In the article “The Good, Racist People” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, discusses an event which resulted in Forest Whitaker being accused of shoplifting. What could possibly be a reason to assume Whitaker, a famous actor, of shoplifted? From Coates’ point of view (along with many others) they want to believe that this encounter was a misunderstanding that had nothing to do with race. Whitaker was accused of shoplifting and then was frisked, based only on his appearance. Coates then goes on to claims that the owner’s apology argued that the incident was a “‘sincere mistake’ and how the worker was a ‘decent man’ who was ‘just doing his job’ ”. (par. 3) In this quote we see an excuse to justify this event. In which Coates want to believe the apology and …show more content…
The example Sue gives is to say “a Chinese-American, that he speaks English well” (para 10 sue). The hidden message is that unconsciously you are putting an image to a person without finding out the whole truth. This is racism to it base core, putting a group into an image that is not truth for all. Coates give examples of situation where the result could had been different had the person been white instead. Obama being asked for his papers at a national new conference or Henry Louis Gate a Harvard Professor, being arrest for breaking in to his own home. These are two extreme case of judgments based on the skin of the person and not on who they are. We know that these action was commit by people who can be said hold some sort of influenced. Being Donald Trump a wealthy business man and a cop. We except them to make correct judgement due to the position they hold, one holds a company, the other the images of order. So for having these people being the one to commit these acts it points out how racism is still in our society it just we don’t see it like that. Coates shows his anger for this being truth by stating “in large part because we were never meant to be part of America
At the beginning of the book, Coates wrote about how growing up in a community that was hostile against African Americans was like. “The streets transform every ordinary day into a series of trick questions, and every incorrect answer risks a beat-down, a shooting, or a pregnancy. No one survives unscathed. And yet the heat that springs from the constant danger, from a lifestyle of near-death experience, is thrilling.” Coates was always “on guard” as a kid, for he feared that if he spoke or even have the slightest chance of expressing the feeling of dissatisfaction both the streets and the police will seek trouble. There were too many examples at that time that showed Coates physical harm
This quotation is taken from a Hollywood film, but has a tendency to ring true in legal disputes in Canada involving minority groups. Racism as a component in the Canadian societal context has prevented the realization of truth and justice throughout history. For instance, Donald Marshall Jr. endured a wrongful conviction as a result of racism in the criminal justice system. While this dilemma has proved to be most difficult for minority groups to overcome, critical race theory, as implemented by defence lawyers in R.D.S. v. The Queen, has allowed for the realization of racism as truth in Canadian society and provides a tool for minority groups in future legal battles.
Wilson commences his book with a personal encounter with “racism”. Harvard professors are usually accompanied by a respectful status and some prestige. This was not the case for Wilson. He resided in a luxurious condominium where his neighbors could not believe he lived there. When dressed in casual attires people could only interpret him as a menace. There were times where he clarified to his neighbors that he resided in this building as well. This could be seen as an act of “racism”. He then creates this problematic scenario. When walking around the inner-city ghetto part of town also he also because nervous when he sees a group of black males (Wilson, 1-4). The dilemma could be seen as followed; is it racism if you are racist to against own race?
Stating that Chinese and all of whom who were deemed not as “Caucasian” will forever be perceived as forever foreigners. Not being able to understand America’s way of life. “Living in our community, recognizing no laws of this State, except through necessity, bringing with them their prejudices and national feuds, in which they indulge in open violation of law... “ By implying that Chinese are inferior by nature, since they only bring with them conflict, reaping rights that should not be given to them in the first place, and are incapable of understanding America’s Governing. Which nature has placed as “impassable difference” between the “superior” Caucasian race and the “inferior” Chinese
People get their identities from the people who they surround themselves with and from the society in which they live. Identity as far a race was created by this hierarchy where those who were white deemed themselves more powerful and superior. Honneth would say to Coates, identity is relational and because of this we cannot be indifferent to instances of disrespect from those who surround us in this country. We are all in some way vulnerable to instances of disrespect, but it is the way in which we respond to these instances of disrespect that matter. Not only is this true for those who are experiencing this disrespect but for those showing this disrespect as well. Honneth would say that once we gain awareness of these vulnerabilities of disrespect we can then provide ourselves with the motivation to change certain socially unjust situations. Coates discusses multiple times that by his son becoming “politically conscious” that he can recognize why blacks are experiencing these instances of disrespect and what he can do to deal with
However, when a member of a minority group does something wrong or illegal, it is often related back to the entire group. This is yet another example of white privilege. McIntosh stated in her article, “I can swear, or dress in second-hand clothes, or not answer letters without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race” and “I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group” (par. 8). Often times negative stereotypes are created for minority groups based of the actions of a few members of the group. This negatively affects many individual in minority groups as they are initially judged and have assumptions made about them simply because they have a different skin
Racism exists all around the world and is a big part of our society today. From schools, to work places, to even restaurants, racism is there because we, ourselves have constructed it but, not everyone can see it through their own eyes because we were all born with different perceptions. In Racism Without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, racism is described in a variety of different ways whether it is due to biological factors or simply by saying that racism does not exist and people just need to work harder. Bonilla-Silva has experienced discrimination himself and he wrote this book to show that even though it is not extremely visible like before, such as segregation, it is subtler but still plays just as big of a role in our society as before.
not be their fault, it may be the way they were brought up, or perhaps
“vulnerable to manipulate” and that it is “more often than not a willful ignorance and acceptance of stereotypes.” Bissoondath’s article discusses through examples of two men who are very friendly, who make unconscious insensitive remarks that are based on stereotypes. He also goes on to describe
Racism is often considered a thing of the past, with its manifestation rarely being acknowledged in the United States today. Race: The Power of an Illusion, is a documentary that addresses the legacy of racism through its significance in the past, and its presence in society today. To understand racism, it is vital to understand the concept of race. Race is a social invention, not a biological truth. This can be observed through the varying classifications of race in different cultures and time periods. For instance, in the United States, race has long been distinguished by skin color. In nineteenth century China, however, race was determined by the amount of body hair an individual had. Someone with a large amount of facial hair, for example,
Coates argues that the ignorance of the plight of African Americans is systematic and intentional. The racism is too obvious, the problems too egregious, for this to be coincidence. Coates states this issue in the following way:
i can hear some groans and movements of uncomfortableness from the audience already, but bear with me, 'cause i just wanna know if i'm the only person that can see what i see.
In “The Upside to Overt Racism” article, the journalist, Jen Desmond Harris explains that despite the fact how she hates Donald Trump, she is happy that he is so popular because of the racism he uses demonstrates which proves racism still exists in America. This journalist is specifically accused on making her journalism way to focused on race. The reason she does this is because she is shocked how so many people say that racism no longer exists in America, when that statement is untrue. In a television show called “What Would You Do,” they demonstrated a scene of a Caucasian man who was really an actor in his teens stealing a bike. This actor had tools in his hand so he could cut through the chains looked to the bike. Basically everyone
Essay 1: WRITE A COHERENT ESSAY IN WHICH YOU ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE USE OF BLACK ICONIC IMAGES (AND OTHER ETHNIC IMAGES) TO SELL PRODUCTS AS THE ECONOMY OF MASS CONSUMPTION EXPANDED IN THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO INCLUDE IMAGES IN YOUR PAPER! During the 19th and 20th century, America –mostly white collar, middle class Americans- saw a great increase in salaries and a huge rise in mass production which paved the way for the modern American consumerism which we know today. The advertising scene saw a dramatic boost during that period and tried to latch on to this growing pool of emerging consumers. Although only limited to print, advertising during this pivotal period showed panache and reflected American society and popular culture.
Part of human nature is judging something by what surrounds it even if it is another human. Think of a community that has every color, every race, every religion, and every kind of person that community however, doesn’t value each other to some point which causes a problem, a problem that we call racism in today’s era, a problem that needs to be eliminated because it allows a gap that shouldn’t exist in our society. Our society must understand that it isn’t okay to discriminate someone for how they look or what they believe in or what color they happen to be, specifically speaking to those who aren’t smart enough to realize that discrimination isn’t making any change for the better nor is it allowing certain groups in the community to advocate