his running away; his shining moment in the league; then eventually being rejected; his going to jail; then his ending up with a very menial job as garbage man. Lyons having grown up with his mother while Troy serves time in jail, gave him the impression that he can make decisions by himself. With the absence of Troy, Lyons grew up believing that he learned life his way.
Topic: racism

Nevertheless, Lyons believe that his father should still stand by him while he pursues his dream of being a musician. Lyons might depend on Troy for money, but he eventually returns the money he borrows. This means that inspite of the difficulty of his growing up years, he still wants to stay connected to his father. Cory stands by his conviction of making it big in college football even though he knows that it is a painful defiance to what his father strongly believes: that the arena sports will not treat him equally because he is black.
Topic: racism

Cory insists that the times will be different and the merits of his being an effective athlete will stand as the one and only measure that will lead him to success. Between Troy and his sons, therefore, the criss-crossing of identities transpire. They would like to make the most of whatever is positive in them and what is positive out there. Yet, the converse reality of the pain they are burdened with; the reality of social inequality; the reality of their conflicting perceptions – challenges them to rise above the occasion. The Parallelism
Topic: racism

The past of Troy Maxson is the sole parallelism that the story of Fences revolved with. The experience of Troy in the leagues made him believe that Cory would be better off to concentrate on his studies and the job with the grocers. This Troy believes is a more realistic and result oriented conduct of his life But Cory believes the times have changed from the discrepancies of the past of his father. He has seen proof that professional sports has a different perspective of the future. Cory says in Scene 3 of Act 1: “The Braves got Hank Aaron and Wes Covington.
Topic: racism

Hank Aaron hit two home runs today. That makes forty-three”. History has proven that the achievement of African Americans in the athletics stood as a paramount testimony to the changes that equal opportunities brought forth in the United States. “While Joe Louis and Jese Ownes were becoming national heroes….. the victories they wonint he boxing ring and around the track oval registered important triumps over white supremacy and the prevailing doctrine of Negro inferiority. ” (Miller, Steffen, Schafer, 2001, page 22)
Topic: racism

Troy snaps at this rationalization of Cory by declaring that Aaron is a nobody. It is because Troy could never take to heart that opportunities can become different because it hurts him that his opportunity did not bid him well. So, between Troy and Cory, their respective history is actually a parallel to their conviction of how the world is really is. This created the conflict and the distance between Troy and Cory. In the eyes of Troy, he was obedient to his father and did his responsibilities. In parallel, Troy expects Cory to do the same – and so with Lyons.
Topic: racism

In the eyes of Troy, he is just saving his sons from the heartaches of being subjected to the mercy of the “powerful whites” that will abound in their chosen endeavors. The parallel is that as he seems to be protective, Troy is destroying the potentials and opportunities of the determination and conviction of Cory and Lyons. Between Troy and Rose, their lives and choices run parallel to how they wanted to resolve their past. Troy has this illusion that he has won a battle with Death, through a physical wrestling much.
Topic: racism

In parallel, Rose corrects his illusions by reminding Troy that it was actually Troy’s battling pneumonia his success to get well. But Troy insists on his story. Everytime Troy brags about his story of winning over death, Rose simply says, like in Scene 1 of Act 1: “Troy lying”. If Troy has illusions about his overcoming death, Rose in parallel has an illusion that his hopes and success will come his winning the numbers game. And to this Troy gives back to Rose his cynicism in Scene 2, Act 1 when he tells Rose: “You ain’t doing nothing but throwing your money away.
Topic: racism

” As Troy persists on his right and ability to dream and have illusions, his family likewise persists in their right and ability to dream and have illusions. The Paradox Over and above all that transpired in the story is the extreme paradox and necessity of the fence of the Maxson house that need to be fixed. Troy, Lyons, Cory, Gabriel and Rose are all struggling with their dreams, their realities, their conflict, their symbolisms and their parallelism and yet a simple hard core necessity such as the fence of their house has been taken for granted.
Topic: racism

And the extension of such character of taking things for granted was the paradox to Troy’s high strung idealism of resentments: which is his lesser than commendable indiscretion and injustice to the goodness of his wife. Troy, upon his admitting to Rose his affair with Alberta, rationalizes in Scene 1, Act 2 that being with Alberta gives him a sense of accomplishment and relief from responsibility and he says: “Then when I saw that gal, I got to thinking that if I tried, I just might be able to steal second”.
Topic: racism

And yet, inspite of the pain that this infidelity brought to Rose, she took heart and accepted Raynell, the daughter of Troy and Alberta – whose birth caused the death of Alberta. The paradox of the reality of being cheated upon and the reality of doing good to an innocent infant is the exemplification of the possibilities of equality and justice and fairness to come about. Finally, the death by heart attack of Troy is the ultimate paradox that moved his family to finally finish putting up the fence. Wilson, August. “Fences”. 1 June 1986 Plume Publishing
Topic: racism

A variety of factors within our society prevent equal opportunity. We still live in a racialized society where the color of our skin often determines how we are treated. Many white people do not recognize, or want to recognize that race still significantly impacts lives. Many white people are taught growing up not to think as racial beings, and this may contribute to many denying the privileges that go along with being white. Historically, the goal for equality and opportunity for everyone has not always existed and this has caused a heavy influence on society today.
Topic: racism

A lack of understanding and recognition of unearned privilege may lead us to lack a desire to create a diverse atmosphere, and ways we can be more aware. White privilege may affect how we interact with each other and how those who do not share such advantages are affected. Some question, if white privilege still exists, and if it’s that big of a deal. And, if so, how can we work on reducing these effects? The idea of white privilege is said to divide whites and blacks into their own economic categories.
Topic: racism

While white people are given opportunities and benefits, dark colored skin people may be at a disadvantage to these opportunities and benefits. “Many analysis of white privilege interpret whiteness as an intangible economic good” ( Black Reconstruction in America: W. E. B. Du Bois. ). White privilege is the original form of racism that has existed throughout much of American history. Race has been used to define cultural categories of ‘white’ and ‘non-white’ human beings. Whites were defined as being the superior species and blacks were considered inferior and incapable of advancing themselves.
Topic: racism

The history of this way of thinking and racism go back hundreds of years and is the foundation of white privilege. Institutions gave preferential treatment to people whose ancestors came from Europe compared to people whose ancestors came from Asia and Africa. The white class was granted political and economic rights that people of color were denied. These past laws and the idea of race is what have directly contributed to our social inequalities, but do social inequalities currently exist? Many people today will contest that white privilege does in fact still exist.
Topic: racism

Most often, the person contesting is a white person being accused of enjoying social privilege simply because they are white. White privilege is a term that universally describes and views all white people as being granted with these advantages, but the majority of white people have to work hard to get to the position they desire. These positions aren’t reserved based on the color of our skin. We aren’t born with the right for a free ride, and we earn our way up just as any other person has to. This seems to be accurate and may give a quality argument to white privilege.
Topic: racism

Although, for white people born with greater resources it may be hard to see, and may not feel privileged or more powerful than others. Growing up comfortable and privileged may just be a way of life that we take for granted, unconsciously knowing we do. “Many people are unaware of their preferences for lighter skin” (The Persistent Problem of Racism: Skin tone, Status and Inequality. 238). Those who do enjoy these white privileges, it’s just normal. However; white privilege does vary depending on many factors. This may include sex, age, socioeconomic status and others.
Topic: racism

White skin may in fact be the favored group in our society. Statistics have shown white men and women hold more power positions than black men and women. We may be unaware that being white matters, but we still participate, intentionally or not. In her essay Seeing and Making Culture, Hooks, describes what it is like growing up poor. She says, “Many middle class black folks have no money because they regularly distribute their earnings among a larger kinship group where folks are poor and destitute” (IAW. 433). As I read this essay I noticed the terms ‘black’ and ‘white’ were used many times to describe a person.
Topic: racism

Also, it was as if she was implying most black people are poor and white people portray an economic class privilege image. She does acknowledge white poor people, but seems to focus on being black and poor. She explains what college was like as a young black girl, and says, “Students in the dormitory were quick to assume that anything missing had been taken by the black and Filipina women who worked there” (IAW. 433). The essays claim is the way we see and judge poor people, but it makes an attempt to acknowledge disadvantaged poor black people as well. This is an example of the way humans group other humans, stereotyping by race.
Topic: racism

As a white person we may feel being viewed as white and privileged people will automatically think we are spoiled jerks. The creation of our system in which race codes superiority over others has been bestowed upon us. Even though it’s confusing it’s purposeful American history. We must remind ourselves this system is not based on each individual white persons intentions to continue claiming that white privilege is rightly ours. Regardless of our personal intent the effects are the same. Our society, throughout history, sees white as normal and all other races as different from normal.
Topic: racism

Today, white people’s privileges may be something we cannot not get. For example, if I buy a box of band aids that say flesh color, I know it means the color of my white skin. White people have been educated to understand our culture and our race as being the social norm. Social norm is defined as beliefs within a society of appropriate behavioral expectations. An example of behavioral expectations of our white society is a young white boy reading a book as the social norm, but a young black boy reading a book is ‘acting white’. The white boy seemingly normal but the black boy performing a ‘white persons’ behavior.
Topic: racism

Comedian Chris Rock often talks of white privilege, and uses the issue in his stand-up routines almost always. At one point he says to an audience of many white people, “None of ya would change places with me! And I’m rich! That’s how good it is to be white! It’s not like slavery ended and then everything has been amazing” (Chris Rock. About America). Even in an interview about life as a comedian he says, “Black people have first- hand knowledge on racism” (Chris Rock. Hilarious Interview). Racism is so deeply rooted in our society. Is it even possible for people of any skin color to just look at people as humans?
Topic: racism

It is assumed, no matter our skin color, we gravitate to people who look like ourselves. This includes personality, religion, morals as well as features. We are naturally attracted and comfortable with people who resemble ourselves. This seems like a normal behavior. It doesn’t necessarily mean we dislike other races. Regardless of skin color, people who are white/black/brown, all discriminate against other races and cultures. Most all humans are guilty of making judgments against another before knowing or learning anything about the person. This applies to people of all groups and of any color for many different reasons.
Topic: racism

It is an unconscious act, and a part of our human nature. White privilege is an unwilling and non-owned racism that has been ingrained into our mindset throughout history. Racism comes from both sides. People of all colors are continuing these behaviors and racism continues to be a modern day battle. Racism is affecting us all. If white privilege is inequality among races it is creating dysfunctional relationships between races. Many black people feel white people have an obligated duty to clean up the racist messes they have created throughout history.
Topic: racism

People with dark skin have negative feelings toward people with light skin for slavery and civil rights. How is this fair? Most people dislike racism, and this includes white people. Our society has created a practice of stereotyping into categories by skin color. Many white people feel targeted for their white privilege. Are we in denial white privilege still exists, or is it a misunderstanding? It has been said an advantage of white privilege is white people having more wealth that is being passed from generation to generation. We benefit from this financial assistance giving white people a better starting point in life.
Topic: racism

Although, in my experience, my family and ancestors have worked hard for their money and some of my family living in poverty. I have not benefited from any wealth being passed down to me. Throughout history white people have worked hard and in return they claim the land and wealth. Is white privilege today being confused for cultural differences, or are we taught not to recognize it? “Many white Americans have lived under the assumption that if they worked hard, they would be rewarded. Now more white Americans are sharing unemployment lines with “those people” – black and brown” (Tim Wise.
Topic: racism

White Like Me. ). People of color say they worry about being discriminated against for the color of their skin. They feel disadvantaged when seeking housing, employment or simply shopping in stores. They feel they have worked just as hard as white people, but they still don’t make it to their level of success. Also saying having light skin is one less worry white people have, and People who are poor and white, still have the benefit of ‘looking white’ and the advantages that come along with having white skin. White people have even claimed the identity of who we are as Americans.
Topic: racism

It seems history continues to echo, making ‘white’ the default race in America. There are Asian Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans and Americans, and we automatically assume American is a Caucasian person, without adding something extra to the name. It seems white dominates the American population. A white American is considered to be the model race. It has been consistent that white is the national identity. White people are the majority in most regions. We have stayed confined in a world that doesn’t challenge this distribution of power and this allows continued inequality and injustice in the United States.
Topic: racism

Shouldn’t we understand there’s only one race, the human race? As humans we are different. We have different hair color, eye color, personality and skin color. “The accident of where one is born is just that, an accident” (IAW. 669). Is the idea of different races ignorant thinking, I mean we can all reproduce with one another! My first day of high school I was surprised when I stepped out of my mother’s car and looked around to see the majority of students were black or brown. I have to admit I was a bit intimidated. I was worried I may not fit in. This high school was very multicultural.
Topic: racism

Still today, when I tell people where I went to high school they may make a racist joke, or say, “oh the gangster school”. I get irritated, because it’s a typical stereotype. My experience was ok. I had friends with brown, black and white skin. We all came from different backgrounds, but we were all very close friends, and most of us are still today. Some of my dark skinned friends would joke around and call me white devil or white girl. It was ok and considered normal for the dark skinned kids to make jokes about the white kids, but NOT ok for the white kids to make jokes about brown/black kids.
Topic: racism

Although, we made friendships work, the white kids never completely fit in to the cliques. We were the ‘white’ boy or girl of the group. “Back when television was dominant, young whites could consume black style and expressive culture” (IAW. 514). This describes almost every white boy or girl, and my high school experience. And now today, “the racial perceptions and biases we develop in our off-line lives, they conclude, likely creep into our online lives” (IAW. 515). So, just like my real-life high school experience, it has continued into our new age technologically advanced generation, where social media is taking over.
Topic: racism

Myspace and facebook are the new age cliques. And, as in the real world, is racially divided. It is being said more white people are using facebook and darker skinned people are using myspace. “Researchers began to ponder how social inequalities impact engagement with the internet” (IAW. 506). Social media mirrors our social divides in the real physical world. People migrate towards others who share the same values and beliefs, and who they are most comfortable interacting with. “Social inequalities still matter in the physical world. And as we are learning they also matter in the virtual world” (IAW. 507).
Topic: racism

This novel attempts to reflect at the domination of American society by the white man, and attempts to discover his own identity by looking at his mother’s past: the life of Ruth McBride, a Polish-Jewish immigrant in the South of the 1930s, beset by constant intimidation and violence of the white majority to other racial minorities, especially to Jewish immigrants and to the blacks, who were historically imported by white plantation owners to work as slaves in cotton plantations.
Topic: racism

The first chapter, entitled Dead, describes the Jewish origin of Ruth, and offers a glimpse of the discrimination that they are already experiencing; and she further becomes “dead” due to her marriage to Dennis McBride, whose race is officially viewed as inferior, and whose race is a victim of an officially-sponsored racial segregation (McBride, n. pag. ). Given that the background of the family of Ruth comes from a conservative one, guided by orthodox Jewish practices, choosing to marry a colored one surely brings in discrimination by society and rejection of the family.
Topic: racism

In this case, it can be clearly seen that in America of the early twentieth century, your race can actually determine the way you live; being a colored can make you have a miserable life constantly under threat and looked down, even when you may live in the “land of the free. ” This theme continues in the second and third chapters, where the bicycle of Ruth became a medium where she can find constant movement away from the troubles of living a multi-racial family, all while her son James already looked into crime and drugs for escape (McBride, n. ag. ). Ruth also recalls the origins of her family, as symbolized by the Kosher, where Jews are already suffering from discrimination and intimidation in their native land, and where immigration and the practices of orthodox Judaism serves as a convenient escape from the racial discrimination that they are experiencing (McBride, n. pag. ). Such experiences vividly explore the hardships of belonging to a hated race, where escape is a necessary thing.
Topic: racism

The point of view of James is also seen in this chapter; James recall that he sees her mother as different at such an early age, although he really cannot fully comprehend why in fact she is different from others. This is highlighted in the account when James already reaches kindergarten; he asks his mother why she is different from him, although her mother refuses to entertain the question (McBride, n. pag. ). Her bitter memories regarding her family influences her not to open the topic later in her life, soon to be understood by James.
Topic: racism

In the third chapter, entitled Kosher, Ruth recalls the arranged marriage of her mother and her father, which was brought out of convenience, in which she does not make any sense of it at all (McBride, n. pag. ). In addition to this, she also recalls all of the strict practices of Orthodox Judaism, to which she sees it as very suffocating, making her have a very difficult life, combines with a very string fear of death (McBride, n. pag. ).
Topic: racism

Such experiences will later affect her in raising a family, focusing on hard work to offset the difficulties of their racial origin (McBride, n. pag. ). In the later chapters, such as in Black Power, James began to realize the complexities of being a multi-racial person; torn between the desire of having solidarity with fellow black neighbors striving to fight for black power and concern for his white mother who is unwilling to commit with this movement, emphasizing the importance of privacy, the church, and the family (McBride, n. pag. ).
Topic: racism

James even asked her mother if he was adopted, due to the fact that he has a different color with her mother. The civil rights movement at that time was very string, with the black community in their area actively supporting and campaigning for more black powers in society, to which her mother is very reluctant to accept (McBride, n. pag. ). Adding to such complexities is a commentary of James upon her mother’s belief, often contradictory because of her Orthodox origins, as well as she being a Christian convert living among a black community (McBride, n. ag. ). After this recall, however, James decides to show sympathy to his mother, ending up punching the face of a son of a member of the militant Black Panther Party, whom he deemed as a threat to his white mother. After all, this episode shows that joining a black power solidarity movement, especially for a multiracial is not always smooth; convictions for black power may conflict with personal beliefs and priorities, provoking hesitation despite common discriminatory experiences in a white-dominated society.
Topic: racism

The book then shifts on how Ruth has found her guidance and inspiration amidst all these contradictions, tracing her Orthodox Jewish origins to her eventual conversion to Christianity (McBride, n. pag. ). Her early experiences are never easy. Contrary to the popular belief that having a new life in America will lead you to the prosperous “American Dream,” In the chapter entitled the “Old Testament,” the experiences of Ruth’s family were no American dream; on the contrary, they suffered under constant poverty (McBride, n. pag. ).
Topic: racism

Her father tried to make a living by being a rabbi, forcing them to move constantly from place to place; until they decided to open a grocery store in the predominantly black town of Suffolk, Virginia. Ruth also had a recollection on her loveless daughter father relationship, especially because of the fact that her father was secretly abusing her sexually. However, she also points out that she still has a positive remembrance of her childhood, which includes her memories with her mother during Jewish holidays (McBride, n. pag. ). In the next chapter, entitled the “New Testament,” the conversion of Ruth to Christianity is portrayed.
Topic: racism

This is emphasized in the way how Ruth raised her children, not taking lightly one instance where Billy refused to recite a biblical passage in Easter Sunday (McBride, n. pag. ). However, questions on race is also9 presented in this chapter, with James asking her mother what is the color of God’s spirit, and her mother replying that it has no color, that God is the color of water (McBride, n. pag. ). Such passages reflect how important color is as an issue at that time, for ones’ opportunities and possibilities in life ism not determined by abilities alone, but by color.
Topic: racism

In addition to this, America at the time of James still sees a society wherein being a colored means being a lesser human being; where black power is being fought for, and being black while having a white mother makes you trapped in questions and confused. This is followed by a recollection in the home of her mother in Suffolk, Virginia, where the absence of opportunities for blacks and Jews alike has lead them to miserable poverty, in addition to the presence of the Klu Klux Klan which presents constant intimidation and violence for them (McBride, n. ag. ). This recollection is then intertwined with the experiences of James with respect to his siblings, highlighting the difficulties of raising a family that explores his/her racial identities (McBride, n. pag. ). The next chapters, especially School, Boys and Daddy explores the personal experiences of both James and Ruth on racial prejudice, with Ruth having to secretly meet with her loved one due to the threat of the Ku Klux Klan, and the fears of James in attending a predominantly white school.
Topic: racism

James then began to seek the origin of his parents in Suffolk, Virginia, and witnesses the poverty and racial complexities in that area intertwined with the early experiences of his mother in love, especially in the chapters The Promise, Old Man Shilsky and A Bird who flies (McBride, n. pag. ). The problems of the interracial marriage Ruth and Dennis, as well as the discovery of the synagogue is highlighted in the chapters A Jew Discovered and Dennis; while the final chapter, Finding Ruthie, emphasizes the fact that being a multiracial is not only difficult, but full of uncertainties (McBride, n. pag. ).
Topic: racism

Viewing this documentary was an extremely valuable experience in my understanding of not only some of the material we’ve been discussing in our course, but also in developing a much more developed grasp on the full extent of our nation’s ugly history of racism. While, by and large, I was already keenly aware of many of the events and incidences discussed throughout the three-part documentary including the assimilation and forced removal of Native Americans, slavery, manifest destiny, the idea of the “white man’s burden”, and the study of eugenics, there were so many different aspects to these events that you simply do not learn in grade school.
Topic: racism

Watching these events unfold visually compelled me in way I never quite had been before from an emotional standpoint- the social implications of these events are so much graver and severe than I had even thought previously. As the documentary noted in the third act, racism is so deeply rooted in American soil that one born here or moving here after the most blatant forms of racism have vanished (segregation) finds themselves unwittingly fitting into racialized society.
Topic: racism

As the documentary observes, the problem is that by claiming that race is based in biology, as demonstrated in the studies on eugenics presented in “scientific” works such as “Types of Mankind”, the perceived inequality between people of different races became much more serious than a power imbalance. The note that, if race was treated as a way to keep people of color subordinate upfront, the inequality would have dissipated following abolition. However, when eugenics went as far as to claim that people of different races were of different species, it justified the idea that Thomas Jefferson’s claim that “all men are created equal” did not have to include African Americans.
Topic: racism

I also had never heard any mention of Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, that, while pitching America’s brand to European countries, was horrifically racist, claiming that blacks were inferior to whites in body and in mind. I was personally horrified upon learning that the Nazi’s claimed inspiration from American eugenicists on the racial profiles that led to the extermination of millions of Jews. The culture and the race of Jewish people were often intertwined, as in the assumption that in the 1920’s many basketball teams consisted of Jewish men due to their “artful dodger” nature.
Topic: racism

Another idea presented by the documentary that I had not considered previously was how race effected the experience of citizenship in the US, and how race is determined in the context of citizenship. Back when there was an influx of immigrants from European countries, there was much prejudice against immigrants despite that they were by and large racially homogenous. Over time, as these people from different cultures assimilates, they became accepted as American whites, while African Americans, Asians, and Native Americans were still prejudiced against.
Topic: racism

It became clear, especially in light of the change of heart about the morality and civility of Native Americans when they initially refused to yield to American imperialism, that race was used more to justify displacement of peoples to maintain certain cultural ideas and “standards” than it was actually about one’s racial profile. To write off a group of people as immoral and incompetent was a huge reoccurring theme we saw among these groups of oppressed people. This is evident in America’s conquest of the Philippines- when the people of the Phillipines were depicted as racially similar to African Americans despite baring no visual commonality it became evident that they used race as an easy marker for the foreign, or the “other”.
Topic: racism

More interesting still was learning about the laws that defined race in the nineteenth century, and the great lengths Asian and South Asian people went to in justifying that they should be considered Caucasian to gain citizenship in the US. In the case of the Japanese man who committed suicide after having his citizenship rejected, the courts used race as an indicator of values rather than actually observe the actions of the people seeking citizenship. How ironic was it that prior to India gaining independence from Britain in 1947, that families fled to the US where “all men are created equal” only to be denied citizenship based on their race? This is so sadly indicative of so much of the inequality still evident in this country today.
Topic: racism

In the late 19th and early 20th century, following the civil war, the United States decided to change its isolationistic approach to expansionism. Many people wanted The United States to become an imperial power and show its dominance to the world. A naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan suggested three strategies to achieve such dominance. Mahan’s first strategy was to improve American naval power. His second strategy was to build a network of naval bases to support the American ships. Mahan’s third strategy was to build a canal along the Isthmus of Central America.
Topic: racism

One of the reasons Americans used to justify imperialism was its economic benefits. Due to Industrialization in the United States, there was a growing demand for expanding global trade. One example of American Imperialism fueled by economic agenda was its annexation of Hawaii. Ever since the United States started to trade with Hawaii, there were some complaints from the Hawaiian natives that American businesses were being unfair with their trade conditions. American businessman that feared that American resentment would affect their business in Hawaii asked American minister John Stevens to cooperate in staging an armed revolt to make Hawaii an American protectorate.