Erasing @race- Going White in the (Inter) Face- Kolko

In chapter 12 of “Race in Cyberspace,” Beth E. Kolko begins by discussing interactions people have with technology. She brings in the concept of cyberspace and argues that there is a more intense engagement with cyberspace than with simply a computer. Cyberspace allows people to decide their identity and who they want to be. Kolko notes that race is a missing factor when developing a virtual identity. She goes on to discuss that there are many different virtual worlds. Characters within these worlds have properties that reflect “real life” elements of identity and allow them to define their virtual self (215). A person’s use of language to describe oneself is highly important in cyberspace. She notes that most of the five senses that are presented face-to-face are not in the virtual world. Through cyberspace, there are several properties that are available to be presented. However, Kolko notes that race is not one of them and therefore the “default race” is assumed to be white (216). Sites that do not present an @race property means that racial identity is irrelevant and that the “ideal” user is a white user. Cynthia Selfe and Richard Selfe saw that their computer-based teaching contributes to a larger cultural system. Interfaces allow users to see the outcomes or what it produces but not the actual program (219). Interfaces are powerful and equally important for what they show and what they don’t show. Kolko argues that “the effaced @race is a component of interface that helps construct the kinds of experience users can have online” (222). Even for certain virtual sites that allow people to mark their race, it disappears when “role-playing games (RPGs) are not present and the site is simply social. It was also believed that while people say that race was taken out of the virtual world, it was never actually there (224). A lack of race in cyberspace represents the technology as “raceless” to the user. Kolko’s conclusion for this chapter is that bringing race into cyberspace will provide information that can be useful in other communication systems and about how users bring perception and pattern into it (230).

After reading this chapter, it was brought to my attention that race is rarely included in the virtual world. For example, facebook does not included a section where people are able to define their race if they have the desire. One question I would pose for this section is why is there such a need to establish race through cyberspace? Some people may choose to do so but I personally don’t feel that it is necessary. Also, I do not think of everyone on the internet to be white but I can see where some would think that.

Facebook post

This picture was found on one of my old high school friend’s facebook page. In the picture are my friend and his father who is titled at “Poppa Raj.” They are both making similar gestures towards the camera. Their hands are raised away from their bodies and their hands are positioned with their middle finder over their ring fingers. The father has a rather plan look on his face with a little bit of a smile mixed in. The son is smiling without his teeth and seems to be excited at the moment. From the background, they are inside their home and seem to be a rather privileged family. The rooms seem to be large, there are several paintings that are hanging on the wall and I see a granite counter top as well.

They are making a gesture that is most associated with the black community. I know this because one of the comments made on the picture said something along the lines of “your dad’s going gangstaaa.” Many of the other comments made on the picture show that the viewers really like the picture and are completely surprised by it as well. Viewers may be surprised by this because they are of Hindu decent and it is highly unlikely that someone of another minority group would add to a stereotype of another minority group (blacks). Blacks have suffered enormous amounts throughout history and the representation of this picture does not seem to be politically correct. Other people viewing this picture are just seeing it as a joke and that it is extremely funny. However, they are not aware of the message it sends to others in cyberspace.

Race in Cyberspace- I’ll take My Stand in Dixie-Net (McPherson)

The reading from “Race in Cyberspace” written by Tara McPherson talks about southern history and the motives of most white males in the south that she sees through internet websites. People in the south want to keep the region as a confederacy. McPherson goes on to introduce such websites as “cyber-south” websites. “Cyber-south” websites discriminate mainly against blacks and women. These websites were mainly established by white men of a wide range of ages. Southern history fills the pages of these sites. Plantation life is an example of some of the information that is mentioned within these sites. Also, women are displayed as they were many years ago doing activities such as sewing. McPherson makes clear that there is not one specific website that portrays each aspect of what she considers “cyber-Confederacy” to be. However, many of the websites do display Southern separatism of nationalism along with some type of a mission statement that shares the group’s aims (121). She also makes the point that “Such narratives highlight that, much like webpages, the South is sill undergoing ‘reconstruction’” (123). Sites also mention “the cultural genocide of the Confederacy” (125). The “virtual battle” that is being fought is to defend Southern heritage that is white. The white men who develop the websites define the term “whiteness” through images of “blackness” (126). There are several symbols such as the Southern flag that represent the meaning of “whiteness” (127). McPherson ends this chapter talking about the “neo-confederates” as the conservative group. Also, how when they are creating websites about the south, they only talk about the ways southern white males see southern heritage instead of including things such as slavery.

I thought that this section was difficult to understand at first and I did not grasp her point. I had never heard of some of the concepts before reading McPherson’s chapter. While I am such her findings on this topic are correct, I have personally never some across one of the websites she is talking about and if I have, I did not realize it. I will make such to pay attention to such things from now on. How does racism still occur after all or country has been through? People have heard of the racism that went on back then and now it finally needs to come to an end. I think it is sad that racism still exists within out society.

Cybertypes Race, Ethnicity, and Identity on the Internet

In chapter 4 of “Cybertypes Race, Ethnicity, and Identity on the Internet,” Lisa Nakamura discusses different types of discrimination that are present within the internet. According to the commercial “Anthem,” “There is no race. There is no gender. There is no age…There are only minds” on the internet (87). Within Nakamura’s analysis of several advertisements she concludes that race and discrimination are in fact present within them. In “Anthem” diversity is presented in a visual way and the MCI internet services that we only see minds. However, Nakamura makes the valid point that “If technology will indeed make everyone, everything, and every place the same, as ‘Anthem’…then where is there left to go?” (92). In one ad, the depiction of race should be eliminated or should be considered “’not to count’ through technology” (88). If we can communicate through computers and networks “without ‘the rest of it’” then our world would be without boundaries, “a world without limits” (89). In one instance, a Compaq advertisement shows children admiring the rain forest. The ad frames the entire ad to show a window into an “other” world (91). This ad illustrates that the product will preserve nature and all its beauties through the image on the screen. Another ad shows an Arab man on a camel and in the background behind him are perfectly displayed pyramids. The natural image this picture provides is taken away by the supposedly comedic cartoon dialogue. This dialogue takes away from what the actual picture was supposed to signify. The people who made the ad intended for the Arab man to look nothing like someone who would normally refer to cyberspace. This ad made the camel rider look “authentic” and different than United States citizens appear.

While I was reading this section, I was having a difficult time understanding the idea of what Nakamura was trying to get across. Part of this was because of the language used. It was a change from the pieces we have been reading in this class so it through me off a little bit. Once I was finished reading I’m pretty sure I understand the chapter for the most part. One question I would ask is what is the ratio of ads that produce discrimination verses ads that do not? While the internet may give off some bad vibes I feel that it has made a large positive impact within our society and changed our world for the better.

“Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch”

The article, “Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch” written by Dwight McBride is about his personal views on the store. He begins by discussing his personal encounter with the label “Abercrombie & Fitch.” One night while he was out with his friends he noticed someone wearing a shirt that sported the logo and as he continued to look around he noticed that one-third of the men there were wearing some form of their clothing (60). He then goes on to discuss of the history of the store. “Abercrombie & Fitch” became known in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie. The store produced “high-end gear for hunters, fishermen, campers, and explorers” (62). A partnership later developed in 1904 with lawyer Ezra Fitch, which today is the label of an expensive clothing line within A&F. As the years went on, A&F began to grow and expand its store. Clothing became available for purchase for men and women. Abercrombie’s reputation was well established when the “rich and famous” such as John F. Kennedy became customers “as the outfitter of the rich, famous, and powerful” (63). Even in the earlier stages of A&F, the store catered to the white upper classes. Today, “Abercrombie & Fitch has devised a very clear marketing and advertising strategy that celebrate whiteness…has worked hard to produce a brand strongly associated with young, white, upper-class, leisure lifestyle” (66). While the clothes at A&F are geared towards whites, the hiring is looking for the same thing. Words such as “natural, classic, American” are often used to describe those who are A&F worthy. Therefore, the Native American is excluded from applicants who may be looking to be hired. Companies such as Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic are geared more towards the upper-class but they are open to other races in advertising and employment for their companies (72). McBride then concludes from this that these companies are not on the same level as A&F.

After reading this article, I feel badly that people are being discriminated against within a clothing store I used to shop in. I do not agree with anything A&F does in relation to their employees. However, I don’t think that their clothing suggests that it is meant only for white people. Even if it does and people disagree with me, there is clothing that is geared only towards groups such as black that if I wore such brands of clothing I would be looked at differently. One thing I would like to know is what about the store Hollister? This is close to the same thing as A&F and I would like to know if it is seen as the same in relation to the race and class controversies.

Takaki Chapter 12

In chapter 12, Takaki begins to discuss the views and hope the Mexicans had of America. Word spread fast that America was a nice place and more and more people wanted to come. Many Mexicans left Mexico to escape starvation and to receive wealth and prosperity. Mexicans could easily enter and leave the United States without passports whenever they wanted (312). Frustration and anger lead to the Mexican Revolution. The civil war spread across Mexico and lead to hundreds and thousands of deaths. Mexicans fled Mexico and planned to return once the conditions were better. However, conditions did no get better. Migrants were pulled “El Norte” and worked a wide rage of manual jobs that were usually the worst jobs. Transportation accelerated the movement of Mexicans into the United States (315). Mexicans were sad to leave their home land. Mexicans soon saw the discrimination within their work force and realized that working in “El Norte” was different than it used to be in Mexico. White farmers believe that “no one drives him (the Mexican), he can stop any time and his pay is by the weight at the scales. There’s…no oppression” (321). Mexicans worked for extremely low wages and this caused many of them to go into debt so they were not able to leave their employers. Mexicans often moved jobs. The location of their jobs changed where they would be living. “Mexicans are ‘here today and elsewhere tomorrow’” (324). This shows that the growers did not care where they were and simply used them for their labor. Mexicans wanted their children to be well educated to they “won’t have to kill themselves working” (329). However, Mexicans attending American schools was seen as a threat to “Anglo racial and cultural homogeneity” (329). Overall, while Mexicans were able to establish their own lifestyles in America and carry their traditions over the border, they never actually felt at home in America.

After reading this chapter, I felt bad that the Mexicans had such high hopes for the United States and did not get what they were expecting out of it. They ended up disliking it and wishing they could go back to their home land but they needed the employment in the United States. One question I would pose for this chapter is did the Americans want the Mexicans to return to their homeland aside from their work benefits in the United States?

“The Power of the Illusion” (Part 3)

The film “The Power of the Illusion,” begins by discussing the concept of race. As more and more immigrants came to America, the different races were new and apart from anything they had ever seen before. Skin color became the way whites were classifying others. The color of one’s skin carried along several stereotypes. It was noted in the film that “the United States is the origin of race.” Immigrants came to America to seek economic opportunity and to have a better life for them and their families. Immigrants and minority groups within the United States were forced to work the hardest and most dangerous jobs. Eventually, what was known as “the melting pot” came into the picture. The idea of “the melting pot” was the melting or the assimilation of all white races and making one race, Americans. However, this concept did not include those races of colored skin such as blacks and Asians. “To be white was to gain the full rewards as an American citizen.” This shows that the white race had the ultimate power and authority in American at this time. Other races were not considered to be United States citizens because they were not Caucasian. White men who decided such things always said what whiteness wasn’t and not what it was. Housing discrimination existed among blacks. While they were continuing to immigrate into America, black families were not allowed to live in white neighborhoods. Integration among neighborhoods would lower property values in the area. Because of this, blacks were forced to live in public housing. The Fair Housing Act eliminated segregation among housing and allowed blacks to move into white neighborhoods. Shortly after this act was presented, the idea of “block busting” was developed. “Block busting” happened when black moved into white neighborhoods causing whites to move out of the area turning the original white neighborhood into an all black neighborhood. Whites did not like this and moving out of their homes into new ones hurt the real estate of the area. As whites moved out of their homes, they took their resources with them.

After watching this film, I felt bad that those of other races had such a difficult time in America. They came here for freedom and were not treated fairly. While many of the immigrants shared the same beliefs as whites, their skin color stopped them from pursuing their idea of the American and was always holding them back. Did the races that were accepted into “the melting pot” share the same beliefs as those that were Caucasian? Were beliefs even considered?

Takaki Chapter 7

In chapter 7, “Foreigners in their Native Land,” Takaki discusses America’s expansion of the United States westward. This chapter begins talking about how the Mexicans had found California first. The developed their own lifestyle here and Spanish was the dominate language spoken in the territory. During this time, there were a few Americans in California. The Mexicans tolerated them however, problems began when “Yankees” were coming in groups to California planning to “transform the territory into their own image” (171). The Mexican-American War was brought on by this along with the Bear Flag rebellion, which took place in Texas (172). American immigration into Texas became prohibited however; American continued to cress the border as illegal aliens. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo shows that the U.S. gave Mexico $15 million for the southwest territories. The total amount of land the U.S. gained was one-half of Mexico (176). This treaty allowed Mexicans who were in the “new” U.S. to remain there or move back to Mexico. “If they stayed, they would be guaranteed ‘the enjoyment of all the right of citizens of the United States according to the principles of the Constitution’” (177). However, this statement did not mean much to the Americans because laws were enacted that were aimed at Mexicans (178). Eventually, Mexican landholders were stripped of their land clearly showing that they did not receive rights as a U.S. citizen did. Americans also had greater access to bank credit allowing them to be financially stronger than the Mexicans (182). Mexican workers were forced to do manual and dangerous labor while Anglo workers operated machines. Mexicans were paid less than Americans too. Takaki concludes the chapter by discussing when two minority groups, Japanese and Spanish, came together to form a union.
After reading this chapter on Takaki, I feel sorry for the Mexicans would were settled in the American land before the “Yankees” took over and moved in. It seems to me that there has been a pattern with in our readings with the United States promising something to a minority group and never following through with their promise or idea and that makes me feel badly because it seems that the U.S. was not a good country back then.
In this chapter I would pose two questions. First, did Mexicans who lived in Mexico know what was happening to their people in the U.S.? Second, did those living in Mexico want to come to the U.S. too?

How Jews Became White Folks

In “How Jews Became White,” Karen Brodkin discusses what Jews went through in order to gain more rights in the United Sates years ago. In this section, overall, the Jews became more privileged and were recognized more as equal to whites (the dominant group). They were able to do this through post-war economic prosperity and government assistance (43). However, African Americans were not as privileged and were still dealing with discrimination. In the beginning, Brodkin addresses that Blacks, Jews and immigrants were at one point in time all discriminated against among the dominant groups within America. She goes on to say that there were about 3-4 major European races one of which were Jews, who were considered to be the “worst of all” (41). According to Madison Grant in The Passing of the Great Race, his nightmare was “race-mixing” and believed that “the cress between any of the three European races and a Jew is a Jew” (40). Significant numbers of Jews were the first Euro-immigrant groups to enter college to get a higher education and received discrimination because of it (41). It was believed that Jewish success was because of hard work and s high value of education. While Jews had social mobility, they were still limited. As Brodkin grew older, she sates, “our ethnic backgrounds seemed so irrelevant to high school culture” and Jews were viewed as white (43). Before the war, Americans as well as Jews were defined by occupation, education and income (45). After the war, white racist violence increased against blacks making the dominant groups turn antiblack. Blacks were discriminated in the education and occupational system. The Federal government supported racial segregation. Segregation against blacks kept them out of the suburbs because of the rating system and refusal to guarantee loans which made it almost impossible for African Americans to borrow money for home improvement or purchase.
After reading this I find it interesting to see the transitions in racism. Eventually, religion and origin did not matter and privilege became solely based on skin color. One positive thing I can take from this is that it was good that people were able to overcome some forms of racism which gives me hope that racism that exists today can be overcome. How would life have been back then and even now if there was no such thing as racism? Would we find something else to discriminate against?

Takaki Chapter 6 (Emigrants from Erin)

Chapter 6 of Takaki discusses the immigration of the Irish to America. During the beginning of their emigration, the Irish believed they were being driven from their homeland by “English tyranny.” One Irish migrant thought of the movement to America as “artificial.” English colonizers forced the Irish to become Christian and they grew to practice the religion and prefer it over others. Some of the living conditions in Ireland were very poor. One family was assigned to a cabin that did not include anything for a family to live reasonably. The Irish believed that instead of living in Ireland and “starve like slaves,” they could immigrate to “the Land of Promise.” They believed that moving to America would be a better lifestyle. Instead of immigrating to America, they became “migratory workers.” The Irish fled to the United States during the Great Famine because they felt that was their only way of survival from the potato blight. Before leaving Ireland to immigrate, they attended parties for their departure known as “American wake” where they would basically say good-bye to their friends and family because they knew they would most likely not see each other again. The ship ride over to America was tightly packed and about 2o% of the emigrants died on the way over to America. Once in America, the Irish were known as “slaves for the Americans” (148). The Irish soon realized that their immigration into America was not what they had thought it would be. They came in “pursuit of riches, but they failed to find ‘gold on the street corners.’” The Irish began to be compared to black and were though of as ‘race of savages’ and were viewed as outcasts (149). Eventually, the Irish believed that is they wanted to be respected they would have to “promote their whiteness” which caused them to become “antiblack” (151). The Irish grew to believe that since they’re been in America so long that it was home to them now.
After having read Takaki chapter 6, I found it interesting that the Irish went through everything they did in order to come to America and gain their respect once they were here. I thought it was interesting when the Irish began to separate themselves from the blacks by encouraging that they were part of the white race. What if the Irish had never distinguished themselves from blacks? Would the Irish have been part of slavery along with blacks?

"A Challenge to Democracy"

The film, “A Challenge to Democracy” discussed the Americanism of the Japanese. During this time period, the Japanese were taken out of their “normal” lives they had made up in America. Here they were shipped to other areas of the country and in one case, a man whose hobby was machine work soon became his job. This sort of thing was done by Americans so they could win the war. They got the Japanese to specialize in areas where they worked best in order to increase their production levels or such things as food and supplies. This film was made with the intention of Americans to view it.
The film begins to talk about the evacuation of the Japanese and dislocated people in America. Areas were built called relocation centers. These places could house 7 to 18 thousand people and was guarded by the police. The living areas were 20x25 feet and there was little privacy within them. Everyone ate in a cafeteria where each person was allowed a maximum on 45 cents of food per day. This amount costs more than what it actually cost to produce the food. Some people were able to hold jobs and the pay ranged from $12 a month for beginners to $19 a month for skilled workers such as doctors. These centers also offered an American education as well as health protection. The teachers consisted of some Caucasian and others were evacuees. Within the health services, Japanese who worked there were supervised by Caucasian. Elections also took place in the centers for such things as rules and regulations of the area. People of 18 years and older were able to vote. It was stated that these health centers were not normal and probably never would be. The living and working conditions were not good. According to the film, the Americanism of the Japanese was most prevalent in the United States army. The film shows how the Americans were once again trying to civilize an outside group of people (Japanese) and fit into their culture to rid the savagery idea.
I was a little confused by this film. I would have liked to know a little more background information on what was happening at this time in America. What sparked the want to civilize the Japanese? Why were the centers created and were they found to be useful to the Americans?

Takaki- Chapter 10 Pacific Crossings

In chapter 10, Takaki discusses the time during the 1800s when many Japanese and some Chinese people migrated to the United States and the affect it played on the country. To many people overseas, the United States was this amazing new development and they could not wait to see it. They were filled with many hopes and dreams of this newly developed land. The Japanese heard stories that workers made more money and believed that “money grew on trees.” They then developed the idea that they would come to America to work and save up a lot of money and eventually return home. The migrants to America started as all men but eventually included women as well. This fascination with the New World also lead to a system referred to as “picture brides.” Throughout this process, the Japanese had more benefits than the Chinese. Japanese women were earning wages within the work force while Chinese women were restricted to farm and home. The Japanese saw men and women to be more equal allowing women to be educated and able to work. While the Japanese migrated to the U.S. in hopes of a better life, they remained the minority in the New World and received jobs of hard labor. Within these jobs they worked for low wages under the watch white men. Eventually, despite the stereotype that the Japanese were “passive victims of exploitation” the Japanese aggressively protested against the unfair labor conditions and developed “blood unions.” They were demanding “higher wages, an eight- hour day, an insurance fund for retired employees and paid maternity leaves.” However, this did not work because the U.S. simply hired Koreans, Hawaiians, Chinese, Portuguese and Filipinos as scabs. Eventually, the striking stopped when they realized they were hurting their Hawaiian economy. Workers were then separated by their nationality into camps with poor living conditions. Planters got immigrant laborers to speak English so they could give commands to their work force. As the children of immigrant workers grew up, the planters wanted them to have little to no opportunities. They feared the new generation would not be plantation laborers but instead intelligent citizens and this was because the schools were not preparing them to be laborers. While the Japanese were treated poorly in Hawaii, in California they were a racial minority. Many Japanese had plans to come to the New World and establish a living and make money and then return to Japan with earnings. However, many Japanese did not follow through with this plan and ended up staying in Hawaii.
Throughout the migration process, why didn’t the Japanese return to Japan in the end after they had gotten what they wanted out of the New World?
I thought this reading was interesting and I learned a lot. I was not aware the working conditions in Hawaii during this time. Also, I found it horrible when a Japanese person wanted to buy land in Los Angeles and he was not allowed because of his race.

EXTRA CREDIT- Race: The Power of the Illusion

The idea of race has been around for a long time. The first slaves in Virginia were brought over in 1619. At this time, religion played a larger role than race when it came down to the issue of who was to be considered a slave, and who was not. Those such as Indians, who were not Christian were seen as savages and called slaves. Eventually, the classification for slaves became based on race. Being a Christian was no longer important and white skin color became commonly use. At this time, slavery and blackness came together and everything about the relationship between blacks and slavery grew to be natural.
Thomas Jefferson personally owned 125 slaves at one point. He was the first person to develop race and he took part in writing the Declaration of Independence. Many began to question how he, an owner of 125 slaves, supported and signed a document that was stating things about equality in ways such as “all men are created equal.”
The next thing on Jefferson’s mind was the Indians. He believed that although the Indians were savages, they could still be civilized. Jefferson had very little contact with the Indians and decided that the easiest and cheapest way to avoid war and take their land was through civilization. His idea was to make Indians into “brown-white men.” Jefferson believed that what made black people inferior to white people was scientific.
The video goes on to discuss Jackson’s plan of action with the Indians. He believed that people of similar race should be in the same nations. In order to justify the removal of the Indians he blamed them for their lack of intelligence and their savagery and therefore they should disappear. In 1838, the U.S. army forced Cherokees out of the Georgia land by gunpoint. Then, in 1848, the U.S. went to war with Mexico for even more land because they believed the west belonged to white Americans. After the war, the U.S. received one-third of Mexico’s land.
The conclusion to the scientific observation between blacks and whites was that slaves were not able to exit in a white society because they were inferior. Some people even came to believe that slaves were of a different specie than whites and that no two distinctly marked races could reside together.
The conflicts of slavery lead the U.S. to war. Everything that people believed seems so outrageous. Poor white were told to be proud and thankful that they were at least white. This statement seemed funny to me because although these whites were poor the fact that they were white was an honor. What if the U.S. army went into black people’s homes today and held them at gunpoint in order to take over their house? The U.S. government would be able to get anything they wanted through this method they used many years ago.

EXTRA CREDIT- Rothenberg (The Ethics of Living Jim Crow)

After slavery was abolished, rights among blacks and whites were still not equal. Richard White discusses his experiences growing up as a black child during this time. He had to learn several lessons the hard way and he eventually learned in order to get things he wanted such as an education, he would have to steel or lie. He learned from his mistakes and developed a true understanding of what the world he was growing up in was really like.
In Richard’s first job interview for an optical company, he talks about how he made sure to be polite to the boss by answering with “yessirs” and “nosirs.” He talks about how he realized his place during the interview and that his boss was white and he black. White talks about how he “had visions of ‘working his way up’” within his new job. Eventually he realized that would not happen anytime soon and that a black boy such as himself should never dream such things because they were unrealistic at the time. In White’s first job, he worked with two white men. At first, he thought they were all friends until they wouldn’t help Richard learn anything in his job and he realized they thought of him only as a black man and nothing more. These two white men felt threatened by White’s willingness to learn and then began to terrorize him. Richard was forced to leave his job because he was intimidated by the white men and felt inferior as well.
Throughout “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow,” Richard goes through several jobs where he experiences discrimination throughout all of them. He got beaten or tormented for even looking at a white person the wrong way. Once White learned that if he wanted to develop an education, he would have to do it himself through lying or steeling. In order to get library books, White would write a note to the librarian stating that he was allowed to check out the books for a white man.
I could not imagine living in a society where such things took place. What if today’s society was still segregated like it used to be? When reading this, it made me feel horrible. I don’t know how I would be able to survive if I was treated the way Richard White was throughout his childhood and adolescence. I could not imagine living in fear all the time as they were forced to.

Ethnic Notions film

During the time of slavery, the idea of slavery was not seen as wrong or immoral. The Ethnic Notions film discussed slavery and how it was perceived at the time it was occurring. The film showed comics from the time period, most of which were of blacks. These images appealed especially to whites. Many of the caricatures shown in the film portrayed blacks as happy. The images shown did not portray what blacks actually looked like.
The character Mame was the standard female black slave of the time period. She was presented as docile, loyal, protective, happy and fat. She definitely was not seen as a sexual character. This was mainly because that would then attract the master of the household and would therefore create competition for the wife of the household. Mame was also portrayed differently with her families than how she is with her master’s household. With her families, she is the dominant figure or the controller over the man.
Was slavery ever seen as bad to those who are not black? Why were slaves portrayed as happy if slavery was not the least bit pleasant? To me, it seems that since slavery was portrayed as pleasant (as shown in the film), non-black people may never have realized what was actually occurring and the true effects of it. Perhaps non-blacks had dug themselves into too deep of a hole to get out of slavery so they changed the whole idea around to ignore what was really happening.
This film introduced me to an entirely new idea. I was not aware that blacks were perceived as “happy” during the time of slavery. One thing that stuck out to me while watching the film was the phrase, “No disgrace in being a black man, but it’s terribly inconvenient.” This phrase shows that blacks were never ashamed to be black but those around them (non-blacks) made their lives inconvenient in comparison to everyone else.

Takaki Chapter 3

In the beginning of chapter 3, Takaki starts off by discussing skin color. At the time, according to the English, the color black portrayed negative images and the color white had to do with purity. Early on, most slaves were white indentured servants. The black population was growing very slowly at the time. As the population grew, blacks were used more and more as slaves. There was a time when whites and black shared equal labor condition in Virginia and they were all free laborers and shared a kind of partnership. On occasion, whites and blacks would even run away together in order to escape the lives they had been given. As time went on, black servants were separated from white servants because it became more and more obvious that African slaves were more useful that English indentured servants. African laborers were able to be shipped over in large groups, cheaper because serving for life had become more profitable and were able to serve their masters as slaves for longer periods of time (life status). White slaves became pardoned of slavery because of the “giddy multitude.” Religion and race became to matter greatly and a law was passed stating that blacks and Indians were not able to buy Christians. This separated whites and blacks which lead to the separation of savagery and civilization.
One thing I would like to know is, did Jefferson genuinely believe slavery was wrong or was there some other incentive for him to pose the American Revolution? Was he really trying to defend the black slaves?
As I was reading Chapter 3, I found it interesting that during a time throughout slavery, whites and blacks were in a sense equal. This concept is something new I learned through reading Takaki’s chapter. I liked how that whole time period was discussed. It was very interesting to me that there were not a lot of black slaves to begin with and eventually they became easier to transport from England. Eventually, blacks out numbered whites in slavery.

Zinn-Chapter 2 (Drawing the Color Line)

Today’s world has come a long way from what it used to be many years ago. This may not be easy for some to see because things such as racism and segregation still exist within our society. However, racism has drastically improved since then.
In chapter 2 of Howard Zinn’s book, “A people’s History of the United States,” he states that “the color line” is, in fact still with us and that racism has been most important in the United States in our world history. Zinn discusses the “starving time” for the Virginias. They were not able to produce enough food for themselves and needed a form of labor. The Virginias realized they couldn’t use Indians like Columbus did. The solution to their problem was “black slaves.” This was because, at that time in history, any black person was considered to be a slave. “The whites were in their own European culture,” while the blacks had been taken from theirs. Because of this, blacks were helpless in their new area and could not escape. American slavery was seen as the cruelest form of slavery in history. The Virginias began shipping slaves by ship. These ships were packed full of slaves and the living conditions were horrible for anyone to bear. One of every three blacks died when being shipped overseas. Many of the causes of death were suffocation because they were kept below deck. Although these deaths were unfortunate, the slave traders did not mind because they were making profits off their deaths and therefore, this process continued.
From the beginning and all throughout their enslavement, blacks resisted. They did not give up “their dignity as human beings.” Slaves planned an attack on the whites however, this was discovered. They also tried to run away in groups or alone into the wilderness.
Throughout this chapter, I was most shocked by the living conditions for the slaves as they were transported on ships. The slaves were kept below the deck where many were suffocated to death. It was noted that one out of three died through this process, but he slave traders did not care that people were dying because they were making a profit. I found this whole idea to be unbelievable. This incident shows one reason that racism has improved from many years ago.

Johnson-Chapter 3

In chapter 3 of “Privilege, Power, and Difference,” Johnson discusses white racism and capitalism. Looking back at history, white racism has not been around for a very long time. The word and idea of race developed in the Americas and Europe as economic system’s and capitalism expanded. As white privilege was developed, capitalism had played a role.
The main goal of capitalism is to turn money into more money. Capitalists employ workers to produce goods. Often times they pay workers less than what they should for their work but they have a lot of power and therefore have the ability to do such things because the workers have no other choice. Capitalism produces an overall abundance of goods and services, but distributes that wealth unequally. Therefore, it produces conditions of scarcity for most of the population. Today, jobs are offering less pay and fewer opportunities for advancement. This will lead to the possibility of moving up in the class system to be rather unlikely. Capitalism provides an important social context for the trouble that surrounds privilege.
Racism began in America when whites got what they wanted from Native American tribes through genocide and by ignoring several treaties. Whites justified this by developing the “idea of whiteness to define a privileged social category that rose above everyone who was not included in it.” Therefore developing racism.
According to Johnson, one can feel privileged in a certain category and not feel privileged in another. With each category related to privilege, there is either a cost or benefit to it. For example, being a white male is very beneficial in today’s society. However, being a gay white male may lower one’s social status. Today, people do not look at each other and simply see them for who they are but instead see gender, race or even class. Racism will not go away without getting rid of sexism and classism because all of them are in a way connected.
I found this chapter to be interesting. I liked the comparisons Johnson made in reference to privileged categories. Although our country has come a long way in relation to racism I believe we still have a ways to go. Why do people judge one another based on appearances? Until judgments about others are stopped I do not believe racism will end peacefully.

Johnson- Chapter 5

Our country has come a long way from the way things used to be several years ago. However, many people today do not see this because things such as racism and segregation still occur today. Within every society, there are those who are more superior to others and are known as the dominant group. Dominant group usually consists of “white heterosexual nondisabled males” who have a great deal of power and control.
Privilege and oppression are problems within today’s society. Due to the large amount of power the dominate group has, many would think that privilege and oppression would not have a long future. However, dominant groups do not see privilege and oppression as unacceptable. Privilege and oppression do not receive much attention by the dominant groups and if so, it’s not for a long period of time. This is because dominate groups do not see privilege and oppression as problems.
There are several reasons as to why dominate groups do not see privilege and oppression as problems. Often times, dominant groups are oblivious to these issues. They do not go out of their way to address the issues because they fear of making it worse. Another reason is because they fear being blamed if they acknowledge that it exists. Dominant groups maintain privilege through their status and therefore they are insolated from previous consequences through privilege. Dominate groups also believe that individuals get what they deserve and therefore see privilege and oppression as personal problems because of something that they did. However, each of these reasons does not apply to everyone in same way.
Looking at the broad scheme of things, a society is similar to a family. Parents are the dominant group and the children are the minority groups. Johnson points out that he takes care of his kids not because he feels obligated to but because it is human to do so. “Cannot be part of a family with paying attention to what goes on in it.” The same goes for society as well.
One thing I cannot help but wonder is how society would function if everyone was of equal status. It is awful that there are homeless people living on the streets or that some people cannot afford to go to college. However, if this wasn’t the case, there would be no motivation to succeed and climb to the top where many of us dream to be today. Everything in one’s possession would be simply handed to them in a sense and this would not be a stable society.

Johnson- Privilege, Power, and Difference (Chapter 4)

Today’s society is filled with many unique and fascinating people. Each person has had their own experiences. Some people have traveled the world, and others have participated in marathons. However, everyone is not equal in the world. While times have in fact changed dramatically over they years, such things as racism and discrimination still exist in today’s society.
In chapter 4 of Allan G. Johnson’s Privilege, Power, and Difference book, he discusses the problems of privilege and oppression that are present in today’s society. According to Johnson, “inclusion and acceptance are key aspects of privilege.” Often times, these things occur without anyone intending harm, such as, one’s tone of voice shifting causing their remark to sound sarcastic therefore making someone feel unaccepted.
Racism happens all around the world every day, openly and on purpose. Real estate agents may steer people of color away from certain neighborhoods that are predominately white despite their backgrounds or personalities. “Where people live makes a huge difference in the jobs they have access to, the quality of community services, and their ability to affect those who govern them.” This forces blacks to live in areas simply because of their skin color. In the working scheme of things, it is shown that there is a glass ceiling, meaning the dominant group (white males) has the ability to move above the ceiling rising higher and higher in their line of work while the minority groups are stuck underneath the ceiling.
Today, for minority groups such as blacks, there is a struggle to earn a living or a degree. It has been noted that whites just brush off their hardships and believe they know what it’s like to be in their shoes. But in reality, how would they know that it’s not?
According to Johnson, “problems of privilege and oppression are far from over.” The patterns of history are continuing and there’s no sign of them stopping unless people take action and make it change. Today, people are ignoring reality and believe that if they replace it with good intentions, it will go away. But this idea depends on one’s ability to work together and discover the truth on the other side. I agree with this idea. Many people want to see change in the world but do not realize that action must be taken in order for that to happen.

Takaki Chapter 2 “The ‘Tempest’ in the Wilderness: The Racialization of Savagery

William Shakespeare’s Tempest was written for understanding American history although few realized this. The English were developing the difference between “civilization” and “savagery.” The Irish were classified as “savages” partially because they lacked good manners or knowledge of God and were thought to be criminals. The new world labeled English over the Irish, thus reinforcing social separation on the Irish. The English believed that, “nothing but fear and force can teach duty and obedience” which lead to cruelty to the Irish in such awful ways as beheading. However, the English did not see their actions as violent and instead they believed they were teaching the Irish their culture. In doing this, the English began comparing the Irish with the Indians and began to wonder if there were different kinds of “savagery.” “Savagery” was originally defined in relation to the Irish while incorporating the Indians into it as well.
According the English, Indians lack everything the English consider to be civilized. The English did some very odd things such as magnetizing a sword to impress the Indians and make then believe the English had some great power. This would make the Indians fear and love the believed power the English had at the time. Although the overall idea is inhumane, I thought this was very intelligent on their part and it allowed them to better achieve their goal. After all, the Indians are far more naïve and did not know any better than what they saw.
Once people found out about the things that were going on, it was soon realized that America wasn’t what they thought it was. The English began raiding Indian territory in Virginia and taking it out from under them. The English did not see is as robbery and decided they want more than just a “part.” These raids in Virginia were based on the fact that “savagery” was cultural.
According to people during this era, “to become 'Indianized' meant to serve the devil.” The devil was dark and represented Indian and to be “Indianized” meant one was decivilzed. Puritans believed that to become an Indian was the most horrible thing. At that time, “Puritan authorities hanged an English woman for worshiping Indian ‘gods’.”
“Perhaps the Indians might be different from the English in kind rather than degree; if so, then the native people of American would be incapable of improvement because of their race.” Therefore, the Indians would never be able to change into what the English were trying to change them into.

ROSENBLUM & TRAVIS framework essay- Group 3

In the Aggregating and Disaggregating portion of the Framework Essay, it begins by discussing the various nation-origin groups. Today, Hispanics consist of several groups such as Puerto Ricans, Cubans and Mexicans. However, these groups may not agree and may think of each other as different and are likely to disaggregate. It will then be difficult to differentiate between shared properties among the many established groups. Recently, names given to groups such as Asian Americans are not given based on culture, race, or religious commonalities. Instead they are more focused on geography and this has become a problem.
Within the essay it is stated, “If ‘we’ are in the boat looking at ‘them,’ who precisely are ‘we’?” This question poses an interesting concept and addresses the category of people who have been ignored throughout the essay. The group of people that have been referred to as the “we” in the prior quote; have the power to determine difference. However, the question of who makes up this group is not yet known because how and who would decide make the decision?
The concepts discussed throughout this essay were things I had never given thought to. The names of certain groups and whether or not they were historically and culturally adequate was interesting to think about. As stated earlier, names given to groups are based more on geography. I feel that it is important to classify groups under proper standards. This will give groups the recognition and credit they deserve. Most people are proud of their title and combining multiple groups into one common name does not show it as well.

Zinn

In chapter 1 of Howard Zinn’s book, A People’s History of the United States, he discusses the real history of Columbus and the current problem within the United States. For years, the story of Columbus has been taught to many as a pleasant story of the discovery of America in the year 1492. This is true but there is more to the story of Columbus. Columbus and his successors created a genocide after the discovery. Within this chapter, Zinn is questioning why the story of Columbus was changed in the beginning and why all the murders that occurred during the time were hidden and made into something it wasn’t. He states that he is not trying to condemn Columbus for his actions in the past because it is too late for that. He wants the truth to come out to those who see Columbus as a hero. However, it is too late now to tell the truth and change the false, well know story of Columbus.
One thing that confuses me about the Columbus controversy is why was the real story of Columbus changed in the beginning and what were they trying to hide? I agree with Zinn and feel that the truth about Columbus should be known instead of the make-believe story that many people are familiar with. One reason the story of Columbus came to what is it today is because at the time perhaps people were horrified as to the murders that were occurring and were too scared to spread the true story of Columbus because of the authority he held at the time. Another reason could be that those who where aware of what was going on may have died leaving only a few left that were aware of the truth.
After having read this chapter on Columbus I was bewildered. Personally, I was not aware of the genocide that occurred during the time of Columbus and that he was the leader of it. Everything I have learned about Columbus throughout my life was a lie. Like most people, I saw Columbus as some kind of a hero. To learn that he killed thousands of people along with his discovery of America is shocking.

About me

My name is Stephanie Thomas. I am from Bloomfield Hills, MI and this is my first year here at Bowling Green. I am taking this class to learn more about the United States. I would like to learn more about race and ethnicity in the United States. I am looking forward to this class.