http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRfjLfyXYlA
This clip shows a black man getting into an elevator where a white woman is, describing how she clutches her purse only makes him want to steal it from her.
I chose this video because it reminded me a lot of that clip in Crash where she clutches her purse and then the two black men end up stealing their car. The clip shows a few different things that I find sort of interesting. As a woman I have felt that way before, not necessarily because the person is black, but because I am alone. This black man is describing that she is being racist, but what if it is just because she is alone and nervous? Another interesting thing he brings up is that because she is acting this way and he is seeing it as racist....he says he wants to snatch that purse from her because of her actions. Again.. linking it to Crash.. maybe they would not have targeted them if she had not acted afraid? What do you think? Anything else relevant here?
I thought this video was funny as hell to be quite honest!! This ties into this class in an assortment of ways! The think we could observe first is the fear aspect of the women. Fear is something that is a distressing emotion caused by danger. I think sometimes people display fear in which it can alert an attacker or initiate a response that shows anger. Being a Martial Artist we learn how to suppress fear so that we won't send off nonverbal cues to our opponent. This is a key factor because if a opponent displays that emotion and use it against him/her. We feel as if we could dominate or overpower them and they wont fight back. This ties in to the elevator because she showed displayed that which criminals look for in hunting for victims. Who would be the best person for me to rob or kill? hmmm someone that I can over power or strong arm. It you don't display that emotion its harder for people to read you which would be less likely for them to attack you, generally speaking. I'm not saying that someone wont attack a woman even if she doesent show fear because this happens everyday. I believe your less likely to be attacked. Getting on to the man, his thought process showed that self fulling prophecy can come into play because she thinks Im going to robber so Ill show her I'm a robber. This also perpetuated the stereotype that a black man is harmful. I would go as far as saying that shes a racist because she clinches her purse all though that might be labeled as prejudice behavior. I run into this sort of thing on a lot of occasions. People will clinch their purse,get away from you fast, show an uncomfortable look, etc. Sometimes I speak to them to dis-alarm them and some don't speak back. i have a double "whammy" because I'm black and man. Not say that I would ever rob or hurt anybody, but that thought does come up in your mind unconsciously. You say to yourself "I should give that person something to worry about", but you never act on it because you process the consequence before you emit a behavior. Do I want to go to jail for 10 dollars or do I want to finish college and become successful? Do I want to be in bondage or free? It kind of suck because you may in fact be the nicest person ever and people judge you based on your race! I would like to see if her response would have been the same if a white man entered the elevator.