Facebook

Facebook is full of important information. Most people believe that facebook is a pastime that basically just wastes time. When in reality, facebook is one of the most important social institutions of all time. Facebook has an exclusive image. At one point only college students were allowed to have a facebook, so instantly the culture of college students was pumped into the many pages of facebook. As students mature, it seems as if they use facebook less. Freshmen are extremely into it, and graduate students barely seem to be in use of it. The facebook image is constantly being re-constructed. In the group page that I looked at, facebook inadvertently defined race and class. The group is called book swap. One of my close friends created the group because she sold her psychology book to the bookstore and received thirty dollars. The bookstore proceeded to sell the book for over one hundred dollars, giving them over a two hundred percent profit. Out of her anger, she created a group centered on helping students, and hurting the bookstore. This is very apparent because the picture representing the group is a picture of the bookstore crossed out. Immediately she constructs the class of those involved. Those who belong to the upper class would buy all of their books new, and not care about the cost. By joining this group, people obviously want to save money, so it places them in at most middle class. Another thing that this group constructs is race. On the wall of this group there are nine wall posts. All nine of these individuals are white, and a majority are girls. In no way is this group a supremacist group of any kind, nor is it a group that has unethical laws. I’m sure that Rebecca had no idea that her group would reflect the things that it does. According to this group, only white individuals are looking for a deal, and women are more persistent than men. By being in this group it already has been decided that you are a white individual that is not high class. This group has seventy four members, and they are defined by nine wall posts and a picture, because that is what represents them.

"El Norte"

The basic overview of Takaki Chapter 12 is that people from south of the border were not treated the same as those who already live in America. They moved away from their country because the conditions were not favorable, and expected to come to America with a new hope. Yet, instead of greeting the newcomers with love, and assuming our position as the “melting pot” we exploited the Mexican Americans and paid them less money than they would pay Americans, to do the same jobs that Americans would do.

A big push on the immigration started with the civil war. The fact that there was a civil war is enough cause for someone to move. But not only was there a war, the way brought starvation to the people, and they needed a place to flee. One of the closest places was “Los Estados Unidos”, Spanish for “the United States”, was known to be prosperous and wonderful. Once they arrived there, it wasn’t as great as they had pictured. Even before the civil war, immagrants had started to come over, because America is a land of great opportunity. The only problem is that people were coming over to be unemployed, or to receive jobs that were not the best. The inner city organizations that provided jobs would expand, and deflate their job offers, stringing the people along with hope. Another factor dealing with why people lost jobs had to do with the fact that many immigrants were coming over from Mexico on the railroad. Takaki says that every week 5 or 6 trians full of Mexicans were coming to America, that amount of workers is an insane amount, especially because they all needed jobs, and to partake in the land of opportunity. The Mecican population was so great that they covered about 75% of all the construction labor forces in the state of California.

One thing to keep in mind is that the time period was between the 1900’s and the 1930’s. The fact that it was in this time, meant that the great depression not only affected the Americans, if affected all the immigrants as well. During this time, the Americans did not forget that the Mexicans were from Mexico, and quickly did a very unethical thing. They would kick Mexicans out of work, because they were Mexican, and give the jobs to those who could not support themselves.

Because of the way that Mexicans and Latino Americans are treated in general it is easy to see our history did not smile upon them in their time of need. I’m sad to say that this is America, and that this has not been the first representation of racial injustice, and I believe it won’t be the last.

Race In Cyberspace

In this story the author really talks about how we lose our race on the internet. This happens, because when we go to our computers, we immediately go into another world. We go into a world in which we lose our sense of sight. We do not become blind, because it is still necessary to look at the computer screen. Instead, we lose sight of race, and our first impression of people. The way that a computer works is not like people. A computer takes what we think, requires us to translate it into text, and then transports that text to another person. The only thing that is transferred is the language, and the verbal communication. Since a large percentage of communication is nonverbal, a large percentage of the message is not sent, or received. Therefore, when we type on the internet, smaller, more subtle clues are the things that people strive on to construct race.
This argument is very true. When we speak to our friends online, it’s much harder to re-construct race, because we can imagine one another’s mannerisms. We can imagine the facial expression that your best friend would have, if you told him/her that you were pregnant. Not because of the immaculate communication on the internet, but instead because of the relationship that is there. An attempt at such a relationship is made, when it comes to the virtual identities. When people are made to make a character that represents them online, that has true facts. Usually an “avatar” goes along with such an image. An avatar is a image, usually a cartoon that is expected to have the person’s race represented in it. Usually the things filled out are quick important information, such as age, gender, level of play, and other things. These things are important, but cannot be proven, and does not necessarily need to be true.
In conclusion, race is not totally erased, just hurt greatly. Real people who have jobs, lives, and even familys are reduced to an online persona. A few lines of information that at one glance can be read, and a small picture called an avatar. No one online knows for sure who it is, even if someone tells the whole truth, if that person were to let a relative sign in under the same name, people on the internet would be confused because they would know no different.

Extra Credit: Race: The Power of an Illusion

This movie was basically a movie to shatter all preconceived notions of race. As we grow up, we figure out what race we belong to, and the stigmas, and appropriate behaviors based on that race. We learn where different races live, and how they interact. Mostly the race that this movie, and I am talking about has to do with skin color. People with more melanin, have darker skin, and in some instances, the skin can become really dark, to the point where people decided that this was a race, one that would be described it as being “black”. Skin color is the basis for when we draw the color line between different races.
The fact that we learn these things as a kid is absurd. There are no real differences that we can trace to racial groups. There is no one group of skin colors where every single person has a certain trait. Also, as we progress, we are accepting interracial relationships more and more, making it nearly impossible to judge race, and at some time, or some point it is chosen. In the case of Tiger Woods, his race was chosen for him. If I were to ask anyone what race Tiger woods is, most would say black, or African American. But in reality, he is as much Thai (Thailand), as he is African American. He refers to himself as a Cablinasian (a mixture of Caucasian, Black, American-Indian, and Asian), so not even he has decided on one race. So how can we judge him? Should he accept the black sterotypes, of a ghetto thug, who is involved in gang violence, or mabye a caucasian rich boy, who cares about nothing but himself. Mabye we could catagorize him as a drunk that owns a casino, or a Entrepreneur who owns a black hair product store. When in fact, all of theese negative statistics, and figures, and de facto sterotypes, hold no water. Tiger woods is a champion golfer, nothing more, nothing less, because of his race.
Overall, I agree with this movie. Race doesn’t exist in our society. We, as a people created race, and continue to create it everyday. In the early 1900’s African Americans were lazy idiots, who deserved to work, now some are esteemed as track stars, and gagsters. The most important thing is that our country is slowly moving away from the hurtful stereotypes, and it has a general theme, that everyone can succeed if we work hard.

Discussion Question

If Takaki thought it was important to write about the origination of slavery, and how terrible it was. Why is this part of history neglected in the history books? Is Takaki lying?

Ethnic Notions

This movie was primarily about the ways that African Americans were presented in American media. Today, the media reflects society’s overall view of different issues. The fact that Brittney Spears cut her hair, and that Anna Nicole Smith died, are apparently very important. This is proven because they are displayed all over the news, for no apparent reason, other than the fact that they are celebrities. Anna Nicole Smith was known most for an appearance in a Men’s Entertainment magazine, which has had a large impact that many view as negative on our society. But as a country, when we mourn our dead, we always esteem them as good. In the earlier times of our country, our media showed us how blacks were esteemed. In many productions, they are given monkey faces, and made to look like buffoons. This is probably because the public viewed African Americans as idiots, who couldn’t help themselves from looking stupid. They were also placed in roles that were unimportant, often seen sitting, or making music, never doing something “important”. This was inadvertently ingraining the fact that blacks were lazy into young people’s heads. The TV shows also encouraged stereotypes, which had much deeper meanings than portrayed; such as a large black female nanny. At first glance, it just looks like a nanny cares for the kids, and has love in her heart despite her circumstances. But at the same time is speaks on a lot more, in that the nanny does not have a man in her life. She is not a sexual being of any sort; also, it speaks badly on the actual mother, who we seldom see. She is off doing something either important, or bathing, or spending money. It shows the audience, that the mother does not care about the children as much as the nanny does. Many “under the radar” allusions are made. In today’s society, noting of this sort is possible. Lawsuits and racial hate crimes would occur if a network tried to show a television show demeaning a certain race. The only things that come close are comedic shows, which get most of their laughs, by crossing the moral normalcy line. This movie is a great awakening for people who do not believe the media is important, or that it is influential. This movie shows the unique relationship between the media, and the people. The media needs people to create stories, and the people need the media to compare their lives to those other than their own.

Brown is the new Black – (T Chap. 3)

African Americans were not esteemed like many newcomers are. In the movie The road to el Dorado, the newcomers are esteemed as Gods, and are treated with the utmost respect, and reverence. African Americans were not that way. In fact one of the first images associated with the African Americans is Caliban. Caliban is a character in the play The Tempest and he is a bastard child of a demon and an African Witch. These things are the exact opposite. God’s and demons are considered more different than the colors White and Black in many religions. This is just one example of how the dominant society in a group oppressed the Blacks during the beginnings of slavery. Many people argue that there where white indentured servants during the time, and that blacks were not the only ones oppressed, which is a true statement. In fact, in the beginning of servitude, there were more indentured servants, that had to pay off the fare for their ride. All of this is true, it wasn’t until later that the buyers realized that slaves were a better “deal”. Indentured servants would only be working for about 4-7 years, whereas slaves would work for a lifetime, and maybe even provide heirs. This was by far a better deal, and the power exerted would pay off in the long run. The winter had harsh effects on the recently relocated, and they needed a way to get back on their feet, quickly. They didn’t have enough knowledge to survive, so they used manpower. And, of course they used the most efficient, cheap way possible, slaves. When I first read this, I was confused, because the pilgrims moved away, because of religious persecution, so how could they take others lives, and turn them into sob stories. Especially if the blacks became Christians! How could they dare take a fellow brother and beat him? Some of the leaders realized this, and then took action. They passed a law, informing the general public, that even if a person claims to be a Christian, “no negro or Indian”, should be allowed to purchase Christians. After laws like this, it’s evident that the colonists were not only looking for religious freedom, but also economic success. After a series of racial laws, and misconceptions, the “giddy multitude” that Takaki talks about was formed. A multitude that could change society in a day, a multitude that could be more powerful in itself than all of the government official combined. Obviously the colonists did not mean for this to happen, they were blinded by economic success, and greed.

Who's the Savage?

This essay, about the racialization of savagery, reminded me of the essay entitled, Columbus, the Indians, and human progress. It reminded me of that because, in both stories it tells of the genocide of a “savage” race. It hints at the idea that England was superior, that English was the only civil language. It shows us how ethnocentric English society was. When they walked into another society, they assumed everyone was lazy, idle and unwilling to work, and like “beasts”. This angle is crazy, because animals are not lazy. They work for their food, take care of their young, and are one with nature.
In both “new worlds” the Irish and the Indians were considered savage by the English because of their race, and location. Since the Indians and the Irish look different than the English, it put a strain on the explorers to accept them. When people look different than you, there is an automatic judgment, and stereotype placed on them. In this case, they did not know what to think, and being extremely selfish, they decided that the peoples were an obstacle, and then decided it was their duty to overcome this obstacle. This was not the fault of the people being killed. They had been born in a different place, and thereby born into a different culture. These “savages” were more open minded about different cultures than the English were, and did not attack first, and think second. At one point, the English were taking Irish heads, and claiming them as trophies, everyday. They used terror to control the Irish, the same as a dictator. Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, are modern day terrorists, and Sir Humphrey Gilbert was a terrorist then. What they did to the Irish, could definitely be considered worse than some of the terrorist activities that have happened lately. They killed so many people, that they created open spaces. The worst part is that during this tragedy, they had the audacity to say that they were doing good “Christian” things. The English were also saying that they had a “God-given responsibility” to reform the savage nation. I am sure that no Christian would wish genocide on a group of people, ever. Christianity has not changed that much, but the people have. Overall, the author was exposing the extreme ethnocentrism of the English, to the point where they could not see that they were committing terrorism, and crime. The English seriously thought that they were helping the Indians, and the Irish, by killing them, and stopping the “waste” of the land.

Stigmatization: Growing? or Declining?

The fact that we have stigmas in our society goes against what we claim to be. We, being Americans, claim to be a melting pot of all societies, where all can succeed. When in fact, different people have different chances of succeeding, simply because of the first impression that is conveyed. Stigmas are becoming more metaphorical as the times go on. In Greece, the originator of stigmas, signs were cut or burnt into the body, and everyone had the same stigmas. In today’s society, situations. If I were to show up for a job interview in a t-shirt and jeans, I may not get the job because of my appearance. This is a stigma that this country agrees with, and may have parallels with the stigmatic ideas, but it is a bias nonetheless. In Greece stigmas identified master status’. They revealed social class, criminal record, and ultimately the fact that those people should be shunned. As these people are shunned, they become objects. They are not treated as people, with brains. They are “slaves”, “criminals”, and overall part of a misfit group. Today, “women”, “whites”, “blacks”, “Indians”, “Asians”, “Latinos”, “Arabs”,and “Mexicans”, are some of the groups that have been treated as objects. These groups not only bring bias, but at the same time, incorrectly identify groups for what they are. The “white” groups included the “arab” group 20 years ago. As they are incorrectly identified, they are also viewed as a problem. People don’t believe that those in the group can succeed like those who aren’t stigmatized. When told to the same tasks, they are expected to do worse, and at best equal. When someone who is stigmatized rises up above all others, only then are they respected. And then, only that one person really receive respect, and is considered a sort of mutant from a group of losers, that made it out ok. Traits that are specific to each and every human being are overlooked when someone is identified in a certain group. For instance, a stereotype of the “black” group, is that all blacks are on welfare, and are that way, because they are incapable of keeping a job. Even worse its assumed that those who are on welfare have no self control, and are a weight on all of society. Overall these stigmas are wrong. We have created the stigmas that tear us apart. The only way to eliminate these stigmas, would be to continually cast down discrimination, and to teach our kids to do the same.

Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress

In American currency, a coin has two sides. Likewise in every story, there are two equally important yet different sides. Both sides represent the same event or monetary value, but they are not the same. In the case of Christopher Columbus, he has an encounter with the Arawak Indians. We know the story of Christopher Columbus, but what about the Indians? How can we incorporate them into history without changing everything?
One major problem that historians face is that they side with the winner of the battle, and may stray from an accurate depiction of what actually happened. In the story of the Indians and Columbus there are two distinct sides and unfortunately one side is overrepresented. I have been in school for 12 and half years, and had never learned the magnitude of the near genocide that Columbus enacted on the Indians. I had always known that it wasn’t as pretty as I was told, but I didn’t realize that he reduced a population of ten million people, down to one million. To make things worse, he continually lied to the king for extra resources. All of this was an atrocity, but still, the Columbus side of the coin is overrepresented, and taught to students everyday. Why do we side with Columbus? Why don’t we argue that the world would have been better off without Columbus? Why do we continue to lie to ourselves about who “found” America?
Christopher Columbus is taught as the man who “discovered America”. Yet, it is impossible to find something that someone has already found. If a scientist were to find a cure to cancer that had been in use for years, he would not get credit for the vaccine yet a man “found” land that had been in use for years, and is now considered a hero. Also, he wasn’t looking for America; he was looking for India, and claimed that he had found it! Large oversights such as these should be avoided, and as a people, Americans should incorporate all sides of the story. Although it is impossible to tell a one hundred percent unbiased story, we should do our best to treat our stories like we treat our coins. Always have both sides represented equally; this would in turn lead to a less biased society, and a more truthful one. If we are supposed to be a melting pot, we should at least be able to tell accurate stories to our children.

Getting To Know Me

Hi, my name is Nathaniel Merritt. I'm a freshman majoring in Management Information Systems. The name of my major is very long, but not complicated, its basically a mix between computer science, and general business. I love computers, but I also love communicating with other people on a daily baisis. I hope that this career plan allows me to achieve my goals.