After reading Takaki Chapter 3 I was troubled by the way he went in depth with the difference between black slaves and white servants. I never knew that white servants and black slaves were treated so differently. Takaki also discussed the different ethnic class in the early years of the United States of America. I never believed that one of our presidents was a slave owner himself in Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was also talked about as a founding father who would never believe blacks and whites could co-exist.
With the help of a Shakespeare play, “The Tempest”, Takaki informs us of how in that time slaves were looked down upon in both the way they looked and the way they acted. Takaki gives us instances of when a black and white had relations and were punished because it was a forbidden encounter. Takaki then goes into detail on the difference between white servants and black slaves. Slaves were seen as objects rather than humans. They were valuable to the white slave owner and to his profit. Whereas white servants were forced to work for a short number of time. Takaki gives an example of a man who believed the same thing about whites and blacks, Thomas Jefferson. He believed whites and blacks could never get along although he argued against the use of slavery and wanted to abolish it all together in the United States. Takaki then goes into detail on the different types of white classes in the early years of America. There were so many white people but little actually owned land, which caused friction through out the classes. For instance, in the north east several militias were set up to protect the property from new travelers overseas. Another example is how some classes feared that the lesser well off classes would take sides with the enemy in spite of their riches.
How is it fair that white servants were treated differently than black slaves? It is not fair at all. Both are forms of slavery and it ridiculous that race is an excuse for the way the servants and slaves are treated differently. Takaki described in Chapter 3 that because of the fact that the black slaves were uncivilized and non Christian they were not seen as high up as white servants. The African Americans were not seen as human but only an object were the white servants were still treated with respect.
I learned a lot about reading Takaki Chapter 3. I was interesting to me to read about the difference between black slaves and white servants. I just don’t understand how people can be so ignorant and selfish to treat someone the way they were treated. It is very troubling to go on with these readings because of that. Yet, this was probably the reading I enjoyed the most because the information was new to me and interesting.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Chapter 8 of Johnson
In Chapter 8 of Johnson: “Getting Off the Hook: Denial and Resistance” the author goes into detail on how today’s society uses denial and blame to make events in life look better than what they really are.
In Chapter 8 the author states that “no one likes to see themselves as connected to someone else’s misery, no matter how remote the link”. (108) Not only is denial a problem but minimization of the trouble by acknowledging that it exists but then claiming that it does not amount to anything is just as big a problem. When people in dominant groups such as white males practice denial, it hardly seems to occur to them that they are in a poor situation to know exactly what they are talking about. If a dominant group acts like they know better than others do about what they are up against is just the kind of problem society is facing. Denial is also seen as taking the form of having lesser known groups actually being better off than dominant groups. “One can acknowledge that terrible things happen to people and still get off the hook by blaming it all on them” (110) The result of putting blame on others is that it is putting blame on the people who suffer most from it, while the more dominant groups are not effected. The combination of denial and minimization often results in the claim that everyone in today’s society actually likes things the way they are.
How can others stay away from denial and minimization? I believe that denial, minimization, and blaming others will always be around. We must understand as a society that even though this corrupt way of thinking will probably be around for the long run, we should still try to do what is right and look past the way others get by in life. We must not stoop to people’s levels who think this way that it is alright to blame others for ones own actions.
I enjoyed this chapter a lot because of the way the author gave specific examples in which we encounter and probably gone through in every day life. I learned a lot about not only how our society works but how you must look out for yourself because there are people out there who will want nothing more than to run you over.
In Chapter 8 the author states that “no one likes to see themselves as connected to someone else’s misery, no matter how remote the link”. (108) Not only is denial a problem but minimization of the trouble by acknowledging that it exists but then claiming that it does not amount to anything is just as big a problem. When people in dominant groups such as white males practice denial, it hardly seems to occur to them that they are in a poor situation to know exactly what they are talking about. If a dominant group acts like they know better than others do about what they are up against is just the kind of problem society is facing. Denial is also seen as taking the form of having lesser known groups actually being better off than dominant groups. “One can acknowledge that terrible things happen to people and still get off the hook by blaming it all on them” (110) The result of putting blame on others is that it is putting blame on the people who suffer most from it, while the more dominant groups are not effected. The combination of denial and minimization often results in the claim that everyone in today’s society actually likes things the way they are.
How can others stay away from denial and minimization? I believe that denial, minimization, and blaming others will always be around. We must understand as a society that even though this corrupt way of thinking will probably be around for the long run, we should still try to do what is right and look past the way others get by in life. We must not stoop to people’s levels who think this way that it is alright to blame others for ones own actions.
I enjoyed this chapter a lot because of the way the author gave specific examples in which we encounter and probably gone through in every day life. I learned a lot about not only how our society works but how you must look out for yourself because there are people out there who will want nothing more than to run you over.
Chapter 6 of Johnson
The social norm in today’s society was discussed in Chapter 6 of Johnson. What is the social norm? Many believe that being a straight, white, male is the norm because we have supposedly done the most in this world. But what really is the social norm in today’s society? Does if have to be a straight, white, male? Chapter 6 of Johnson discusses these questions.
In Chapter 6 of Johnson it is said that as we participate in social systems, we are shaped as individual people. Through socialization we learn to participate in life, whether it is in school, religion, or our family. We learn by examples set for us by coaches, teachers, and peers. Examples that teach us what is right and what is wrong, value this over that, and what is considered accepted and what is not. Through all of that we develop a sense of identity and how that identity positions itself with other people of gender, race, and ethnic background. Our identity has developed though out our life since we were little. We know that there are other alternatives but we are too scared to believe in anything else but the norm. We are too scared to go against what we were taught our whole lives and to go against what today’s society believes is correct.
Is socialization the reason why I believe in what believe in today? I agree with what Chapter 6 of Johnson said. For as early as I can remember I have been surrounded by people telling me their experiences and what the feel is right. The foundation of socialization comes for out parents. If our parents brought us up the way they did then there is a good chance that we both believe in the same type of things. From coaches to teachers they all try to lecture us with what the think is the norm. I was brought up Roman Catholic. My parents took me to church every Sunday and put me through Catholic grade school and Catholic high school. Because of that upbringing, I believe is the reason why I am a devout believer in the Roman Catholic Church today.
In Chapter 6 of Johnson I realized that I am who I am today because of those around me. Thank God I was surrounded with people with good values and morals. People who cared for me and my overall look on life. Others are not that fortunate. Others are brought up with racist parents and are brought up with wrong values and morals. Today, I believe our society does not have overall healthy morals and values but if my generation brings our children up with what is the right norm then our society will change for the better.
In Chapter 6 of Johnson it is said that as we participate in social systems, we are shaped as individual people. Through socialization we learn to participate in life, whether it is in school, religion, or our family. We learn by examples set for us by coaches, teachers, and peers. Examples that teach us what is right and what is wrong, value this over that, and what is considered accepted and what is not. Through all of that we develop a sense of identity and how that identity positions itself with other people of gender, race, and ethnic background. Our identity has developed though out our life since we were little. We know that there are other alternatives but we are too scared to believe in anything else but the norm. We are too scared to go against what we were taught our whole lives and to go against what today’s society believes is correct.
Is socialization the reason why I believe in what believe in today? I agree with what Chapter 6 of Johnson said. For as early as I can remember I have been surrounded by people telling me their experiences and what the feel is right. The foundation of socialization comes for out parents. If our parents brought us up the way they did then there is a good chance that we both believe in the same type of things. From coaches to teachers they all try to lecture us with what the think is the norm. I was brought up Roman Catholic. My parents took me to church every Sunday and put me through Catholic grade school and Catholic high school. Because of that upbringing, I believe is the reason why I am a devout believer in the Roman Catholic Church today.
In Chapter 6 of Johnson I realized that I am who I am today because of those around me. Thank God I was surrounded with people with good values and morals. People who cared for me and my overall look on life. Others are not that fortunate. Others are brought up with racist parents and are brought up with wrong values and morals. Today, I believe our society does not have overall healthy morals and values but if my generation brings our children up with what is the right norm then our society will change for the better.
Chapter 3 of Johnson
The term Capitalism is an economic system in which investment in an ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained by individuals or corporations. Capitalism was around during the time of the civil war and is still around today in 2007. Capitalism is something that everyone looks at as relating to stocks or money, never would anyone relate it to slavery. In Chapter 3 of Johnson, capitalism is looked at as a cause of slavery then and now.
In the history of the United States capitalism has played a part in racism. Even before the Civil War, white plantation owners would use capitalism to make a profit for themselves. African American slaves were used for cheap labor on cotton and tobacco plantations in the south. The African American slaves were used for economic reasons. Planters chose to minimize labor costs by using slaves instead of paying free workers a living wage. Even after the Civil War in 1860, capitalism controlled the African Americans. A way capitalism was used to control workers was to keep them worried over the possibility of losing their job for complaining about their working conditions or asking for higher wages.
Does capitalism still play a part in racism today? I do not believe capitalism plays a role in racism in today’s society. With minorities beginning to earn more and become wealthy, they also have been taking part in capitalism. Capitalism today is not what it was in the 1800s. Capitalism today does not cause hardship as it did back then and even though in terms of trying to make a profit, it is done in the right way. In Chapter 3 of Johnson I realized that capitalism was used as a way for white plantation owners to make a buck. Money and greed went to their heads and instead of thinking for other people like the African American slaves they thought of the profit they would receive in return.
I believe capitalism was a corrupt system. One that gave a black eye to the United States of America for causing racial discrimination in our country. Today, I believe it has changed for the better. Even though capitalism brings along pride, competition, and profit in return for a better living for ones family, I believe it is done the right and correct way.
In the history of the United States capitalism has played a part in racism. Even before the Civil War, white plantation owners would use capitalism to make a profit for themselves. African American slaves were used for cheap labor on cotton and tobacco plantations in the south. The African American slaves were used for economic reasons. Planters chose to minimize labor costs by using slaves instead of paying free workers a living wage. Even after the Civil War in 1860, capitalism controlled the African Americans. A way capitalism was used to control workers was to keep them worried over the possibility of losing their job for complaining about their working conditions or asking for higher wages.
Does capitalism still play a part in racism today? I do not believe capitalism plays a role in racism in today’s society. With minorities beginning to earn more and become wealthy, they also have been taking part in capitalism. Capitalism today is not what it was in the 1800s. Capitalism today does not cause hardship as it did back then and even though in terms of trying to make a profit, it is done in the right way. In Chapter 3 of Johnson I realized that capitalism was used as a way for white plantation owners to make a buck. Money and greed went to their heads and instead of thinking for other people like the African American slaves they thought of the profit they would receive in return.
I believe capitalism was a corrupt system. One that gave a black eye to the United States of America for causing racial discrimination in our country. Today, I believe it has changed for the better. Even though capitalism brings along pride, competition, and profit in return for a better living for ones family, I believe it is done the right and correct way.
Chapter 2 of Johnson
In Chapter 2 of Johnson: “Privilege, Oppression and Difference” starts off by expressing the differences in race and gender and the problems and troubles that come with it. He states that “The trouble that surrounds difference is really about privilege and power.” It is clear that in Chapter 2 the point that wants to come across is that we must stop ignoring privileges and believing that difference itself is the problem.
In the beginning of the chapter Johnson uses a “diversity wheel” that labels social characteristics to make a point. In the “diversity wheel” there are six social characteristics including age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, and qualities such as being left or right handed. On the outer side of the wheel there are several other social characteristics including religion, marital status, education, occupation, and income. Johnson answered the questions in the “diversity wheel” himself and then suggested to the reader stopping reading and do the same thing. The answers I came up with were that I am a 19 year old white male who is right handed. I believe in the Roman Catholic religion, I am single, I am unemployed and still in college. Upon answering the questions Johnson then wanted us to change one answer of ours into something opposite. After changing our answer he wanted us to think to ourselves if we would then be treated any differently by society.
Would society treat an individual different just because of one change in a social characteristic? I believe the society we live in today would treat an individual different because of a change in social characteristics. If I would wake up tomorrow and be a black homosexual male instead of a white heterosexual male, I believe people would treat me differently. If I so happened to wake up a black homosexual male tomorrow morning and put on my usual clothes and talked the same way I do now I believe I would be treated differently. Not just because of the color of my skin but because black people usually do not dress or talk the way I do now. I believe not only society would treat my different but maybe my own friends and family would as well. Opportunities that were once open to me I believe would close due to the fact that not only is society uncomfortable around homosexuals, society is still not open to blacks the way that it should be.
Chapter 2 of Johnson: “Privilege, Oppression and Difference” really made me think about the way our society is still not where it needs to be. To think that if only one social characteristic would change about me out of all of them I would be judged and treated differently makes me upset. Our society is so judgmental not only on race but on gender, physical ability, and income. Our society believes what it thinks is right and it is never right.
In the beginning of the chapter Johnson uses a “diversity wheel” that labels social characteristics to make a point. In the “diversity wheel” there are six social characteristics including age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, and qualities such as being left or right handed. On the outer side of the wheel there are several other social characteristics including religion, marital status, education, occupation, and income. Johnson answered the questions in the “diversity wheel” himself and then suggested to the reader stopping reading and do the same thing. The answers I came up with were that I am a 19 year old white male who is right handed. I believe in the Roman Catholic religion, I am single, I am unemployed and still in college. Upon answering the questions Johnson then wanted us to change one answer of ours into something opposite. After changing our answer he wanted us to think to ourselves if we would then be treated any differently by society.
Would society treat an individual different just because of one change in a social characteristic? I believe the society we live in today would treat an individual different because of a change in social characteristics. If I would wake up tomorrow and be a black homosexual male instead of a white heterosexual male, I believe people would treat me differently. If I so happened to wake up a black homosexual male tomorrow morning and put on my usual clothes and talked the same way I do now I believe I would be treated differently. Not just because of the color of my skin but because black people usually do not dress or talk the way I do now. I believe not only society would treat my different but maybe my own friends and family would as well. Opportunities that were once open to me I believe would close due to the fact that not only is society uncomfortable around homosexuals, society is still not open to blacks the way that it should be.
Chapter 2 of Johnson: “Privilege, Oppression and Difference” really made me think about the way our society is still not where it needs to be. To think that if only one social characteristic would change about me out of all of them I would be judged and treated differently makes me upset. Our society is so judgmental not only on race but on gender, physical ability, and income. Our society believes what it thinks is right and it is never right.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Race: The Power of Illusion
The movie Race: The Power of Illusion investigated race in society, science, and history. Why are black athletes always the biggest, fastest, and strongest? This movie goes above and beyond answering this question. This movie answered everything from experimenting on bone structures, to class projects on each other’s DNA, to truly finding out if black people have an extra bone in their leg. All the questions I have asked myself my whole life about the opposite race were answered.
The start of the movie takes place in a classroom where the students will participate in a DNA experiment. The DNA experiment is to teach the class a lesson that even though on the outside it looks like we are so different; on the inside we are so much alike. Before the experiment began they were to write down who they thought they were most alike in the class. Naturally, the Asians picked other Asians, African Americans chose other African Americans, and whites decided to pick other whites through out the class. The class is made up of African American athletes to Asian string players. The students in the class are surprised when they discover their closest genetic matches are as likely to be with people from other races as their own. They are stunned to realize that an African American female track star is more similar to an Asian male violinist than to another African American female athlete. A white male is shocked to find out that not only is he genetically matched to his eastern European roots, he is also genetically matched to an African male in Nigeria. The movie continues on with the myth of the extra bone in an African American leg. This myth couldn’t be farther from the truth. After Jesse Owens won gold in the 1937 Olympics he was studied and examined. Not one thing was found out of the ordinary that could distinguish him from a white male.
How different are we from other races? The truth is we are not different at all. We are similar to every race in the world. From African American, Asian, Indian, to Caucasian we are all genetically matched. Inside all of use we are all the same, there are not extra bones in some races and not others. The only thing that divides us in the minds of others is the color of our skin, and even that can be explained. The color of our skin is the result of where are ancestors were located and vitamin D from the sun. We are all the same no matter what color we are or how our hair looks.
I learned a lot about the movie Race: The Power of Illusion. I enjoyed watching the class learn more and more about the results from the DNA test. I could tell from the expression on their faces that they were not expecting the answer they had received. It is hard to except the fact that even though we are all genetically similar then why did so many die before us? It is very sad to think that so many lives were lost because we really did believe we were different of those with different skin color. Now we know the truth and should make an attempt to tell those who don’t believe the same that we are all truly the identical.
The start of the movie takes place in a classroom where the students will participate in a DNA experiment. The DNA experiment is to teach the class a lesson that even though on the outside it looks like we are so different; on the inside we are so much alike. Before the experiment began they were to write down who they thought they were most alike in the class. Naturally, the Asians picked other Asians, African Americans chose other African Americans, and whites decided to pick other whites through out the class. The class is made up of African American athletes to Asian string players. The students in the class are surprised when they discover their closest genetic matches are as likely to be with people from other races as their own. They are stunned to realize that an African American female track star is more similar to an Asian male violinist than to another African American female athlete. A white male is shocked to find out that not only is he genetically matched to his eastern European roots, he is also genetically matched to an African male in Nigeria. The movie continues on with the myth of the extra bone in an African American leg. This myth couldn’t be farther from the truth. After Jesse Owens won gold in the 1937 Olympics he was studied and examined. Not one thing was found out of the ordinary that could distinguish him from a white male.
How different are we from other races? The truth is we are not different at all. We are similar to every race in the world. From African American, Asian, Indian, to Caucasian we are all genetically matched. Inside all of use we are all the same, there are not extra bones in some races and not others. The only thing that divides us in the minds of others is the color of our skin, and even that can be explained. The color of our skin is the result of where are ancestors were located and vitamin D from the sun. We are all the same no matter what color we are or how our hair looks.
I learned a lot about the movie Race: The Power of Illusion. I enjoyed watching the class learn more and more about the results from the DNA test. I could tell from the expression on their faces that they were not expecting the answer they had received. It is hard to except the fact that even though we are all genetically similar then why did so many die before us? It is very sad to think that so many lives were lost because we really did believe we were different of those with different skin color. Now we know the truth and should make an attempt to tell those who don’t believe the same that we are all truly the identical.
Drawing the Color Line
In chapter 2 “Drawing the Color Line”, Howard Zinn states that “there is not a country in the world history in which racism has been more important for so long a time, as the United States” (P23). Howard Zinn answers many of the questions we are asking ourselves today. Why do we have race? How did it start and when will it end? Zinn takes us back to the English colonies where slavery begins to label a difference between whites and blacks.
From the very beginning the black men and woman tried everything to resist their enslavement. From running away to organizing rebellious actions, the blacks would try anything to keep their dignity as human beings. The punishment was death for those caught trying to run away and yet nothing stopped them as they tried to keep their tribal heritage alive. It was a powerful system of control that the slave owners developed to try to maintain their way of life. The slaves were taught to obey the master and to “know their place” (29). They were told that being black was less-fortunate. The slave owners used a psychological and physical system to break down the slaves. They made them weak internally by breaking up their families and making them believe there was no hope. They also made them physically weak by whipping, burning, and sometimes even killing. Yet even after all of that some still escaped. Not a lot but enough to keep the white slave owners living in fear.
When will black segregation end? I believe we have made strides throughout the past fifty years on black segregation. Since the 1960s whites and blacks were given the same rights even though people today still do not support not respect it. For those people who judge people by their color even today is hard to believe. Racism is based on history and happened when America was young and stupid. The type of racism that existed in the 1700s does not exist in 2007. Black segregation has ended as far as I am concerned; we are equal in one country.
I was already familiar with how the slaves were treated but to read about it and how they suffered not just physically but mentally really touched me. It is amazing to see how far we have grown and matured as a country in the past generation. To think twenty years before I was born segregation was still going on is mind boggling and stunning. I was stunned to read how many slaves died not only because of the treatment from the slave owners but being transported to the plantations as well.
From the very beginning the black men and woman tried everything to resist their enslavement. From running away to organizing rebellious actions, the blacks would try anything to keep their dignity as human beings. The punishment was death for those caught trying to run away and yet nothing stopped them as they tried to keep their tribal heritage alive. It was a powerful system of control that the slave owners developed to try to maintain their way of life. The slaves were taught to obey the master and to “know their place” (29). They were told that being black was less-fortunate. The slave owners used a psychological and physical system to break down the slaves. They made them weak internally by breaking up their families and making them believe there was no hope. They also made them physically weak by whipping, burning, and sometimes even killing. Yet even after all of that some still escaped. Not a lot but enough to keep the white slave owners living in fear.
When will black segregation end? I believe we have made strides throughout the past fifty years on black segregation. Since the 1960s whites and blacks were given the same rights even though people today still do not support not respect it. For those people who judge people by their color even today is hard to believe. Racism is based on history and happened when America was young and stupid. The type of racism that existed in the 1700s does not exist in 2007. Black segregation has ended as far as I am concerned; we are equal in one country.
I was already familiar with how the slaves were treated but to read about it and how they suffered not just physically but mentally really touched me. It is amazing to see how far we have grown and matured as a country in the past generation. To think twenty years before I was born segregation was still going on is mind boggling and stunning. I was stunned to read how many slaves died not only because of the treatment from the slave owners but being transported to the plantations as well.
About Me
My name is Lee Marquette. I am 19 years old and I am from Rossford, Ohio. I am currently in the Air National Guard and a sophomore at Bowling Green State University. I went to High school at Toledo Central Catholic. I played football and won the State Championship my senior year in Division II. I chose BGSU because it was close to home and family means a lot to me. I plan on majoring in Marketing and hopefully in only 4 years. I love watching movies in my free time. My all time favorite is Casino Royale. I am a big sports fanatic, my favorite team is the New England Patriots. I enjoy being active and try to break a sweat at least once a day. My girlfriend and I have been dating since our junior year at Central. She got a scholarship at the University of Georgia so I travel down south whenever I get the chance.
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