ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: racism

Jazz owes all its fame, glory, and expansion to the great cities of the 1920’s America. Full of diverse people, vast places for entertainment, the radio and a more educated populace that yielded more tolerance to new ideas and forms of expression, cities opened their doors to jazz and all that this new music represented. They were responsible in allowing for the formation of jazz to what it is today; embedded in the American culture, jazz has become the only true American form of music. Though often challenged by close-mindedness, jazz managed to prosper. Jazz has not only maintained its original form through the interpretation of some talented musicians but it has also evolved to influence the popular music of today.
Topic: racism

Finally, Beneatha also shows a high sense of pride throughout her character. She makes a few comments proving she is a person with a high sense of pride. Asagai also is quoted for saying “she prides herself on being independent”. This proves that she has a high sense of pride since she is a very independent person. She is soo independent that she plans to go to Africa with Asagai. This proves that Beneatha is a person that has a high sense of pride.
Topic: racism

Impressions of an Indian Childhood and The School Days of an Indian Girl What is Gertrude Bonnin complaining about? Is she even complaining? She got to go to school and get an education for free. She even went on to go to college. Very few white Americans could say that in those days, much less Native Americans. Even today a free ride through college is a rare occurrence. Of course she experienced a few hardships along the way. Learning a new language was definitely a challenge for her in the beginning, although one she overcame quite well (after all, she did win an oratorical contest at her college).
Topic: racism

Nowhere are these problems more apparent than in the two interviews conducted with Susan Hamlin. In the first, conducted by a white woman named Jesse Butler, leading questions are asked of the subject. In addition, the Butler led Hamlin to believe that she was from the welfare office. Two vital influences are immediately at play: a black woman in a racially segregated society where blacks are frequently lynched and the targets of daily racial slurs cannot afford to antagonize a white woman, so she is inclined to tell Butler what she thinks the interviewer wants to hear. Second, the Butler’s purported position at the welfare agency may be something that can benefit Hamlin if her answers please Butler. Such a dynamic is not one to inspire an accurate account of the past.
Topic: racism

The hypothesis states: If two or more groups come together in a contact situation characterized by ethnocentrism, competition and a difference in power, then some form of racial or ethnic stratification will result (Noel, 1968, p. 163). In other words, if the contact situation contains all three of the situations, ethnocentrism, competition, and a difference in power, then some sort of dominant-minority social structure will be created.
Topic: racism

175). At some level, ethnocentrism is a necessary part of human culture. Without it, people would tend to not obey laws, social norms or work with others in every day life. Ethnocentrism can also create a negative effect. At the extreme end of it, it can create the view that other cultures are not only different, but are also inferior. When ethnocentrism exists at any level, most people follow group lines and tend to differentiate between “us” and “them” (Healy, 1999, p. 175)
Topic: racism

Competition is a struggle over a scarce commodity (Healy, 1999, p 175), and usually leads to prejudice and discrimination. In contact situations, the dominant group is the one that come out on top of the competition. Competition can be over anything that is desired by either group, or what one group has that other wants. The dominant group serves its own interests by ending the competition and exploiting, controlling, eliminating or dominating the minority group (Healy, 1999 p.176).
Topic: racism

The Blauner hypothesis, analyzed in his book Racial Oppression in America (1972), identifies two other types of contact situations, colonization and immigration. Blauner’s hypothesis states “minority groups created by colonization will experience more intense prejudice, racism, and discrimination than those created by immigration. Furthermore, the disadvantaged status of colonized groups will persist longer and be more difficult to overcome than the disadvantaged status faced by groups created by immigration” (Blauner, 1972).
Topic: racism

He reflects on his life as an average twenty-two year old student. He begins to ignore race and tries to focus on his individuality. He likes “a pipe for a Christmas present or records-Bessie, bop, or Bach.” This sentence provides a perfect example of alliteration. Keeping in mind to “let that page come out of you–/Then, it will be true”, the speaker is honest with himself and tries not to hide behind the “white” page.
Topic: racism

He identifies with his culture and lets the reader “see and hear, Harlem”. This poem shows the speaker’s “true” feelings towards society, how some white people “don’t want to be a part of me”. He reflects on the present state of blacks in America, racism, and most importantly the oppression he feels as a black student stating that “white” people are “somewhat more free”. I believe Hughes wrote this poem as a protest against racism. Through his speaker, Hughes desperately pleads with his readers to strive for a unified America free of racism.
Topic: racism

Numerous study have found widespread racial bias in US criminal justice system. A new report issued by a coalition of civil rights organizations calls the “massively and pervasively biased” treatment on blacks and Hispanics by the US police and courts the major civil rights problem of the twenty-first century entitled “Justice on Trial : Racial Disparities in the American Criminal Justice System.” The study finds that minorities in the US face discriminatory treatment at every stage of the judicial process, from arrest to incarceration.
Topic: racism

The 95 page report was issued by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights based in Washington DC. It’s findings show that blacks, Hispanics and other minorities face unfair targeting by police and other law enforcement officials, racially biased charging and plea bargaining decisions by prosecutors and discriminatory sentencing by judges.In a report released from Washington DC- Amnesty International criticized Us Federal and state justice systems as riddled with racial discrimination. The report, Racism and the Administration of Justice, cites as evidence the disproportionate rate of minorities incarcerated, sentenced to death, and executed in the US.
Topic: racism

A study of 2,000 murder cases in Georgia found that the odds of a death sentence in cases in which blacks murdered whites were s much as 11 times higher than when whites murdered blacks. A study found that in Philadelphia a black defendant is four times more likely to receive a death sentence than a white defendant. Racism that perverts the course of justice is a daily fact of life for many in the US, yet this plague of bias is over looked, ignored or openly tolerated by police chiefs , prison wardens, judges and our political leaders.Today a full two-thirds of America’s two million prisoners are people of color. One million are African American and 400,000 are Hispanic/ Latino. People of color represent one third of those arrested for drug crimes, but two-thirds of those sent to prison. Whites and racial minorities live in completely different worlds when it comes to the American criminal justice system.. Since as far back as the 1920’s minorities have been over-represented in federal and state prisons.
Topic: racism

Minorities were then 25% of all prisoners while only about ten percent of the total population.The Kerner Commission warned in its report: “Our nation is moving towards two societies, one black, one white-separate and unequal.Coramae Richey Mann, Unequal Justice, suggests that white Americans view the classic rapist as a “black man,” the typical opium user as a “yellow man,” the archetypal knife wielder as a “brown man,” the “red man” as a drunken Indian, and each of these people of color as collectively constituting the “crime problem”.
Topic: racism

The race or ethnicity of the stereotyped perpetrator varies between African American, Hispanic, or Native American depending on the nature of the crime or the section of the country.These prejudicial images provide a social-psychological under girding upon which many of the discriminatory aspects of the criminal justice system are constructed.Racial Discrimination is defined as including any distinction or impairing the exercise of a person’s human rights. The discriminatory treatment of people of color in the criminal justice system fits squarely under this standard.
Topic: racism

The Holocaust was a very horrific time for the Jewish people of Europe and the world. Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany at the time of the Holocaust and World War II, started the Holocaust which killed over 10 million people, including almost 6 million Jews. Adolf Hitler was very anti-Semitic, but Hitler alone could not have caused the Holocaust. Hitler was the driving force behind the obsessive and fanatical Nazi persecution and ultimately also the mass slaughter of the Jews and various other groups, though the details of implementation were left to the terror apparatus, headed by Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich.
Topic: racism

The Versailles Treaty also forced Germany to pay huge amounts of money to the Allies. Germany was forced to take loans from the United States in order to pay this money. Once the Great Depression started in the United States, the banks started demanding that Germany repay their loans, causing the German economy to suffer even more during this difficult period. The Nazis promised to make Germany a great country. This helped the Nazis take control of the government of Germany, as everybody wanted change in the government that would help rebuild their country.
Topic: racism

The Holocaust obviously could not be carried out without at least some public support, so propaganda became an important part of Nazi politics. Josef Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda, became a well-known figure in Germany. (Causes of the Holocaust) Goebbels worked hard to convince the German public of the superiority of the Aryan race. Once propaganda was widespread in Germany, anti-Semitism became common. Hitler believed in racial anti-Semitism rather than religious anti-Semitism. Religious anti-Semitism was the hatred of Jews who would not convert to Christianity. Racial anti-Semitism was the hatred of anybody who could be traced back to a Jewish grandparent, even if he practiced Christianity..
Topic: racism

Another problem that led to the execution of so many Jews in the Holocaust was that the other countries of the world were not trying to stop what was happening. The world powers simply stood by and watched. Some of the most powerful countries even signed contracts with Hitler saying that they would never go to war against Germany. (Causes of the Holocaust) Adolf Hitler wanted everything that he did to the Jews in Germany to be permanent. He wanted the world to continue to hate Jews after he was gone. Hitler thought that the only way to do this was to convince everybody that he was right. Hitler started the process of brainwashing by telling everybody how the destruction of the Jews would help them to live better.
Topic: racism

There are quite a few causes of the Holocaust. Some of them were outside of the control of many people, while some of them could have been stopped. All of these causes could be repeated if we do not study the Holocaust. Anything that could happen fifty years ago could happen again now, today. In our time, anti-Semitism is on the rise once again, especially in Europe. Propaganda is at an extremely high point currently, and this propaganda could easily turn into brainwashing. If all of these discussed causes are repeated, there is a good chance that something resembling the Holocaust will occur once again. This could end up being fatal to the world. In this modern world, it is our job to prevent the Holocaust from happening again. Studying the Holocaust and learning about what happened is one way to prevent it from happening again, and that is very important!
Topic: racism

Many think that the Holocaust should be blamed on one person and one person only: Adolf Hitler. This is not the case, though. Numerous amounts of people are to be held accountable for the killings, from Hitler to the German citizens to members of other countries who aided in the terror or who ignored the facts when they were presented. A final party that should be held accountable, though, that many never think of, is those of us who learn, research, and study about the Holocaust, even today. The fact is, many are unaware that crimes against humanity like this one are still happening today.
Topic: racism

It is because of the people who don’t hold that knowledge, and those who hold it but do nothing about it, that these things are still occurring in the present day. Perhaps it is because they don’t understand the reality of the Holocaust, or the present – day terrorism. It can’t be put into words, and perhaps we will never understand it, but if it could be put into a quotation, it would be this: “Six million. Behind each digit, starting with the number one, was a pair of eyes, a face, a living, vital human being” (Chaikin 135).
Topic: racism

Simon Wiesenthal was born on December 31, 1908 in Buczacz (Lvov Oblast, Ukraine) and died on September 20, 2005. Unfortunately, Wiesenthal’s father was murdered in World War One, which forced him and his family to vacate Lvov Oblast and arrive to Vienna. Simon Wiesenthal graduated from the Gymnasium in 1928, and was ambitious to apply for an admission at Polytechnic Institute, located in Lvov. Due to the discrimination towards Jewish students, his admission was rejected and he attended the Technical University of Prague instead, where he earned a degree in architectural engineering. Later on, in 1936, Simon married Cyla Mueller and worked in an architectural office. Everything went smoothly, until Germany and Russia signed an agreement to share Poland. At this time, the Russian army invaded Lvov and began the Red Purge of the Jewish merchants, factory owners and many other workers.
Topic: racism

In addition, his stepfather was arrested and eventually died, and his stepbrother was shot. With no options available, Simon Wiesenthal worked as a mechanic in a factory. During the time where the Russians were banished by the Germans in 1941, a former employee of Wiesenthal helped him and his family escape from the Nazis. Unfortunately, the escape failed and he and his family were separated into labour concentration or death camps. In October 1943, Wiesenthal escaped the Ostbahn camp, but was recaptured at the Janowska camp. Actually, during the time in the Janowska camp, Wiesenthal could’ve been killed if the German Eastern Front hadn’t collapsed due to the Red Army. After many struggle, Wiesenthal finally escaped, weighing only 99 pounds and in a very fragile state. Simon Wiesenthal was not only an honorable survivor, but also a contributor the Holocaust, that happened in World War Two. After his horrible incident at the concentration camps, Wiesenthal’s health was back to normal and he began research on possible evidences to prove the Nazi’s atrocious behaviours toward the Jews.
Topic: racism

Wiesenthal worked in many legal and corporate offices, to gain his status, along with conducting his research. After leaving the United States Army in 1947, Wiesenthal and other volunteers opened the Jewish Historical Documentation Centre, which assisted with the evidence for war crime trials. Yet, as the Cold War began, the association collapsed. All of the documents and research evidence were given away, except for one important document about Adolf Eichmann, who was the one that supervised the “Final Solution” technique during the war. Eichmann was never heard of after the war and he remained incognito. At last, in 1959, Germany informed that Eichmann was in Buenos Aires, and was found guilty for mass destruction of the Jews. This brought more and more successes to Wiesenthal. He later organized another Jewish Documentation Centre and hunted war criminals such as Karl Silberbauer, who arrested an innocent Jewish girl.
Topic: racism

Wiesenthal also found ways to arrest commandants of certain concentration camps. He proved that not only can one survive such a severe incident, but also be able to stand up for civil rights, rather than doing absolutely nothing. People such as Simon Wiesenthal are great contributors to our community. Even though the Holocaust was finished, he felt the need to take action and punish those, who tortured innocent souls. The story behind any victim is always significant, because it gives an understanding of harsh situations and helps the new generation, be able to redevelop and not make the mistakes from the past. Also, when survivors share their stories, they attain a sense of relief and are able to forget their memories.
Topic: racism

Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes are two of the most acknowledged African American poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Countee Cullen’s “Yet Do I Marvel” and Langston Hughes’ “I, Too” are equivalent poems in that their similar styles are representational of the authors’ personal adversities of racial inequality. By comparing these two poems, we get a glimpse of the reality of the injustices of bigotry throughout the 1920’s by 2 popular Black poets.
Topic: racism

This poem does not rhyme, nor meter patter really be measured. In order to understand and comprehend the significance behind this poem, it requires to be checked out a couple of times. Often certain aspects of a poem can be ignored. For example, in the very first line of the poem, “I, too, sing America” (line 1), Hughes skillfully utilizes an allusion as he is referring to Walt Whitman’s, “Tune of Myself”, which requires similar themes. In Hughes’ poem, the speaker is resolving the nation as a whole. Hughes’ use of outstanding language and vibrant images successfully reveals the speaker’s sensations towards bigotry.
Topic: racism

This poem explores the injustices of racism through the eyes of a black servant working for a white family. He tells us that he is sent to the kitchen when company comes. Every time he is sent away, instead of demonstrating anger, he laughs. This demonstrates that the speaker is a strong character with self poise. Hughes’ uses metaphor when he says “tomorrow” (line 8). He is indicating that the word “tomorrow” implies the future. He has faith that in the course of time, everyone will become equal, “Tomorrow, /I’ll be at the table /When company comes. /Nobody’ll dare/Say to me, /”Eat in the kitchen,”/Then.” (lines 8-14). The speaker then explains that America will be ashamed of having discriminated against him and other African Americans. The point that Hughes is trying to make clear is that African Americans are Americans too, thus they should not be discriminated against for the color of their skin.
Topic: racism

The themes represented in Hughes’ poems are similar to those exemplified in Countee Cullen’s poem, “Yet Do I Marvel”. However, a major difference between the poems lies in the format. Cullen’s poem is a sonnet, with a rhyming scheme of ABAB BCBC DD EE FF GG (every other line rhymes, with the exception of the last two which rhyme consecutively). The natural flow of this poem helps us (the reader) become more engaged in Cullen’s anguish filled portrayal of racial injustices.
Topic: racism

Like Hughes’ poem, Cullen’s poem is also about the battle of racial identity, yet in addition, he uses religion and mythology to further express the speaker’s struggle with racial injustices. Although the theme of racial inequality is common in both poems, Cullen’s poem focuses more on the speaker’s continual reference to religion and the justification of Gods will. Unlike the hope that the speaker explicated in Hughes’ poem, the speaker in Cullen’s poem starts out having faith in God, “I doubt not God is good, well-meaning, kind,” (line 1). However, he later contradicts his faith in God due to the hardships of discrimination that African Americans endured in the last lines of the poem, “Yet do I marvel at this curious thing: /To make a poet black, and bid him sing!” (lines 13-14).
Topic: racism

We see the speaker’s lack of faith in God throughout the poem, which emphasizes his frustration and affliction with having to endure the everyday struggles of being discriminated against for being black. He uses mythology to further depreciate God’s actions by disagreeing with His punishments, “…declare/ If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus/ To Struggle up a never-ending stair.” (lines 6-8). The narrator is essentially symbolizing that God’s punishments are unfair cruelty, not only towards figures from Greek mythology, but towards him as well. The speaker considers God’s actions to be unreasonable, and we see this in his bitter words, “Inscrutable His ways are, and immune/ To catechism by a mind too strewn” (lines 9-10).
Topic: racism

The comparison of Cullen’s “Yet do I Marvel” and Hughes’ “I, Too” lies strongly in the last two lines of Cullen’s poem. He finally tells us, straightforward, where his animosity lies. In the last two lines, he vehemently tells us that he finds it unfair that because he is a black poet, his voice will not be heard; he will be ignored and pushed aside, just like the speaker in Hughes’ poem. However, the two poems also contrast with each other in that Cullen’s poem concludes with the speaker reiterating his unequivocal feelings of inferiority and lack of faith. Hughes’ poem closes in a more positive manner wherein the speaker asserts his faith and pride in declaring his right to be treated equal.
Topic: racism

The Civil Rights Movement that began in the late 1950’s was a struggle to bring full civil rights and equality under the law to primarily African American citizens of the United States. In the end, African-Americans won basic rights long denied to them, as well as inspired other discriminated groups to fight for their own rights, which had a deep effect on American society. Many blacks took part in this movement, whether it was through protesting or holding demonstrations. However, some blacks used writing as a means of contributing.
Topic: racism

The strong notion that blacks are an inferior race and supposed to be looked down upon caused that belief to be spread across the world. From there, young children in near-remote villages in Switzerland for example learn the word “nigger” and apply it, further helping white-supremacy in America fulfill its purpose: to degrade any group that may challenge the white race. Because of such exposure, “…the world is white no longer, and it will never be white again.” , which is proven in the 21st century society.
Topic: racism

The statement “…it is precisely this black-white experience which may prove of indispensable value to us in the world we face today” 6 proves true in today’s society. Much has changed since the 1950’s and the end of the civil rights movement. Segregation within public school systems and public transportation has been eliminated, blacks have an equal right to vote, and numerous anti-discrimination laws have been put into effect. One can say that life today is more pleasant than that of the 1950s. However, it is crucial to note that racism is far from eliminated in society. Although the major step of equal rights has been set, judgment of people based on the color of their skin still exists.
Topic: racism

Another example of racism would be in the movie “Crash”. In one scene, a white couple had just been threatened at gunpoint by two black men and had their car stolen. They return home and immediately change the lock on the doors as a means of feeling safe. The wife insists on changing the locks again in the morning, but the husband refuses, saying there is no point. An argument ensues and eventually, it is revealed the reason she wanted the locks changed was because the person changing the locks at the moment is perceived as a gangster due to his shaved head and tattoos across his back. The wife was afraid that the “gangster” will give a set of keys to his “homie-gangbangers” and they’ll come back and finish the job, but in reality, the so called “gangster” is actually a caring single father earning a living. Therefore, Baldwin’s argument is still evident as today as it was in the 1950s. However, instead of the white man not recognizing the other as an equal, it is now various races not recognizing various other races as equals.
Topic: racism

A stronger view of racism would be the numerous factions that had been created over the course of time. One of the most infamous ones would be Nazism in Europe. Nazism belief was that among the white race and the Aryans, they form the elite “master race” destined to rule and enslave inferior races like the Slavs. But in order to fulfill their destiny, the Germans must first shake off foreign political and cultural ideas and purge themselves of “inferior blood.” The rise of Nazism in Germany resulted in the killing of millions of Jews and other “non-Aryans” in the Holocaust. It was one of the greatest crimes against humanity recorded in history. Another faction would be the Klu Klux Klan.
Topic: racism

The Ku Klux Klan is one of these groups that were formed by people who were angered by the increase of diversity. They had an anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic as well as an anti-immigrant viewpoint that proved destructive during their years of operation and were noticed for their horrible acts of violence that they called nighttime rides. These attacks included murder, rape and beatings. Although the problem has weakened in strength over time due to events such as the civil rights movement, a permanent solution is yet to be found.
Topic: racism

Although some forms of racism is actually an intentional act of one racial group discriminating against another, there are now more cases of racism in which racism is not involved at all. Many minority racial groups use the term “racism” as a means of an excuse rather than the actual meaning. For example, trapped evacuees in New Orleans, who were mostly black, during Hurricane Katrina, said that “if most of Katrina’s victims were white, relief would’ve arrived sooner”, implying racism was involved. However, the people of New Orleans were given early notice of Hurricane Katrina as well as mandatory evacuation plans. The people who remained chose to stay and were not forced to. They are merely using racism as an excuse for their lack in judgment.
Topic: racism

Another example of using racism as an excuse would be found in the movie “Crash”. Anthony, who was one of the two men that threatened the white couple at gunpoint and stole their car, said prior to that that white people do not treat them as equals. He continues to use the “race” card as an excuse for his actions. The purpose of Baldwin’s Stranger in the Village was to expose racism and help setup the process of eliminating such a threat to society. However, if society uses such a threat as an advantage, racism will never be eliminated.
Topic: racism

In conclusion, James Baldwin produced Stranger in the Village to provide a vessel in which the conception of racism is needed to be eliminated from the world. Although his works influenced the civil rights movement in the 1950s, it is still not enough to eliminate racism as a whole. Racism is still seen in today’s world in many forms. Overcoming racism and prejudice is difficult and will need to take time. However, people cannot change if they do not learn from the past and correct their mistakes.
Topic: racism

In the 1920s politicians and leading Canadians took an active role in discriminating against all ethnic groups other than white Anglo-Saxons. They achieved this by feeding the dark side of humanity: fear of different cultures, prejudice and xenophobia. In the 1920s Canada treated different peoples unjustly. The Chinese were faced with ridiculous laws, the Native Americans were forced to forfeit their culture and the Ukrainians were treated with suspicion wherever they went.
Topic: racism

In 1876, the Indian Act had encouraged the gradual disappearance of Indians as Indians and promoted their assimilation into Canadian society. This act had made all Indians “wards of the state” and left them with little control of their own affairs. The 1920s was the time that this act was really applied. The Indian Act had been created earlier, but the Canadian government never seriously implemented it to get rid of the Aboriginal culture once and for all until the 1920s.
Topic: racism

” In addition, all Aboriginals were sent to reserves in which they lived in poverty and despair. They lost their traditional lifestyles and were given poor land on which to farm. When the Aboriginals began to raise funds with which they would appeal to regain ownership of the land, the Canadian government amended the Indian act. In 1927, the Indian act was amended to prohibit the raising of money or the pursuit of land claims. The Canadian government discriminated against the aboriginals and it was in the 1920s that the Native Americans lost much of their traditions, their cultures and their lifestyles.
Topic: racism

The Anglo-Saxon Canadian community discriminated against Europeans such as the Ukrainians in the 1920s. The Ukrainians had immigrated to Canada in the hopes of starting a new life. They had come in order to escape the unbearable situations in which they had originally been living but the Canadians had something else in mind. Upon the start of World War One the Ukrainians were seen as enemies and aliens and 9000 Ukrainians were interned at camps across the country. Even after the end of the war, this racial discrimination did not cease. Many people were still kept under police surveillance, the Ukrainian language schools and churches were shut down and their newspapers were suppressed. They were still viewed by the Anglo-Saxon British Canadians as spies. The Ku Klux Klan established first in America began in the 1920s to be active in Canada. The Klan disapproved of immigrants and thought of them as a threat to Canada’s Anglo-Saxon character and discriminated against Ukrainians not only for their country of origin but also for their religion.
Topic: racism

The 1920s were a time that Canadians were especially harsh to the Chinese immigrants. Even before the 1920s the Chinese faced hardship. They were the ONLY ethnic group to ever have to pay a head tax upon arrival. They were also forced to endure absurd laws such as taxes on rice and laundries or a law which stated that Chinese restaurants were forbidden to hire white women. Even so, Chinese immigration to Canada continued in full swing until the Chinese Exclusions Act was passed on July 1, 1923. This day is dubbed by the Chinese as “Humiliation day” and for many years they refused to celebrate Canada’s national holiday. This act forbade all Chinese immigration to Canada except students, diplomats and merchants and in 1928 the act was amended to prohibit ALL immigration from China.
Topic: racism

From this time until 1947, when the act was repealed, only 8 people were admitted into Canada. The Chinese Exclusions Act shattered the plans of anyone who wished to bring their family over and also prevented anyone returning to China for a visit to stay more than 2 years without losing the right to return. After the act was passed, the Chinese had to register with the immigration office and were forced to carry their certificate of registration on them at all times or they could be jailed or fined. The act also prevented all Chinese from becoming Canadian citizens. The Chinese were faced with much racial discrimination by the Canadian government in the 1920s.
Topic: racism

The 1920s were times filled with racism and Canadians prejudiced the people of many different races. Anglo-Saxon Canadians viewed the people of other religions and cultures as a threat to their own traditions and faith. They prejudiced against peoples of other races and used the most powerful weapon in their possession against them: the law. Many laws were passed to suppress the different cultures of the immigrants and assimilation was promoted. Look at Canada now: the only thing different about Canada is the colour of skin that its inhabitants possess. All immigrants learn to live like the rest of the Canadians and religion and culture end up far from their minds. The Aboriginal culture has long disappeared and immigration, while being encouraged, will only come true for the people whom it will be easy to assimilate into Canadian society.
Topic: racism

I see no other reason for the Immigration Points System and the interviews that immigrants must pass before being allowed into the country. I see no other reason for every immigrant to prove that they can speak English or French before entering Canada. Knowing certain things like the language is important to easily assimilate into Canadian society and this is the reason why only individuals who are fluent in the language may enter the country. Canada is a multi-cultural nation, but in its making, many cultural traditions have been lost because of the racism that so many ethnic minorities faced before, after and especially during the 1920s.
Topic: racism

The readings “Foul Shots” by Rogelio Gomez and “Civilize them with a Stick” by Mary Crow Dog reflects on the discrimination and prejudice experienced in places of education. In “Foul Shouts,” Gomez examines the shame and anger he felt as a teenager faced with obstacles of race and social class while Mary, a Sioux woman writes on the debasement and racism in a satire on color prejudice she suffered as a young student at a boarding school. They both write from past experiences in some measure of cynicism and open mockery they were subject to in school.
Topic: racism

This type of disparage threatens to veer off into the forbidden territory of racial differences. A similar incident is noticed in Mary’s piece ” Civilize them with a stick” where she is singled out as a bad example for unchastity in class. Thus, even if today’s whites can find in their hearts no desire to oppress minorities, yesterday’s whites must have oppressed them. Some whites do not consciously oppress blacks. They oppress them unconsciously. The dogma of racial equality leaves no room for an explanation of minority failure that is not, in some fashion, an indictment.
Topic: racism

The logical consequences of these discrimination and feelings of inferiority are clear in both readings. Since we are required to believe that the only explanation Mary’s failure is racism, every time a minority is poor, commits a crime, goes on welfare, or takes drugs, the priests and sisters stands accused of yet another act of racism. All failure or misbehavior by the white students, stand as proof that the society is riddled with hatred and bigotry. For precisely so long as non-American Indians or non- pure Indians fail to succeed in life at exactly the same level as the minority students, the Indians will be, by definition, thwarting and oppressing them. This obligatory pattern of thinking leads to strange conclusions. First of all, the racism in Mary’s school is a sin that is committed almost exclusively by Holy people. Thus, whether or not an act is called racism depends on the race of the racist.
Topic: racism

There is another curious asymmetry about American racism. When non-whites advance their own racial purposes, no one ever accuses them of “hating” another group. They can agitate openly for racial preferences that come only at the expense of non-whites. The coach in “Foul Shots” tries to wipe out separation due to feelings of minority by asking both teams to hang out in pairs after the games. Should they actually go so far as to say that they prefer the company of their own kind that they wish to be left alone to enjoy the fruits of their heritage? Here, then is the final, baffling inconsistency about American race relations. All non-whites are allowed to prefer the company of their own kind, separating themselves from others who differ to think of themselves as groups with interests distinct from those of the whole, and to work openly for group advantage.
Topic: racism

This kind of hatred is not peculiar to the colleges alone. Many teenagers who are either in the hate groups or have a lack of faith in equality are made this way through their high schools. Many high schools are either all black or all white and influence the way that teens think. The all black schools even resemble the schools of old. They have minimal funding and substandard equipment. They are always in the worst neighborhoods and are filled with drugs and violence. In all white high schools, on the other hand, students are not accustomed to being around blacks. This might be one of the reasons that blacks and whites do not mix well in colleges.
Topic: racism

At the same time, whites must also champion the racial interests of non-whites. They must sacrifice their own future on the altar of “diversity” and cooperate in their own dispossession. Perhaps if everyone would have a positive outlook on this problem in the future, there will be an end to all of the segregation in this nation’s schools and everywhere else that this pestilence exists. They only wish Mary asks in the “Civilize them with a stick,” is to be left alone to participate in the unfolding of her racial and cultural destinies.
Topic: racism

John Howard Griffin’s research should undeniably be considered sociological. He began with a theory, if he became black he could help understand the difficulties between races as both a white man and a black man in the south and with this knowledge develop a means to bridge the gap. With this information he developed a micro-theory, trying to explain a limited part of human behavior; why is there hate among blacks and whites? He collected his data in a process of explanatory research.
Topic: racism

Finally, when he gathered all his information he released it to the mass media. Although it takes the form of a journal it should still be considered sociological research. The diary method is, in fact, beneficial. Instead of conducting a cross sectional form of research in which information is gathered at one particular time, Griffin, using the diary, conducted a longitudinal study. With such a study change can be identified and a broader understanding will develop in the hopes of answering the research question.
Topic: racism

It can be assumed that the reliability of Griffin’s work is quite substantial. He had an insider perspective due to his covert observation and participant observation. His information was derived from a large population across more than one state, while still focusing on the southern parts of America. All the persons mentioned in the diary shared the same belief; whites were limiting the black potential. Then it must be asked whether the diary was biased or not. Since it was, in reality, a diary, the information published could be selective. This then questions the validity of the research. There is no doubt that Griffin had opinions on the topic before it was investigated. However, the research was also very generalizable. This should help to alleviate many of the doubts towards the ethics of the means of research. Since human behavior is very complex it is difficult to narrow down the independent variable. All doubts on validity aside, the research was conducted in a method of sociological nature. It was a combination of participant observation, covert observation and unstructured interviews.
Topic: racism

For example, Griffin had conversations at the YMCA with other black men, or on the bus between New Orleans and Mississippi. These weren’t done with an outlined set of questions; they were conducted by way of one oppressed African-American to another. In conducting his research in such an unobtrusive manner Griffin helped the media identify the setting, the human and social environment, their activities and behaviors, and non-verbal communication. In this method Griffin wasn’t looking to prove causality, rather looking to support his argument in hope for change. With all this taken into account it can be summarized that Griffin followed the research process and used sociological methods.
Topic: racism

Norms are generally defined as an aspect in society in which an expected behavior binds a certain group of people. However, norms can be applied to many different areas. It can mean placing a set standard for achievement on a certain communal grouping based on the accomplishments of the average person from that grouping. It can also mean a characteristic that is representative of a social group. Or norms can be considered a common practice, belief or custom . However when dealing with norms it must be understood that they apply differently depending on the context of the situation. Much like social norms vary from legal norms. Social norms were the predominant force Griffin encountered throughout his research. Although legal norms played a particular part, judgment was based on the structures of mutual belief, not necessarily judicial.
Topic: racism

For example, the “whites” of the southern United States were holding the assumption that the “blacks” were sexually demented and intellectually impaired . The southern white majority assumed that African-Americans were so open about their sex lives that they even performed activities in the streets and in front of children. They also believed that the blacks wanted white woman sexually and that due to their lack of education all they knew was their natural instinct to reproduce. They assumed this behavior to be applicable to all African-American men. As Griffin tries to explain, he can find no inferiority amongst the blacks; “These characteristics don’t spring from whiteness or blackness, but from a man’s conditioning” .
Topic: racism

Role taking is a critical part of fostering any sober understanding of a relevant society. It involves looking at things from a different viewpoint. This assists us in understanding how different groups perceive us. We have to know what we look like through others eyes. In order to achieve this we must first understand their mind frame. John Howard Griffin goes through great lengths to achieve this. He understands that it is practically impossible for him to fully comprehend what life is like for a black man, while being a white man in the southern United States. Thus he undergoes pigment therapy that redefines his life. Griffin darkens his skin in order to appear as though he were a black American, in the hopes to achieve an unbiased account of African-American life in the deep south. By infiltrating the seemingly distinct society and adapting to the practices of that society Griffin has undergone role taking. When in New Orleans, Griffin’s first area of research as a black southerner, he quickly learns of the limitations enforced only by the fact that his skin color was different. By becoming the minority studied, Griffin was not only able to study, first hand, the accounts of racism, but he was also able to emotionally attach himself to the African-American society.
Topic: racism

Alienation is the separation between “parts or the whole of the personality and significant aspects of the world of experience.” This term can have many meanings depending on the situation and for whom it is intended. In terms of Griffin’s book, alienation was the physical segregation and the emotional feeling of inequality and unequal opportunities based on skin color. Alienation was evident throughout Griffin’s experiences. Separate waiting rooms at bus stations, separate washrooms and fountains, isolated living areas, the inability to purchase food and drinks at certain stores, the inability to rest in certain areas, unequal job and education abilities, all formed the feeling of alienation. Griffin realized that this division, both physical and emotional would have to be overcome in order to attain a greater appreciation as a race.
Topic: racism

Griffin and many blacks alike thought education was the key to destroying the norm of alienation. “Equal job opportunities… That’s the answer to much of the tragedy of our young people” . According to Griffin there were two problems that caused this alienation and lack of motivation to change, they were: the discrimination against the Negro and his discrimination against himself . According to Griffin then, it was not only the fault of the whites that the blacks were in the situation they were, it was partly the fault of the blacks as well.
Topic: racism

Stereotypes are formed when the characteristics of a certain group of people are based on the generalized characteristics of a few. They are most often used to simplify that which we have difficulty understanding, in order to make it more predictable. As W.I. Thomas taught, what we believe to be true will be true in its consequences. Throughout history racial stereotypes have always existed. Perhaps, though, the most dominant stereotypes have been placed against African-Americans. They have been thought of as uneducated, immature, unmotivated, criminal, violent and sexual predators. However, as Griffin points out, the sins the whites commit are the same as the blacks. Except for the fact that blacks are deprived of the “pleasures of the spirits”. They feel like a lesser person so in order to acquire that feeling of accomplishment and manhood they engage in such activities .
Topic: racism

After all, it is the white man who, all through the book, is intrigued by the sexual natures of the black race. It is the whites who hire black prostitutes and it is the whites who violently punish the blacks. Not only are the stereotypes revealed, they are identified as completely illegitimate. In one instance on a bus in New Orleans Griffin attempted to offer an elderly lady a seat by indicating with his eyes that there was an empty one beside him. He thought she would be sympathetic, however she disrespectfully replied, “What’re you looking at me like that for?” Implying that there were sexual desires instead of kindness behind his offering .
Topic: racism

Reductionism in sociological research places limits on what can be considered as causes when attempting to explain a range of human behavior. Griffin may have been affected by reductionism due to the fact that he was writing a sociological paper. As a result he may have focused on such limited topics as norms, stereotypes and alienation. An economist, however, may have looked at the economic prosperity in the south compared to other parts to explain the racial tensions. Perhaps even the government would be to blame for enforcing racism through propaganda and unequal laws. A biological reductionism would be trying to reduce the problem down to the genes of the human being or as a revolutionary process. In order to achieve a full understanding of the situation, all accounts should be measured, not only those which apply to a specific field. Therefore, the validity and reliability of the research can be questioned.
Topic: racism

For example, in Griffin’s book, he focuses only on the stereotypes of society, not where they come from. He doesn’t attempt to answer why whites feel hatred towards the blacks, only that it exists. Perhaps the underlying problem is purely situational. The south is known for its farms and small communities, but does this problem exist in the larger cities throughout North America? And if it doesn’t, why not? If it doesn’t exist than it is strictly environmental. Griffin mentions that there are those people who are not actually racist, but they fear showing any sympathy towards another race. What causes this fear? There must be some form of pressure from somewhere that causes this racism. All these questions must be answered in order to truly define the problems between African-Americans and Caucasians. Griffin did a fine job in writing the introduction to racism, however he left the body blank.