The following image that I chose is of Joe Louis who was a boxing champion in the 1930's and 40's. During the middle of his career he served in World War II. In the picture it shows him in his military uniform. He looks down almost looking sad. All the other men around him are happy because they get to serve along side a great boxing champion. He might feel sad by the fact that he is probably one of the few black men in the military and he is surrounded by white men. During his time in the service he performed in exhibition boxing matches for the troops. He provided the entertainment for the troops to pick up their morale.
Many African Americans felt discriminated against in their own country and then they had to fight for their country which did not give them rights at home. Joe Louis was one of the few beloved black individuals in America because he was a world champion and he defeated Max Schmelling who was a German boxer just before World War II began. His victory over Schmelling symbolized the greatness of America over the evil Nazi Germany. He had to be conflicted because he beloved in one sense but in the other he didn't get all the rights as his white counterparts. When he returned home he knew he wasn't going to get any huge advantages because he was a black man. He would have to go back into boxing and fight for as long as he could to make a living.
Many of the sacrifices of black soldiers for a long time have gone unnoticed. For example the Tuskegee Airmen who flew many missions in World War II. It is only until recently that they are getting recognition for their service. They received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service last year. It must have been hard for black athletes during this time period because they were loved for their athletic achievement but yet called racist names and discriminated against because of the color of their skin.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
African Americans and Simpson Verdict final
The news article I chose is called "African Americans Respond to the Simpson Verdict". Many in the African American community were extremely happy because they felt one of their own beat the system that they felt has discriminated against them for centuries. You had black people who even thought O.J. Simpson committed the murders still were happy to see him free. The Simpson case created a great divide we have in our country between white and black America. White Americans saw a guilty man in Simpson that got away with it. It was one of the few times where a black man was let off and a chief reason of that was he had the best legal team a guy could have. The jury was heavily a minority which favored Simpson. It had been proven that the Los Angeles Police Department was racist by the testimony from Mark Fuhrman.
Our judicial system has been unfair to blacks throughout our nations history. The case involving Medgar Evers which he was shot by a white man who was let free by an all white jury. It took almost 25 years for the trial to be redone and justice was finally served and the white man who committed the murder was found guilty. Also blacks saw this as payback for the Emmitt Till murder in the 1950's.
It really ashame when our justice system becomes that racially divided. Any evidence that should be brought before a court should be conclusive evidence not based on someones race. But in our society today many people see justice in either black or white terms. In present day our judicial system has done a better job of trying to promote diversity in our court rooms and through out law enforcement matters as well. If we as a society put pressure on our legal system to do the right thing by being more of umpires and calling it down the middle and not by race then the better off a society we will be.
I found this news article from Ethnic NewsWatch
Our judicial system has been unfair to blacks throughout our nations history. The case involving Medgar Evers which he was shot by a white man who was let free by an all white jury. It took almost 25 years for the trial to be redone and justice was finally served and the white man who committed the murder was found guilty. Also blacks saw this as payback for the Emmitt Till murder in the 1950's.
It really ashame when our justice system becomes that racially divided. Any evidence that should be brought before a court should be conclusive evidence not based on someones race. But in our society today many people see justice in either black or white terms. In present day our judicial system has done a better job of trying to promote diversity in our court rooms and through out law enforcement matters as well. If we as a society put pressure on our legal system to do the right thing by being more of umpires and calling it down the middle and not by race then the better off a society we will be.
I found this news article from Ethnic NewsWatch
Mortgage lending discrimination
The news article I chose is called African Americans and mortgage lending discrimination. The article goes into how banks were not providing adequate credit in certain inner-city black dominated neighborhoods. The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 was to provide a remedy to this problem by addressing the issue of discrimination by requiring lending institutions to document mortgage lending patterns. The Act was a step in right direction but it was coming under fire for lending patterns in disporportionate rate for whites to non whites. This is what the Federal Reserve Board concluded in a study in 1990. Minority groups tended to have worse credit and a lower net worth than there white counterparts. Plus minorities tended to buy multiple-family houses than whites. On the hole most people had some flaw in their credit but in most cases a white individual would be granted a loan compared to a black individual.
The reason I chose this article is because it goes into discrimination practices by banks and not giving out loans to African American families. In the power of race video it kind of toughed on this issue. African Americans wanted to own homes right after World War II including veterans of that war. They wanted to live in the suburbs but were denied in getting loans because of the color of their skin. Obviously this type of discrimination happened before the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 but blacks were still getting discriminated against in the lack of loans they were getting. After this lenders put in policies that tried to level the playing field in order to not have discrimination.
African Americans want to live in the American Dream and there is nothing more American than owning your own home. It was great that they put the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act but in anything that deals with bureaucracy it tends not to function well. Plus people have hidden prejudices against African American. They probable saw this as blacks moving on up in society and thought this would hurt the white family.
In the future these organizations that are in charge of lending need to perform more equality and should not discriminate against minority groups. Every person wants to live in the American Dream and should be given an opportunity to fullfill their dreams. After all our nation was
The reason I chose this article is because it goes into discrimination practices by banks and not giving out loans to African American families. In the power of race video it kind of toughed on this issue. African Americans wanted to own homes right after World War II including veterans of that war. They wanted to live in the suburbs but were denied in getting loans because of the color of their skin. Obviously this type of discrimination happened before the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 but blacks were still getting discriminated against in the lack of loans they were getting. After this lenders put in policies that tried to level the playing field in order to not have discrimination.
African Americans want to live in the American Dream and there is nothing more American than owning your own home. It was great that they put the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act but in anything that deals with bureaucracy it tends not to function well. Plus people have hidden prejudices against African American. They probable saw this as blacks moving on up in society and thought this would hurt the white family.
In the future these organizations that are in charge of lending need to perform more equality and should not discriminate against minority groups. Every person wants to live in the American Dream and should be given an opportunity to fullfill their dreams. After all our nation was
Racism on your shoe final
The magazine article that I have selected is called "Is That Racism on Your Shoe? It describes how between blacks and whites there is seperation. The groups want to stay together within each other and do not want to associate with the other side. They segregate themselves from each other living in different areas of town and society. The author describes how their seems to be a "pile of poop in the middle of the room". These different groups tip-toe around each other not wanting to interact because they come from different cultures. It really damages someones perspective of the world if they do not associate with a particular race. The article talks about that if no friction or interaction happens between blacks and whites then we haven't made the progress some people had thought we had. While 75% of the white population favor integration in housing areas and interracial marriages another 25% want segregation. People feel that if there is seperation of the races then the tensions will be lowered and we will live a more peaceful society. It hinders your learning by not having experiences with blacks or any other minority group. The more cultured you are the better off you will be as a person. The more productive a society you will be if intergration is practiced than segregation. Blacks might have skills that a white person doesn't and if segregation is practiced then a society will be lagging because the skills they need are not available. People at the founding did not give blacks a chance to educate themselves. That is why in south during the mid to late 19th century the south lagged behind the north in economic production because they did not emphasize education in dealing with agriculture and as a result their society failed.
The article also talks about interracial marriages and how even in a society where we have made great progress still many people are against people of different races marrying. Interracial marriage can only serve as a benefit because it makes the child experience both cultures in a different light. It diversifies them making them more tolerate and understanding of each group. They can also face discrimination among each side because they will say he is not black enough or is not white enough. It is like we talked about in class with described as fraction black even if you were white you would be discriminated against because laws varied from state to state.
As a country we need to start learning about the other side and not be afraid to talk to someone that is of the other skin color. You will probably learn something from them you didn't know. A knowledgable society, is a tolerant society which is a productive society which is a better society.
I found this article at www.sojo.net
The article also talks about interracial marriages and how even in a society where we have made great progress still many people are against people of different races marrying. Interracial marriage can only serve as a benefit because it makes the child experience both cultures in a different light. It diversifies them making them more tolerate and understanding of each group. They can also face discrimination among each side because they will say he is not black enough or is not white enough. It is like we talked about in class with described as fraction black even if you were white you would be discriminated against because laws varied from state to state.
As a country we need to start learning about the other side and not be afraid to talk to someone that is of the other skin color. You will probably learn something from them you didn't know. A knowledgable society, is a tolerant society which is a productive society which is a better society.
I found this article at www.sojo.net
Racism ignored by mainsteam final
The article that I selected is titled "Racism Ignored by Mainstream by Bunty Anquoe. The reason I selected this article is because it talks about the racism Native Americans deal with on a daily basis and it relatively goes ignored by the mainstream of society. The author compares the use of the word "redskin" to the "N" word used against blacks. In Takaki we talked about how Native Americans were taken advantage of by white men through the unfair treaties enacted that took their land away from them. This was done by our Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson. The article also goes into the certain policies that have hurt Native Americans. Congress seems to care more about animals and parks than Indians. Budgets every year seem to be cut by Congress and more money is allocated towards the status of a horned owl or a whale.
Another big issue for the Native American community is the term redskin, or Indian to describe certain professional sports teams. Let alone to have the professional football team in our nations capitol to be called the Washington Redskins. In class we talked about the symbols portraying different ethnic groups as Indians. The symbols to many people we saw in class would offend those races. Portraying Irish as drunk people, all Germans looking like Hitler and Catholics with wearing the Popes hat. Native Americans feel just as offended by the Redskins logo as would all Germans looking like Hitler.
The author seems to believe their is more of a public outcry of racism against blacks than their is against Native Americans. It is that situation because African American have spokesman who promote equal justice for all such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Native Americans really do not have a leader fighting for their rights. The African American community was able to get alot of the rights they have today through the hard work by these people. There might be a segment of the population that feels that it is easier to assimilate blacks than it is Native Americans. It might take us awhile as a country to give more rights to Native Americans because it took along time for whites to give rights to blacks. In our country things take time and movements do not just pop up out of the sky.
It is ashame that Native Americans are still getting discriminated. Minority groups of all kinds are still getting discriminated against. Native Americans do have a point when they say that their message is not getting out there about discrimination. Our country needs to step up and talk about Native Americans and how they should not be held down in our society today. The 1964 Civil Rights Act said you cannot discriminate against anyone based on race, creed, color. It is up to the media and Native Americans themselves to get there story out there so people will wake and stop the racism towards Native Americans.
I found this article through the Ethnic studies newsletter at Proquest
Another big issue for the Native American community is the term redskin, or Indian to describe certain professional sports teams. Let alone to have the professional football team in our nations capitol to be called the Washington Redskins. In class we talked about the symbols portraying different ethnic groups as Indians. The symbols to many people we saw in class would offend those races. Portraying Irish as drunk people, all Germans looking like Hitler and Catholics with wearing the Popes hat. Native Americans feel just as offended by the Redskins logo as would all Germans looking like Hitler.
The author seems to believe their is more of a public outcry of racism against blacks than their is against Native Americans. It is that situation because African American have spokesman who promote equal justice for all such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Native Americans really do not have a leader fighting for their rights. The African American community was able to get alot of the rights they have today through the hard work by these people. There might be a segment of the population that feels that it is easier to assimilate blacks than it is Native Americans. It might take us awhile as a country to give more rights to Native Americans because it took along time for whites to give rights to blacks. In our country things take time and movements do not just pop up out of the sky.
It is ashame that Native Americans are still getting discriminated. Minority groups of all kinds are still getting discriminated against. Native Americans do have a point when they say that their message is not getting out there about discrimination. Our country needs to step up and talk about Native Americans and how they should not be held down in our society today. The 1964 Civil Rights Act said you cannot discriminate against anyone based on race, creed, color. It is up to the media and Native Americans themselves to get there story out there so people will wake and stop the racism towards Native Americans.
I found this article through the Ethnic studies newsletter at Proquest
Immigration and racism final
This news article I found comes Time Magazine and is called "Is Racism Fueling the Immigration Debate". The article talks about how a new census report came out saying 45% of the nation's children under the age of five are racial or ethnic minorities. The hispanic population growth is going at an alarming rate. Some people use this growth as a chance to show their racial prejudices toward Hispanics. They see this as disturbing because in 25 years almost half of the population will be hispanic. There fearful they will be overrun by a darker skinned people and soon not be in the majority. But a census bureau released a projection a year earlier saying the hispanic population in the U.S. will be about 20.1% far below what the other census projected.
This speaks to the deeper issue of why I picked this article because it talks about racist feeling that still exist towards minorities and especially hispanics. In class we talked about how America wanted to expand its borders and fought a war with Mexico over the southern part of Texas. After the U.S. defeated Mexico, many Mexicans still lived in the land occupied by the U.S. feeling like prisoners in their own land. Many Mexicans felt like they should be getting all the rights the average American was granted.
In class we talked about why America expanded. It was because they wanted to build a great society in Mexico. The resources weren't being utilized to its fullest potential. They could create a booming middle class if people moved out their and expand the American economy.
The Mexican population must feel really angry because first America took their land then secondly they tell them your not welcome here. We are going to put up a wall in order to keep you out. The U.S. government does not send troops to the Canadian border because there is a tough of racism involved. The debate should be what kind of skills do Mexicans provide? Are they going into the labor force or more white collar jobs. Also an important question is if they are undocumented or not? Our country was founded on immigrants coming to this country such as the Irish, Germans, Italians etc. At that time they were discriminated against because they talked funny, their appearance was different, or they were thought to not have a strong work ethic. But we gradually accepted them into society and made America great. The same can be done for Mexicans, their skills and talent have a positive effect on America.
Not everyone that is against immigration is racist. They object to illegal immigration. Individuls who break our laws and come to this country illegally have to pay a price for doing this. It is not fair to all the people who waited their turn in line who were Mexicans and come to this country legally. Lawmakers right now are trying to come up with something that will stop the flow of illegal immigrants and at the same time create a guest worker program which will help in the situation of people who are already here illegally.
I found this article at time.com
In this article I took the knowledge of what I have learned about the Indians and how the U.S. government treated them to the issue of mexicans. I have leared to improve my knowledge of the issues and not blindly follow what the media says all the time on the issue of illegal immigration.
This speaks to the deeper issue of why I picked this article because it talks about racist feeling that still exist towards minorities and especially hispanics. In class we talked about how America wanted to expand its borders and fought a war with Mexico over the southern part of Texas. After the U.S. defeated Mexico, many Mexicans still lived in the land occupied by the U.S. feeling like prisoners in their own land. Many Mexicans felt like they should be getting all the rights the average American was granted.
In class we talked about why America expanded. It was because they wanted to build a great society in Mexico. The resources weren't being utilized to its fullest potential. They could create a booming middle class if people moved out their and expand the American economy.
The Mexican population must feel really angry because first America took their land then secondly they tell them your not welcome here. We are going to put up a wall in order to keep you out. The U.S. government does not send troops to the Canadian border because there is a tough of racism involved. The debate should be what kind of skills do Mexicans provide? Are they going into the labor force or more white collar jobs. Also an important question is if they are undocumented or not? Our country was founded on immigrants coming to this country such as the Irish, Germans, Italians etc. At that time they were discriminated against because they talked funny, their appearance was different, or they were thought to not have a strong work ethic. But we gradually accepted them into society and made America great. The same can be done for Mexicans, their skills and talent have a positive effect on America.
Not everyone that is against immigration is racist. They object to illegal immigration. Individuls who break our laws and come to this country illegally have to pay a price for doing this. It is not fair to all the people who waited their turn in line who were Mexicans and come to this country legally. Lawmakers right now are trying to come up with something that will stop the flow of illegal immigrants and at the same time create a guest worker program which will help in the situation of people who are already here illegally.
I found this article at time.com
In this article I took the knowledge of what I have learned about the Indians and how the U.S. government treated them to the issue of mexicans. I have leared to improve my knowledge of the issues and not blindly follow what the media says all the time on the issue of illegal immigration.
Terrorism and Racism final
The following news article is titled "You Can't Fight Terrorism With Racism" by Colbert I. King. The article talks about three op-ed pieces that were written describing how we should use ethnic, racial, national origin and religion to determine who is a potential terrorist. The author feels this infringes on rights of individuals in a free society. First he focuses on a op-ed written in the Washington Post by Charles Krauthammer. Krauthammer criticized the random bag checks program adopted in the New York subway. He says they should target "young Muslim men of North African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian origin. The thing of it is Krauthammer doesn't say how authorities should go about doing this. Another op-ed piece he criticizes is an article by Paul Sperry. Sperry says people should be on the look out for "people praying to Allah and who smell of flower water". Also it might be suspicious if men have just recently shaved you have to be on the look out for them. Then King points out that throughout history it hasn't been just the Arab looking man that has committed senseless acts of terrorism. For example, Timothy McVeigh killing 168 people in the Oklahoma City bombings and he was a white man. The bombing of a church in Mississippi, which killed black children were done by white men.
So you cannot simple go out and racially profile a certain group or race based on the fact that a horrific act was done by a group in the past. You must have hard evidence and use tactics that are not discriminatory towards people. In a nation that prides itself on civil liberties we cannot revert to what we did when we imprisoned Japanese Americans during World War II. The majority of muslims are hardworking decent people who want to live the American Dream just as much as a white individual. By using these racial tactics we alienate them from coming to our country and promotes a bad image of the United States around the world.
In todays society we have a dilemma that we face. Should we care more about national security or should we care more about civil liberties? That is a tough question. We know King sides with civil liberties but I tend to favor national security a little more. We need to use whatever methods legally to protect our way of life. Its unfortunate that we might have to suspect and look closer at people who are Arabs, but what is at stake is our lives and safety. The fact is most terrorist come from the Middle East area as Krauthammer points out. What the United States did during World War II was wrong in imprisoning Japanese Americans and it is not what we are currently doing to Arabs. They are still able to live freely and practice their religion. We need to be concerned about civil liberties and when it becomes excessive we need to stand up for those rights. But when it comes to national security we need to be aware of what happened on 9/11 and never forget because if we do then our way of life will be under attack once again by terrorists who have vowed to destroy us.
I found this article at wwwe.washingtonpost.com
So you cannot simple go out and racially profile a certain group or race based on the fact that a horrific act was done by a group in the past. You must have hard evidence and use tactics that are not discriminatory towards people. In a nation that prides itself on civil liberties we cannot revert to what we did when we imprisoned Japanese Americans during World War II. The majority of muslims are hardworking decent people who want to live the American Dream just as much as a white individual. By using these racial tactics we alienate them from coming to our country and promotes a bad image of the United States around the world.
In todays society we have a dilemma that we face. Should we care more about national security or should we care more about civil liberties? That is a tough question. We know King sides with civil liberties but I tend to favor national security a little more. We need to use whatever methods legally to protect our way of life. Its unfortunate that we might have to suspect and look closer at people who are Arabs, but what is at stake is our lives and safety. The fact is most terrorist come from the Middle East area as Krauthammer points out. What the United States did during World War II was wrong in imprisoning Japanese Americans and it is not what we are currently doing to Arabs. They are still able to live freely and practice their religion. We need to be concerned about civil liberties and when it becomes excessive we need to stand up for those rights. But when it comes to national security we need to be aware of what happened on 9/11 and never forget because if we do then our way of life will be under attack once again by terrorists who have vowed to destroy us.
I found this article at wwwe.washingtonpost.com
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