ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: racism

In this chapter, Mrs. Williams explores society’s failure to deal straightforwardly with the practice of exclusion. This is something that infects everyone, from the very old to the very young, and Mrs. Williams does a great job of pointing these things out. As I proceeded to read this piece, I found myself being able to relate and agree with a lot of the things Mrs. Williams spoke on. The truth of the matter is the fact that society puts emphasis on things that do not really matter and not enough emphasis on things that really matter is a big problem in today’s world.
Topic: racism

I was not only reminded of this by other blacks, but by whites as well. In this chapter the issue of the restraint placed on our youth’s inquisitive nature is something else that I appreciate Mrs. Williams bringing to the forefront. There is a point in all children life when they go through an inquisitive stage; this is an essential part of a child’s development. It has to be expected that questions are going to get asked, at times the questions may be embarrassing or in some cases downright inappropriate.
Topic: racism

If a child asks a question regarding sex, violence, or any other “controversial” issue it is the job of the parent or the adult present at the time to acknowledge and feed that child’s inquisitive nature. As the author points out, silencing a child when such questions are asked, and never going back to answer the child’s question causes them to use their imagination. This in return causes them to create their own world of what things mean whether the child’s views are right or wrong. The parents or guardian will find that great difficulty may arise when they try to change the child’s view due to the fact that they let the child go so long without knowing the true nature of things.
Topic: racism

Mrs. Williams states that whites are usually the ones saying that race doesn’t matter, but usually act as if they are happy not to have to deal with the dilemma that is being black (pg. 9). In the chapter, Mrs. Williams does a good job of illustrating the fact that those that claim to be color-blind or feel that race doesn’t matter sub- consciously feel that race does matter. The mere fact that they try to show pity toward the opposite because of their race shows that they indeed know that race is an issue that is very much alive and well.
Topic: racism

In this chapter Mrs. Williams deals a lot with how people view race. The OJ Simpson case and the black church are used as backdrops for this discussion. No matter what the situation is the issue of race always finds a way to work itself into the mix. As the author points out, a lot of Americans felt like the decision to acquit OJ was due to the fact that some of the jurors were black. As Americans it is a fact that celebrities create a sort of awe amongst us. The decision to acquit OJ could have been based on the fact that he was a celebrity or maybe the jurors felt that he really didn’t commit the crime, did anyone ever stop to consider this. When the OJ trial was taking place there were television cameras everywhere and a considerable amount of attention was being paid to this case. The same can’t be said about the DuPont murder in which John Dupont in the presence of a witness shot and killed a wrestler.
Topic: racism

There was no round-the-clock coverage of this incident. In fact it was kept kind of quiet. In the end, what it all boils down to is that to be black is to be exploited. Black religion is even exploited, in Harlem, New York bus loads of tourists bombard black churches with cameras fighting with members of the congregation to get a good seat. I had no idea that practices of this nature were taking place. Journalists, reporters, and tourists treating the black church as if it is a spectacle of some sort trying to get the perfect camera angle and other nonsense. It is ok to observe a religion in order to get a better understanding of the people who practice the religion; in fact this is encouraged. The line is drawn when the congregation and the practicing of the religion is treated as if it is a Broadway show, put on strictly for the entertainment of others. Boundaries could be drawn, but at the same time if you draw boundaries there is always a risk of being looked at as either racist or a separatist.
Topic: racism

Mrs. Williams states “How can it be that so many well-meaning white people have never thought about race when so few blacks pass a single day without being reminded of it” (pg. 28). This is a point well taken, the way race is presented and represented in the media is the way members of that race will be viewed. This chapter points out that in a time when film and media rule just talking about race is not going to help, some type of action must be taken. Mrs. Williams points out that society must learn to see people and not spotlight them (pg. 30). By spotlight I think she means that we must see people and accept them and their talents for what they are and not put a spotlight on every little detail that makes them up as a person such as race. When people foreign to particular culture try to embrace that culture certain stereotypes tend to throw off course the attempt to genuinely learn about that culture.
Topic: racism

The fact that certain minorities know that they will be viewed in a certain way by society causes them to act in a certain way. Mrs. Williams brings up the point about the writer Anatole Broyard, a light-skinned black man that passed as a white man. Not because he wanted to, but because he felt he had to in order to do what he loved which was write. He knew that if he posed as white no one would look at him as the white writer, they would look at him as just a writer. On the other hand if he revealed he was black he would not simply be a writer any more he would be recognized as the “black” writer and this is something that he did not want. This goes back to the point that is made in chapter1 when Mrs. Williams states that race is an issue that whites feel blacks have to solely deal with.
Topic: racism

If he is thought of to be white, race plays no part in what he accomplishes; this can not be considered true either. He may have felt people were only looking at him as a writer, but him passing as white played a major role in him being viewed as “just a writer”. “Are we driven beyond ourselves when we set out just to be ourselves” (pg. 30) this is the situation in Broyard’s case. He wanted to just be himself, which is a “writer”, but he acted beyond himself by posing as a white man, in order to just be himself “the writer”. This is the case a lot of the time individuals are forced to act outside of themselves in order to be themselves. It sounds like a contradiction but it actually makes a lot of sense. Mrs. Williams did a good job of pointing this out.
Topic: racism

In chapter 3, Mrs. Williams explores class and the effect it has on society in The Distribution of Distress. She explains that people tend to equate “underclass with blackness and middle-class with whiteness”, as if they were one entity. I am not sure if this is what Mrs. Williams was trying to insinuate, but I think she feels that class is a subtle form of racism. If this is so I agree with her totally. As she pointed out on pg. 34, “class is to be understood as a stand-in for race”. Mrs. Williams tackles the issue of appearance and accent. The way a person speaks, or annunciates his or her words in America is not an issue, accept when the issue deals with blacks. This whole issue goes hand and hand very well with the whole Ebonics controversy. At my school a lot of the teachers were outraged with the whole Ebonics issue. At first I thought it was kind of cool that society felt like the way we as African Americans spoke was important enough to give us our own separate language.
Topic: racism

The more I thought about it the more I realized that racial discrimination was alive and well and I also realized that a stereotype was being implemented and that a lot of the youth was too blind to see it. Ebonics was to be termed as “the black way of speech”, but not everyone that is black or African American speaks with slang. Mrs. Williams points out that the speech of black people ranges and the refusal for people to pick up on the accents or dialect cause them to term it incomprehensible (pg. 36). The point is also made that black’s speech always seem comprehensive when it serves as outlets for the entertainment or the sports industry. This is another point well taken. When White America wants to reach urban areas in order to sell their products they always get entertainers and professional athletes to sell their products. Although Mrs. Williams feels that the color of one’s skin shouldn’t matter the fact is that it does “it is our greatest vanity and at the same time our greatest anxiety” (pg. 37).
Topic: racism

In The Distribution of Distress Mrs. Williams holds a mirror to the face of America and shows that although it would be nice to think that race is not an issue anymore it really is an issue, a very big issue at that. The author uses a personal experience of hers to clearly restate the fact. In the process of buying a house, when the bank realized she was black they asked that she put down a bigger down payment than was originally asked for her house. Although she did not have to put down more money it shows that white people discriminate intentionally. Her credit check came back sufficient and they still wanted to charge her more. The bank informed her that it wasn’t race but risk that assisted in their decision. It is a known fact that if a few black families move into what is considered to be an all-white neighborhood, the property value decreases.
Topic: racism

The fact that the color of one’s skin can be equated with a lower standard of living is a sad thought. This is often thought, black is bad, and anything other than black is good. The fact that America equates the color of one’s skin with the worth of their possessions is not acceptable by any means. The view that one black man or woman represents the entire race is America’s perception of the minority. The idea of “we are one” is a good thought, but is it a beneficial one in a society plagued by racism and prejudices.
Topic: racism

In chapter 4 our author deals with rationalized racism. The absurd idea that race determines IQ and IQ determines economic status. In order to become part of mainstream white society it seems that blacks must learn how to disassociate themselves with their blackness and live up to the cliches that surrounds us by White America. The fact that a young white male equates being black with knowing how to play basketball is sad. The stereotype that all blacks are good in sports such as basketball is clearly exhibited on pg. 50. The fact that the mother agreed with her child is even more sickening. The fact that blacks get taxed by White America to be part of America is a disturbing find. To live in the nice neighborhoods blacks get taxed more than whites, in order to be part of certain social organizations the fees are raised for the black that is interested. Mrs. Williams states that “racial division has become big business for America, whether it is news, sports or entertainment” (pg.58) These issues are considered controversial so if America feeds in to it and plays the race card with these issues the masses will tune in.
Topic: racism

This in return will pump major dollars into the economy i.e. the Simpson trial. “It’s easy is to be tolerant when you do not care” (pg. 59). This is indeed a true statement, if you don’t care for minorities you will tolerate them in order to make money and exploit them and have them seen in a negative light. When you do not care you will tolerate the intolerable if in the long run you will benefit. Not so much an issue of race, but how many people white or black tolerate the intolerable just to gain some type of notoriety or financial gain. It’s just that this issue is more noticeable when it comes to race relations amongst blacks and whites.
Topic: racism

Like the author states, “blacks have to put aside the activities of everyday life and subject ourselves to the cyclical inspection point of proving our worth, justifying our existence, and teaching our history, over and over again” (pg.51). Everyone knows that a flow of controversy equals a flow of currency. The fact that America magnifies certain race issues in order to pump more money into the economy is immoral in every sense of the word. The fact that certain stereotypes are still associated with certain races and cultures is also disturbing. Hopefully one day these ills of society can be healed.
Topic: racism

In this chapter Mrs. Williams attempts to make people realize that race is not the same as poverty, and that race is not a breeding ground for disease and exotic entertainment. She separates race from this and a slew of other things that it is associated with. The main goal of Mrs. Williams in this chapter is to get minorities to recognize the racism their up against. As she states though it is hard to get individuals to recognize racism when the very thing, material or not that is subliminally racist, is being endorsed by blacks or other minorities. When we learn how to use our third eye, see through the rhetoric, and gain some type of understanding this is when we will be able to see that racism is not just black on white, and that it comes in many forms. Mrs. Williams also criticizes the idea of racial science in which she describes as nothing more than “the science of stereotypification”.
Topic: racism

Why is it that a group of rebellious young black men are considered to be gangs that want to do nothing more than create havoc amongst the community. Yet by the same token a group of rebellious white men are looked at as being misguided, but yet are still admired by the masses. Labels such as militia and patriots are often used to describe these young men and they are looked at as heroes by some. As our author states racism will never go away until people start to change the way they think and do not allow stereotypes to cloud their judgement. In order to do away with racism we must do away with the stereotypes that surround race. When this feat is accomplished, then maybe we can look forward to seeing a color-blind future.
Topic: racism

In conclusion Seeing A Color-blind Future is a very interesting and insightful look at racism in America. This reading holds a mirror up to the face of America and it is a reflection that further shows that racism still exist even in the twenty-first century. Racism is presented in many ways, shapes, and forms and it is an issue that effects a majority of minorities whether it is in monetary or social means. In order for blacks and other minorities to fight racism, we must first learn how to recognize the various forms of racism, the obvious and the not so obvious. Patricia J. Williams does a phenomenal job of bringing the different forms of racism to the attention of all that read this book. I must say that even I a graduating senior in religion and philosophy learned a lot about myself and past encounters when it comes to the issue of race.
Topic: racism

American History X is a great film that portrays prejudice, stereotyping and conformity. Prejudice is negative attitudes toward others based on their gender, religion, race, or membership in a particular group. Prejudice involves beliefs and emotions that can turn into hatred. Having an opinion or idea about a member of a group without really knowing that individual is a part of prejudice. Some people make judgments about a whole group of people without knowing very much about them. Sometimes people are afraid of those who seem different from them and unfortunately, they express that with name-calling and negative treatment.
Topic: racism

The prejudgments are usually based on stereotypes, which are shared beliefs about the characteristic traits, attitudes, and behaviors of members of various social groups including the assumption that the members of such groups are usually all alike. As the story line unfolds in American History X, the main character of the story will realize that not all people of a particular race are the same. A prejudgment may be based on an emotional experience we have had with a similar person, sort of our own personal stereotype.
Topic: racism

The movie starts out through the eyes of Danny Vinyard, who idolizes his older brother Derek. Derek is seeking revenge for his father’s murder and burning a way to vent his rage. His father was a firefighter who was on duty one night putting out a fire at a crack house. His father was shot and killed by black drug addicts while fighting a fire in a crack house in a black neighborhood. He blames all black people for the death of his father. Derek hates anyone who is not a white protestant. Later it is learned that it wasn’t just his father’s death that shaped him, but his father’s conversation at the dinner table one night about racism.
Topic: racism

Derek finds himself transformed by a philosophy of hate as he turns into a disciple of a radical group of a local white power movement. He becomes a leader in this white supremacy group called the DOC organizing the other white kids in his neighborhood under the rule of a leader of the group named Cameron who stays behind the scene to keep his record clean. The skinheads that rule his group are convincing and are a very bonding group. It is assumed in their world that that all races stick together and are at undeclared war with all others. They are very much prejudice and all conform to the same stereotype.
Topic: racism

Three years later, everyone awaits Derek’s return. His mother Doris who prays for his safety, his girlfriend Stacey who longs for his return, and most of all Danny who’s desperate for his brother’s love and guidance, yet is driven by his own increasing white supremacy hatred. Danny who idolizes Derek has stepped into his shoes. Following the crowd of the white supremacy group the DOC. Avery Brooks the high school principle who has helped Derek also tries to help Danny by telling him to write a paper on his brother in hope to make him see things in a different light.
Topic: racism

Unbeknown to Danny, Derek is a changed man. Fresh from prison, he no longer views hatred as a badge of honor. Ashamed of his past he is now in a race to save Danny and the Vineyard family from the violence he brought down upon them. His mind is open and sees the error of his ways. Upon reentering the real world, he must now turn his attentions to his younger brother Danny, who is swiftly heading down the same path as his brother. He tells Danny to listen to Avery Brooks the principal of the high school who has made Danny write a paper on Derek. He also tells Danny of the experience he had it jail and how it has changed him. It is too late and in the end Danny is murdered in school one day by one of the younger brothers of whom Derek had murdered.
Topic: racism

What is said at the end of the movie seems to sum it up quite well. Hate is baggage. Life is too short to be pissed off all the time. Derek says,” Its always good to end the paper with a quote.” ” We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Through passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic cords of memory will swell when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.” (Lincoln, 1861)
Topic: racism

This school of psychology that I believe this film falls under is the school of behaviorism. Behaviorism views observable, measurable behavior rather than internal mental processes as the appropriate subject matter of psychology. Stresses the key roles of learning and the environment in determining behavior. The movie also deals with social psychology. It defines the reasons of why and how we behave and emotions and feeling we have. The why of how we feel, what we do and how we come about the decisions we make. It also affects our attitudes, feelings and emotions that make us who we are and what we do.
Topic: racism

Conformity involves the changing of one’s attitude, opinions, or behavior to match the attitudes, opinions, or behaviors of others. The pressures to act like other people, sometimes despite our true feelings and desires. In American History X Derek, Danny and all the other skin heads are take on this idea to belong to the neo-nazi group. The scene in the movie where the skinheads destroy a neighborhood grocery store that is been taken over by a minority group show the skinheads conform to norms. These norms tell us what we should or ought to be thinking, feeling, or doing if we want to fit in with a particular group. Most people conform to norms without much thing about it.
Topic: racism

Through the whole movie Danny idolizes his brother and there for his ways can also be contributed to social psychology. The presence of others influences the thoughts, feelings and how he behaves. The expectancy theory can also be related to Danny. He feels he is expected to be racist because of the situation his brother is in. Because of the day-to-day expose of his racist feelings and the neo-nazi group he does not think of anything else so he is in constant exposure to negative feelings.
Topic: racism

American History X shows prejudice, stereotyping and conformity excellent. It shows how Derek comes about to be prejudice and to have his racial attitude. The movie shows that in the world of the skinhead neo Nazi, slogans replace thought, feeling and mindless hatred that is shocking. The bonding of this group portrays how conformity takes place. Derek’s attitude, behavior and speeches to the other kids persuade them to conform to the group. He makes them see things in his view. It shows how one person can change the thoughts and feeling of someone with a vulnerable mind. The movie also shows a way of breaking the vicious circle of hatred.
Topic: racism

American History X is a move that takes prejudice, stereotyping and conformity and shows how each one can relate to the other. The film makes you stop and think about your thoughts and emotions on these subjects. Part of the last quote of this move says a lot. That hate is baggage. If we open our minds and see the world as a whole we can then realize that not everyone in the world is the same because of their race, gender or religion or so forth. Being prejudice and stereotyping people only leads to harm. We should not conform to the beliefs of others if we feel differently. We should be who we are and not be persuaded to feel otherwise. American History X in the end shows us that no matter what social group we belong to in society it does not mean that we all have the same characteristics, attitudes or behavior.
Topic: racism

It just goes to say that as we grow and experience things around us in our environment we tend to conform to the ways of society to form our personality and attitudes. The more we educate our young people and be good role models maybe then and only then can we prevent a situation like American History X form happening. A perfect example of conformity is in the scene which we see the skinheads bonding. They are led by Derek’s brilliant speechmaking and fueled by drugs, beer, tattoos, and heavy metal and need all insecure people feel to belong to a movement greater then themselves. Together they feel that in their world all races stick together and are at undeclared war with all others
Topic: racism

My conclusion to this topic is that some people are oblivious to the emotional tones that they generate from their ignorant usage of stereotypical labels. I just think some people do not know it when they label someone and it brings out an emotional tone or negative implication. It’s all just ignorance. Or what people have been taught growing up in a government that strives for being the normal and the best. Learning through unintentional messages, whether through school, games, and especially television. It is time for people to unlearn what they have been taught and start opening their minds about this particular subject. It is the nature of prejudice that is the reason why we have violence in the world.
Topic: racism

I don’t think Derek would have come to have a change in attitude or behavior had it not been for the experience he had in jail. Coming full circle and realizing the reality that not everyone is the same and just because of your race, religion or gender we all are individuals. Derek was a product of his environment. Having conformed to a group of neo-nazi people who do nothing but see their world and don’t think out side of it. This would be kind of like the saying thinking out of the box. Until his ordeal in jail he had experienced groupthink. A tragedy had to happen in order for a cultural change to take place.
Topic: racism

The man is enraged at how he is treated, but he knows he is strong enough to fight back. This is shown in the line, “But I laugh,/ and eat well,/ And grow strong.” The following stanza’s tone is of warning and caution. The man warns the people, that he will become powerful, and that no one will dare to harm him in the future. Then in the next stanza, the tone changes once again. The man is much calmer and speaks proudly that one day “they’ll see how beautiful I am/ And be ashamed.
Topic: racism

The poem’s use of simple language helps to clearly define what the poet wants to express. The saying that “strong people don’t waste words,” is shown here, as the poem is short and to the point. It could also reflect the uneducated class, or the clarity and simplicity of their just complaint. The poem is also made more effective by using words with deeper meanings. For example, the word, “brother,” means family and symbolizes equality and acceptance. Another example, “sit at the table,” has its literal meaning, and also a second meaning, indicating politics and being involved in making decisions. The fact that the poem is short and simple but can express so much meaning shows how the diction of this poem adds to its effectiveness.
Topic: racism

Likewise, the use of imagery in this poem adds to the poem’s effectiveness. The poet uses a lot of domestic images. The reader can picture the large house of a wealthy family, the kitchen- the servant’s quarters- and the dining room. The poem also contains a few metaphors and symbols. Metaphors and symbols are used because they say what we want to say, more vividly and forcefully. In the line, “I am the darker brother,” the person is comparing himself to a family member. It is clear that he is not part of his employer’s family, but here the word “brother” symbolizes equality and acceptance into a society.
Topic: racism

An example of symbolism used in this poem is seen in the line, “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes.” It has two meanings. The literal meaning means the employers send him away when guests arrive. The other meaning means America trying to conceal her racial “problems” to show the world a different image of the country. Another example is “I’ll sit at the table.” The literal meaning just means to sit at a table, but it also symbolizes being in charge and making decisions. These comparisons and symbols illustrate the point so well that they increase the effectiveness of the poem.
Topic: racism

In looking at Derrick Bell’s “The Space Traders” as an allegory, the characters personify the abstract subjects of late twentieth-century racial politics. In the text the politics of the United States revolves around anti-black thinking, and many white subjects believe that all the environmental and economical problems in the U.S. is due to the black race. Secondly, “the space trade” comprehends Bell’s concept of “the permanence of racism” in the Unites States. Bell believes that “the space trade” is somewhat familiar to the first African slave trade, and that these two events occur because of “the permanence of racism” in our society and the structures that allow this repetition to exist.
Topic: racism

In “The Space Traders”, Gleason Golightly, a black economics professor who is an unofficial cabinet member of the president, believes that black people need to stand on their own feet. Although he always has good intentions for the black race, he is considered an Uncle Tom by the black community because of his political positions. In “The Space Traders”, Golightly says, “As you know, Mr. President, I have supported this administration’s policies that have led to the repeal of some civil rights laws, to invalidation of most affirmative action programs, and to severe reduction in appropriations for public assistance.
Topic: racism

I sincerely believe that black people needed to stand up on their own feet, free of special protection by civil rights laws, the suffocating burden of welfare checks, and the stigmatizing influence of affirmative action programs. In helping you undermine these policies, I realized that your reasons for doing so differed from mine. And yet I went along.” Bell personifies Golightly as a black neo-conservative in late twentieth-century racial politics, and because of his conservative beliefs and his continuous support of anti-black views, he is not respected by black subjects. The aliens in “The Space Traders” also play a critical role in demonstrating the racial politics that exist in the late twentieth-century. Their actions are similar to that of capitalists because they are only interested in their own needs and wants. Their supremacy in attaining their wants, the African-Americans, is demonstrated when their head alien spoke and looked similar to former President Reagan. Bell states, “Then came the second surprise. The leaders of this vast armada could speak English. Moreover, they spoke in the familiar comforting tones of former President Reagan, having dubbed his recorded voice into a computerized language-translation system.”
Topic: racism

The aliens did their marketing research on what appeals to Americans, and they realized that Reagan’s image, monotone voice, and simple speech is persuasive to white Americans and it reflects what Americans want to see and hear. This persuasiveness inevitably enabled the aliens to take all black subjects back to their land. The white cabinet members also play significant roles in “The Space Traders”. The cabinet members are anti-black activists who disregard the Bill of Rights, and believe that “the space trade” would guarantee that America would conquer its present problems and be lead to prosperity for at least the next century. In “The Space Traders”, Helen Hipmeyer, Secretary of Health and Human Services, says, “A large percentage of blacks rely on welfare and other social services. Their departure would ease substantially the burden on our state and national budgets. Why, the cost of caring for black AIDS victims alone has been extraordinary…” Hipmeyer strongly believes that black Americans are the reason for all the social and economical problems in the U.S., and that with their departure the nation’s problems could substantially diminish.
Topic: racism

The Attorney General also believes the aliens offer should be accepted. When speaking to the cabinet members he states, “Mr. President, I think we could put together a legislative package modeled on the Selective Service Act of 1918. Courts have uniformly upheld this statue and its predecessors as being well within congressional power to exact enforced military duty at home or abroad by United States citizens. While I don’t see any constitutional problems, there would like be quite a debate in Congress. But if the mail they are receiving is anything like ours, then the pressure for passage will be irresistible.”
Topic: racism

How can the Attorney General not see a constitutional problem with “the space trade”? In my opinion, the fact that the Attorney General, and the other white cabinet members, disregard the constitution and are willing to release the blacks without knowing what will come of them, solidifies their lack of ethics and the extent in which politics in the U.S. revolves around anti-black thinking. In “The Space Traders” the political positions of the characters enables one to determine the extent in which racial politics exists in this country, and the text also analyzes “the space trade” and comprehends it with Bell’s concept of “the permanence of racism” in the U.S.
Topic: racism

In “The Space Traders”, Bell is able to analyze “the permanence of racism” by calling attention to the similarities between the past and present history of the United States. He believes that “the space trade” is very similar to the first African slave trade, and that racism has existed in this country since the founding of the nation to the late twentieth-century. When the White House and Congress first received phone calls and faxes regarding “the space trade” it was evident that anti-black thinking was a common characteristic of many white subjects. Bell writes, “At least a third of the flood of phone calls and faxes urging quick acceptance of the offer expressed the view that what the nation would give up its African-American citizens – was a worthwhile as what it would receive. The statement accurately reflected relations at the dawn of the new century. The President had, like his predecessors for the last generation, successfully exploited racial fears and hostility in his election campaign.
Topic: racism

There had been complaints, of course, but those from his political opponents sounded like sour grapes. They, too, had tried to minimize the input of blacks so as not to frighten away white voters.” This inhumane decision, demonstrated by the white race, to banish all blacks without knowing where they will go solidifies the fact that whites will never allow the black race to become part of the American people. This unethical act toward black Americans allows the reader to understand that racism will continue to exist in the American culture, and that inhumane acts toward man can indeed exist. If the aliens wanted the white race would America be so willing to release them? Absolutely not!! In my opinion, the major motivation for this country is for blacks to not have anything whites do, and by accepting “the space trade” offer that goal would be accomplished.
Topic: racism

The fact that the offer was even considered was unconstitutional, but it just reiterates the reality that throughout American history blacks have always been hated. Professor Golightly was aware of this hatred toward black subjects, and when he spoke to the cabinet members after the trade had been offered he said, “It is a mark of just how far out of the mainstream black people are that this proposition is given any serious consideration. Were the Space Traders attracted by and asking to trade any other group – white women with red hair and green eyes, for example – a horrified public would order the visitors off the planet without a moment’s hesitation.
Topic: racism

The revulsion would not be less because the number of persons with those physical characteristics are surely fewer than the twenty million black citizens you are ready to condemn to intergalactic exile…” Bell’s concept of “the permanence of racism” in the U.S. is comprehended by “the space trade”, and by looking at “The Space Traders” as an allegory, one is able to understand that American is not about the will of the people but about who has the power and guns.
Topic: racism

In “The Space Traders”, there is a direct correlation between the abstract subjects of late twentieth-century racial politics, and Bell’s concept of “the permanence of racism” in the United States. Bell’s ability to symbolize the characters in “The Space Traders”, allows his readers to comprehend his belief that racism will always exist in America. In conclusion, it is my belief that a color line will always exist in the U.S. between white and black subjects, and that this country’s political and social structure is centered on the will of the white race.
Topic: racism

Your assignment is to compare the missions of the UNIA and the NAACP and write about each organization’s approaches to confronting discrimination. You will then assume the role of a young African American living in the 1920s who has joined one of the organizations and explain your reasons for joining in a brief paragraph. Before you get started, look over the NAACP’s mission statement, the Explanation of the Objects of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, and what you have previously learned about the two groups.
Topic: racism

Studies now show that racism plays a significant role in the development of health and mental issues. Heath effects of racism range from boosting risk of depression, anxiety and anger. These are all factors that can lead to heart disease and other health related issues. Despite the general agreement that racism is wrong there is little evidence that programs and incentives are actually having much affect decreasing its devastating results. In addition, the lack of health care escalates the problem as many minorities are not properly covered in relation to Caucasians.
Topic: racism

African Americans make up over twelve percent of the population of the United States yet this race has a significantly higher mortality rate that any other group. Based on their findings regarding life expectancy, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention insists that on average the Caucasian population in the United States life expectancy exceeds that of the African American population by almost five and a half years. Moreover, the same source states that deaths due to heart disease were 31% higher in black American than their white counterparts (CDC, 2005).
Topic: racism

However, a new focus has emerged. One of the biggest culprits is stress. Studies show that constant exposure to racism creates a level of stress that which makes African Americans vulnerable to health problems such as heart disease, and hypertension. According to an early study by Sherman James of Duke University, people who cope with overwhelming stress on a regular basis by exerting “prodigious physical and mental effort” open themselves up to potentially devastating health issues. James’ study suggests that specifically blacks pay a physical price, with higher rates of blood pressure and hypertension (James, 1994). James began his research in the early 1980s which shows that this issue has been constantly building over time.
Topic: racism

A study done by the Harvard School of Public Health found that not only was race related stress responsible for a wide range of African American health issues like high blood pressure, but by internalizing the stress drives it up even higher. After examining the reactions of a multitude of African American volunteers to racist stimulus, the study showed a pronounced spike in heart rate and blood pressure. In addition it took much longer for the subjects to recover (Sternthal, 2011). This data leads to the determination that African Americans forced to deal with lifetime of this sort of stimulus will certainly prolong the effect.
Topic: racism

Moreover, many African Americans state that, for various reasons, they tend to suppress such inner turmoil. Needless to say, failure to sufficiently cope following a racist experience leads to compounding the problems. To further these findings, a study by St. Johns University found that individuals experiencing racist situations during the day still had an elevated blood pressure that night. Thus, for African Americans, racist experiences have a prolonged effect (Brondolo, 2009).
Topic: racism

Compounding the problem for African Americans is the lack of access to health insurance. Research states that over 38 million Americans are uninsured with a disproportionate number of those being African Americans. There are a few reasons for this. First, a great deal of access to health insurance in the United States tie in with employment. The unemployment rate of African Americans, which has historically been higher that white Americans, coupled with general economic problems help lead to a lack of medical insurance within the black community. The Center for Disease Control notes a significant gap between African Americans covered with health insurance relative to their Caucasian counterparts (CDC, 2008).
Topic: racism

Welfare reform which was initiated in 1996 has taken its toll as well. This has resulted in the reduction in the use of eligible Medicaid recipients due to the unawareness of qualified individuals. Thus the number of uninsured persons rose even higher. There is no question that many African Americans use various social welfare programs which in some ways have closed the health care gap. However, the extent of care received by individuals who access programs like Medicare and Medicaid can be questioned. Treatment options available through health insurance companies are much more comprehensive relative to most social programs. The overall care in most cases is simply not the same.
Topic: racism

Living in poverty causes a twofold problem for African Americans. People living in extremely poor urban areas in the United States have a higher premature death rate that persons living in underdeveloped nations around the world. This fact can be attributed to exposure to racism, unhealthy lifestyle and constant threat of violence. For African Americans living in poverty in the United States facing these issues on a daily basis causes an increased level of stress and anxiety from a feeling of constant embattlement. This often leads to a higher risk of extremely unhealthy physical and mental issues.
Topic: racism

Poverty also plays a significant role in the availability of quality health care for African Americans. With the rising poverty level so rises the need for quality health care. Statistics say that almost nine million African Americans lived in poverty in 2004 which was an increase of over 250,000 from the previous two years (USCB, 2005). African American poverty rates continue to hover around twice that of the national rate. These facts lead to an additional problem, that of access and quality of health care that is available.
Topic: racism

Based on the issues discussed earlier and the impact on the health of African Americans, this group is more likely to need health treatment at some point. Lack of sufficient treatment has been the subject of several studies which have relinquished significant results. Studies in such areas as AIDS, cardio vascular disease, heart disease, internal medicine, mental health and others have all found a disparity in the level of attention paid and treatment given. Though this fact can be based on several factors, race does have an important role.
Topic: racism

A study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that white Americans seeking treatment for various heath issue, received significantly better treatment with regard to thoroughness of care, diagnostic work, and follow-up care than African Americans. However, the study also found that their data held true regardless of income and education of the patient. Moreover, studies found that doctors are more aggressive with white American while treating illnesses. In fact, the favored patient seems to be white males between the ages of 25 to 44 while the least favored is African American women (Schuster, 2012).
Topic: racism

However, lack of treatment is not the only problem facing African Americans in the area of health care. Equally important is information of preventative care. Having access to preventative strategies and education could possibly help with many of the health issues facing African Americans. Preventative medicine has in the past been a useful tool for all Americans. This would be particularly useful for African American mothers and mothers to be. Studies show that minority women have less access to birth control options, family planning facilities in their communities and information of prenatal care.
Topic: racism

According to a study by Emory University in Atlanta, higher mortality rates have been reported due greatly to poverty related issues such as poor nutrition, insufficient prenatal care, stress, high blood pressure, low birth weights and preterm births. In addition, infant mortality rate also speaks to the health of pregnant women, children, infants and its association with maternal health, as well as quality and access to prenatal care. The same study found that African American women are more likely to have children who are premature and low birth weight than Caucasian women and every other minority (Jackson, 2007).
Topic: racism

In addition, African American infants are 2.4 times more likely to die within their first year than white infants (Jackson, 2007). For some, stress was added to an already stressful situation as African American mothers stated that they were scared of having a black male child because of the way some they are treated in this country. A study by Chicago’s Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University noted that black women who “delivered low weight, premature infants have a twofold greater lifelong exposure to racial discrimination than African American women who delivered full-term, normal weight babies (Collins, 2009, p. 65). The women identified racism as a major health risk (Collins, 2009).
Topic: racism

A report published by the Urban Institute in 2010 found that the longer children stayed in poverty the more difficult they would have dealing with the stressors that environment creates. In turn, this creates the additional problem of escalating the risk they will face from long term health problems. African American children growing up in poverty often face the additional threat of malnutrition. The lack of an adequate diet and nutrition for developing children can contribute to a great number of health problems for years to come. Ironically, studies show that obesity has become a side effect of malnutrition. This is due to the fact that for children who do not receive proper and essential foods will most often make a diet of unhealthy foods such as fast food. Moreover, childhood malnutrition, hunger and obesity can all lead to problems such as weakened immune system, chronic fatigue and developmental issues (Ratcliffe, 2010).
Topic: racism

As stated earlier, racism can also take the form of obesity which attacks the African American community. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that there is a 51 percent higher prevalence of obesity in the African American population that that of white Americans (CDC, 2009). When one considers that African Americans make up an extremely large portion of the nation’s poverty, it is certainly no stretch to link obesity and poverty. Experts have found that, in the United States, obesity rates are higher in states that make up the rural South where poverty within the African American population is a drastic problem.
Topic: racism

Fueling the problem is that it is much cheaper to buy foods that are sugar and fatty ingredients than it is to buy fruits and vegetables. Moreover, within most low income communities it is much easier to attain junk food and fast food than food with high nutritional value. A study by the University of Washington found that subsidies paid to farmers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture surround crops such as soybeans and corn which are central to the creation of typical junk food. Thus it costs “five times less per calorie to by Twinkies and soda than broccoli and apples” (Drewnowski, 2009).
Topic: racism

However the obesity can have other far reaching effects on African Americans. Studies have shown that obesity becomes a matter of how people view and classify others even at a very young age. Research by the University of Hawaii’s Journal of Academic Writing found that children begin as early as age six to connect obesity with laziness, ugliness, and stupidity among others (Chernov, 2006). Needless to say, as children grow into adults they often face discrimination based on obesity. In fact, many of the stereotypes that are linked with obesity (laziness, sloppiness, health risks which could lead to absence from work) have become reasons for individuals’ failure to attain employment (Chernov, 2006).