Recently in Racial Categorization Category

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/04/umd_facebook_ra.php

This is an article about a recent incident at the University of Minnesota-Duluth that involves blatantly racist comments posted on a wall-to-wall conversation on Facebook. The comments were between two white girls discussing the presence of a black girl in the room they were in. Before I go on, here are some of the horrible comments they were making:

"ewww a obabacare is in the room, i feel dirty, and unsafe. keep a eye on all of your valuables and dont make direct eye contact.... i just threw up in my mouth right now....,"

"were two white girls.. she already has her 'nigga' instinct to kill us and use us to her pleasure..."

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that these comments are pretty messed up. The girls claim that they were just joking around, but I don't know what kind of person actually thinks this is funny. And what the f***, why were they publicly posting a conversation like this on Facebook?! Do people not understand that ANYONE can go on Facebook and see what you say to other people? Also, if they were in the same room, why were they using Facebook to talk to each other?!.....I hate technology....

Anyway, what kind of punishment do you think they deserve? Is it even possible to punish somebody for something like this? What leads a person to believe it is okay to 1) make these comments in the first place, 2) post this comments on their PUBLIC Facebook page, and 3) think that there is nothing wrong with making comments like this open to all eyes?

Here's a link to a video about the U.S. Census: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36101466#36101466

The problem is people are having difficulty filling out the form when they have to choose a "box" or group to identify with. One of the newscasters shares his family's stories. Also, the statistics about Hispanics are interesting too.

What should be done about this issue? How should we address it?

"U.S. forces in Afghanistan are using a controversial tool in their efforts to hold the ground recently captured from the Taliban. It is the work of civilian anthropologists and other social science researchers, who advise military commanders on how to win the hearts and minds of local people"

"Anti-abortion groups are targeting black audiences with the message that abortion is a form of "ethnic cleansing." But as many point out, this strategy ignores the real needs of all women."

http://jezebel.com/5483679/womb-lynching-on-the-anti+choice-targeting-of-african+american-women
















     When I heard this spot on the radio the other day, I immediately thought about the situation we discussed in class about the adjunct professor that was fired for using the "N" word.  According to our class discussion, one of the main reasons we believed this action was taken was because of the instructors' inability to recognize the history and the true meaning embodied by that sort of language.

      This use of the word "lynching" regarding African American children seems to do the same thing.  Though I think all of us would like to see the number of abortions performed each year decrease, it seems the groups using this sort of language are also disregarding the historical and contextual meaning the word "lynching" has.

     Media coverage over the last few years (even as recent as last month) has shown time after time how even a noose hung in a tree or a campus building incites fear, resentment, and anger amongst those who understand its meaning.

     No matter what side of the abortion issue you find yourself, I think this kind of use of language proves ineffective for its intention...  

For my book report I read Michael Eric Dyson's Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster, an analysis of the events leading up to and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This book offers insight into how Hurricane Katrina affected the city of New Orleans, and why it was that race and social status mattered in the way the country responded to Katrina.

Dyson reviews some of the social injustices which have plagued African Americans in New Orleans for decades as well as the inherent disadvantages that left African Americans stranded in the path of the storm. Many parties, including the media, FEMA, and former president George W. Bush, are called out for their mismanagement of relief efforts and coverage of Katrina. From the effects of the media coverage on public opinion of those left in the storm's wake, to the social structure that originally allowed such economic disparity in New Orleans, the events surrounding one of the worst natural disasters in recent U.S. history carry with it connections to various psychological theories of prejudice and stereotyping. Looking at this book in terms of the content learned in SPD can allow for the interpretation of the mishaps that occurred throughout the duration of Katrina, at a psychological level. We can also better understand the impact a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina has on perceptions of victims, especially when the victims are mostly poor African Americans.  

If you are interested in learning more about this particular book or other books by Michael Eric Dyson please follow the link below.
http://www.michaelericdyson.com/comehell/
 

Everyone should check out this website and the accompanying video! This has changed my entire view on the history of the United States in terms of racial relations between white people and black people. Is it possible that we have all been brainwashed through years of exposure to the superiority-inferiority of the two races? Would this explain why so many people still hold strong prejudices and/or are outright bigots?

http://www.stopthebrainwash.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIBQPORReWY&feature=player_embedded

I think that we, as a society, need to take a long look in the mirror and figure out where we have been in order to decide what we really are today. This does not only include the white race, but the black race as well. The perpetuating harm that is being done today through the media has ties to early advertising of slaves, mockery of black people, and early silent films. However, we do not even realize this because of how long this propoganda has been around. I don't know about you, but I totally buy into what Tom Burrell is getting at through this website. Check out Kim's post on Burrell's NPR interview if you want to hear more from him.

 

Paul Mooney is one of the Kings of comedy. He has written stand up comedy for Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Saturday night live and many other venues. He is mainly known for his active stance in confronting racism in America through Stand up Comedy and going on different talk shows to address these issues faced by society today. Paul has a strait forward or blunt approach he takes which makes most White people uncomfortable and upset. There are a lot of good youtube videos that go into greater detail with his views. Do you think by him being direct about these issues help or harm the message he is trying to portray?

This is an investigative report from 20/20 from 2 about 2 years ago. You'll have to check out the 2 videos (they are each about 6-7 min. long), but I thought this was an excellent example of how race and crime are associated in many people's mind. I thought the results of this report were pretty amazing. What would you do in this situation? Do you think you would react as most people did in this video, or would your behavior be different because of what we know about racism? Would the results of this "study" be different depending on the environment?


Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNu-WZdHzaA&NR=1

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIVgMvuCM_k&feature=related

This is a pimp named Ken who pimps all over the world. "Pimpin" is a form of power that one may have on another. This video shows some of the concepts he goes by also shows his reasoning. He is promoting his new book called Pimpology and DVD series which he explains 48 laws to the game of pimpin. What is the psychological aspect they use to get the women? what is wrong with the thought process of a PIMP and HOE? Does our US government pimp us?

Henry Lewis Gates is a professor at Harvard university. He was coming home from a flight and he couldn't get in his door. A White woman called the police said that someone was breaking into his house. After the situation, Henry was later arrested when he asked for the officers badge number. After watching this clip do you believe his arrest was racist? Also what measure could the cop have taken to be more reasonable or understandable?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9kT1yO4MGg

During the 1963 segregation was used by Police Chief Bull Connor, But was it right for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and the SCLC to demonstrating in Birmingham, Alabama.  The use excessive force by Bull Connor was a deliberate action which should be used on children, women, and man by the use of police dogs attacking demonstrators and fire hoses knocking people off of there feet, was seen across the world.

President John F. Kennedy then mention the civil rights, later singed in 1964 by President Johnson after the assassination of Kennedy.  If it was not for Bull Connor being a prick in his beliefs the nation would not have seen the problem that minorities faces during the 1960'.    

the following is something that happen because they are tired of being treated like animals, by police corruption unjust actions such as being racially profiled, harassed, and know and seeing four of three officers guilty of a crime which was caught on tape and they were acquitted as a result, and not having faith in the Judaical system.  

Dream Deferred

What happen to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a rasin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore...

and then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over...

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hEtN0-vF90

Scene from American History X, within this scene it is a very heated debate about how Rodney King was attacked by police officers, while having dinner. Son  played by Edward Norton who simulates a racial skin head group member 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ-2OMIQbq4

This is a graphic video were Rodney King is getting beating, kicked and hit with a baton  by LAPD officers. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw2pRnBgeBU&NR=1

The aftermath of the Police trail were the police were proven not guilty which sparked the LA riots, listen to the news reporter, reporting the story and the language they are using to describe the scenes going on... some of the graphics are hard to see but it is a reality of what happened in 1992 in Los Angeles, California.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/28/2009-05-28_black_cop_killed_by_white_officer.html

This is a strong problem that we face in today's society. What do you think can be done to make police more aware and cautious about these things?