In the article, “Duck Dynasty” and Quackery, Blow focuses on the comments made by Phil Robertson, the male head of the show. In the interview, Robertson says, “I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once.” In conclusion, Robertson was an extremely ignorant person and he did not realize the discrimination going on around him. He never experienced it, which is why he was not able to notice the suffering of other people that faced discrimination. “Robertson doesn’t seem to acknowledge the possibility that black workers he encountered possessed the most minimal social sophistication and survival skills necessary to not confess dissatisfaction to a white person on a cotton farm (no matter how “trashy” that white person might think himself).” In conclusion, black workers and black people in general were extremely cautious in front of white people. They would think twice before saying anything, especially in front of white people since they are considered the superior race. Through the passage on race from the interview, I concluded that Robertson did not put in the effort …show more content…
Blow believes that this is an extremely important and serious topic. He believes that Roberson’s comments about discrimination are inappropriate because they do not depict the seriousness of the matter. According to Blow, this phenomenon does cause pain and suffering for the people that are discriminated due to their color, race etc. In the article Blow says, “only a man blind and naive to the suffering of others could have existed there are not recognized that there was a rampant culture of violence against blacks, with incidents and signs large and small, at every turn, on full display.” In the quote, Blow clearly states that there were incidents in which black people were discriminated and treated poorly. This quote helps prove that the social phenomenon discussed in the article does contribute to human
This allowed readers to experience horrible acts of white people and to empathize with the innocent victims. However, Rankine criticizes the people of the United States for their attitudes and behaviors towards African-Americans. Particularly, the author claimed that “as citizens, we are all involved in society’s indignities and injustices, whether as perpetrator or bystander consciously or unthinkingly” (Evaristo 1). Thus, the book challenges people’s perceptions and beliefs, compelling them to reevaluate their actions. The readers begin to understand that their tolerance of violence and lack of actions to prevent racism contributes to injustices in the United States. Rankine even implied that “freedom of expression, something which the accumulative stresses of racial violence would seem to attempt to limit” blocks and alters “his or her experience of citizenship” (Day 3). Therefore, the citizens need to get involved in supporting and protecting African-Americans’ lives, who are loyal residents of the nation as
America have a long history of black’s relationship with their fellow white citizens, there’s two authors that dedicated their whole life, fighting for equality for blacks in America. – Audre Lorde and Brent Staples. They both devoted their professional careers outlying their opinions, on how to reduce the hatred towards blacks and other colored. From their contributions they left a huge impression on many academic studies and Americans about the lack of awareness, on race issues that are towards African-American. There’s been countless, of critical evidence that these two prolific writers will always be synonymous to writing great academic papers, after reading and learning about their life experience, from their memoirs.
Earlier in the semester we watched a video over Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy. This video was inspiring for people to look at what has happened in our history and society. This has been a major social injustice to African-Americans for so long, and it is now time that it needs to be confronted. People are often confused about why some people get upset about the way African-Americans react to some things, it is because they never had the opportunity to heal from their pain in history. In the article “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome,” it is talked about how racism is, “a serious illness that has been allowed to fester for 400 years without proper attention” (Leary, Hammond, and Davis, “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome”). This is
To begin with, Angus and the Ducks by Marjorie Flack has an underlying theme which is about isolationism. In the book, Angus is a very curious dog that wants to learn about the things outside of his home. Furthermore, when the opportunity presented itself Angus ran outside to see what was on the other side of the hedge. Moreover, it is important to realize that the hedge represents the division between the United States and the rest of the world. The author wants the audience to recognize what could potentially happen when a country decides to become involved with the political affairs of other countries. One particular example, is given when Angus cannot control his overwhelming curiosity and decides to go under the hedge to see what is on
He states that Black life still does not seem to matter in America to the point that at time it feels as if the mere existence of Blacks is ignored. He claims that blacks are still readily denied decent education, employment, and opportunities available to their white counterparts and they are harassed, criminalized, incarcerated, animalized and killed due to the color of their skin. There have been several recent incidents strengthening the fact that even in the year 2015, America is still plagued by the evil of racism, presumed racial superiority and
In the past, it is true that African American have suffered injustice, however, today there are still some wounds that needs healing from harsh treatment blacks people experience from whites people back during the civil right movement. Now, some whites are in positions where they are able to use their authority and demand unnecessary respect from minorities in certain situations, just so they could be in control. “In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived, had no moral ground on which to stand” (Baldwin, 2000, p31). For instance, threatening to fire or suspend someone for not allowing them to be in control is the same attitude people had back then. Because of this, some blacks feel that they need to respond in any way possible to make their point. In other words, the attitude that some blacks have express at some point could be aggressive at time.
Racism is still prevalent as it has been demonstrated by Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers being called a traitor and other derogatory names for protesting the national anthem by choosing to take a knee when it’s playing. Oftentimes, black bodies feel oppressed and often view themselves being targets of police brutality and injustice which are sensationalized by the social media and thus, they protest. A movement called Black Lives Matter has emerged and been brought to the attention of the whole world. People of color want the freedom to excel without oppressions let alone, to be treated equally based on personal merits regardless of the color of their skin. The majority of American realizes it, is very concerned about it, and wants to do something about it. As a member of this group, Rankine took action by delivering this
“The racial hierarchy positions whites at the top, blacks at the bottom (as the “fixed star”) and other racial groups in between” (Module 3, Differences in Experiences of U.S. Minority Groups). When Europeans encountered the people of other lands, they collected information about what they were seeing and experiencing. This became the basis for constructing a racial hierarchy. In Orlando Sentinel Series, the racial hierarchy between whites and blacks is seen in the article “Minorities often face pressure to fit in.” This article describes the experiences of LaVon Wright Bracy. She was a victim of racial hierarchy because white students at her school avoided the hallways she walked in and would leave the lunch table once she sat down. The white students didn’t think Bracy was good enough to sit with them or be around them due to the color of her skin. Racial hierarchy in contemporary times is a mindset that many people carry around with them, many times unconsciously. It guides people’s judgments and attitudes regarding their understanding of race relations, which is clearly seen in the case of
They may be a little under-informed on what he said, but they are still offended. NAACP states that, “Mr. Robertson claims that, from what he saw, African Americans were happier under Jim Crow.” They then go on to talk about the “lynching[s] and beatings” of blacks that he did not witness, which they did say from what he saw, but they entirely forgot about that he didn’t witness the bad things, therefore he didn’t know about them. They have their historical facts straight, but use them in a poor, misunderstood way. NAACP was also more sophisticated in the wording of their letter to A&E, unlike the first text, which seemed a little snarky at points. Such as telling the audience to go “look it up” when referring to a bible verse and his obvious distaste towards the Robertsons’ appearance (Buckley). Although the NAACP were slightly biased, they stated their opinions in a polite manner, saying things like, “As you may know [...]” and “His words show an unbridled lack of respect for [...] the ongoing challenges members of our communities continue to
Racism exists in many forms and is unavoidable. A major cause of biased racial dissertation is that is has been the way it is for so long. Caucasians do represent a disproportionate percent of wealthy and powerful businessmen and political leaders in American and their influence contributes to the racial stereotypes that are in existent today. When President Barack Obama first ran for his presidency in 2008 it is safe to say the world was shocked to say the least. President Obama’s race is a mix of Hawaiian and African American. In 2009 Michal Payne wrote an article in The Daily Item on President Obama’s election and Tim Wise’s novel, Between Barack and A Hard Place. In the article Payne disuses Wises two forms of racism; ‘Racism 1.0 is “old-fashioned racism” and Racism 2.0 is “enlightened exceptio...
In the United States, racial discrimination has a lengthy history, dating back to the biblical period. Racial discrimination is a term used to characterize disruptive or discriminatory behaviors afflicted on a person because of his or her ethnic background. In other words, every t...
Prejudice, racism, discrimination have always been present in society. Combined together, they form one of the most terrible and dreadful ways of treating and thinking about another human being. The effects of these actions and views on individuals have impacted society in an irreparable and tragic way. Judging someone by the color of their skin creates permanent impacts in people’s lives. A consequence caused by that old-fashioned way of thinking and seeing society in general is the effects these views have on black children education: a considerable number of American black children suffer to get a good education since they are in preschool.
I didn’t have racism and I didn’t grow up with segregated ideals. While his family was surrounded with segregated ideals. (Blow, 2014, p.47)
In my opinion, I agree with Brent Staples and his view on the public when they misjudge him. The way Staples reacted to discrimination was admitting it. He does not seem angry with the public misjudging him. Staples writes “where fear and weapons meet— and they often do in urban America—there is always the possibility of death” (Staples 224). Stereotyping can be dangerous because it may cause chaos and violence in the society. The way he coped with this situation was a good way because it was safe for him. He chose to deal with his problem by accommodating to people...
Discrimination has always been there between blacks and whites. Since the 1800s where racial issues and differences started flourishing till today, we can still find people of different colors treated unequally. “[R]acial differences are more in the mind than in the genes. Thus we conclude superiority and inferiority associated with racial differences are often socially constructed to satisfy the socio-political agenda of the dominant group”(Heewon Chang,Timothy Dodd;2001;1).