Theo: Identity can be defined as "the set of behavioral or personal characteristics by which an individual is recognizable as a member of a group." By that definition, one can only have a "black" identity if they are recognized as a member of the "black" group. I think that one cannot define their identity in such crass terms, but must utilize a multiplicity of variables in order to form their identity. It cannot come from only skin color, their speech, or their standing in society. It must be derived from several factors. Calvin, Talitha, and I will attempt to delineate these factors and identify there points of origin in order to answer this basic, yet complex, question, "What does it mean to be black in America?"
Tali: Being black in America you recogonize a certain type of white privilege that as a black person you are not entitled to. A very clear example of this can be seen in the 2008 presidential election. In this election, white privilege says that Sarah Palin's daughter can have a child out of wedlock and her family still be considered model. If Bristol Palin was not the daughter of an Alaskan Governor, she would need some of the same assistance that the republican party is fighting to destroy. White privilege says that President G. W. Bush can graduate from Yale and Harvard with a C average and Sarah Palin can take 6 years to graduate from 4 colleges and both still be conidered presidential. While Barack Obama graduates top of his class from Harvard law and is considered an elitist. White privilege says that Sarah Palin gets to bring her Down Syndrome baby to campaign rallies and media spots when the baby should be at home and be praised for her parenting skills. While Michelle Obama gets criticized for not attending a Sept. 11 memorial because she wanted to be home with her two children on their first day of school.
Theo: You bring up some interesting points. Look at Palin's Rev. Wright or McCain's lack of support for the troops or his affair! The fact that the blatant bias in coverage of certain issues and the fact that those in the majority cannot understand the true nature of minority disenfranchisement are quite sad. Palin was mayor of a town and wasn't in charge of the police or fire departments. Here is a daily show video (take with a grain of salt) about her town. How does she get more props for working in Wasilla, AK than Obama does for working in an actual city? White privilege. Her mayoral duties were miniscule at best (same as the gubernatorial duties of such a small state in terms of population). Take a look at this story of improper use of state funds. Or this Daily Show video, comparing what Republicans say about themselves and what the say about others...its insane! However, I want to stray away from the election for a moment (as angry as the campaign of McCain has made me). Let's really delve into the lack of opportunities for minorities. Even if we accept that people will discriminate against you and you can overcome that, you still must overcome the inherent discrimination of our many public services.
The educational and judicial systems are some of the worst that come to mind. Let's take a look at the school districting. Because of economic desparities between suburban and urban areas, urban schools (more students) have less funding than suburban schools (less students, usually). The tax revenues are much higher with those that make more money (meaning better schools). If you are rich, you tend to move from poor. Urban areas tend to contain higher percentages of minority groups. Therefore, the decline in quality of urban schools leads to a less than favorable educational outcome for minorities and the poor. This means that suburban (majority white) students have a better school to attend (plus the ability to attend great private schools) than their minority counterparts. I don't necessarily support busing kids into suburbia to attend school, but something needs to be done in the inner cities. One huge way to get this problem addressed is exposure. Shine a light on the disparities between the two school groups. I think that students in the inner city would benefit from programs (such as NSF Gk-12) that increase their exposure to the accessibility of wealth via education, rather than crime and fantasy (sports, rap, etc.).
As far as the justice system, someone else can take over here, but the main point is that the law even has racial disparities. Drug law, in particular, has always (historically) been about race (opium dens=asians, crack cocaine=blacks, etc.). This is why current laws are so bogus. Why is crack cocaine more dangerous than regular cocaine? Why is there a larger prison sentence for the same amounts of the drug? If you question the accuracy of my claim that most drug laws are tied to race, read up on the history. Its ALL there. I would research it, but then you (the reader) wouldn't learn anything (its the teacher in me).
DONE
Theo: You bring up some interesting points. Look at Palin's Rev. Wright or McCain's lack of support for the troops or his affair! The fact that the blatant bias in coverage of certain issues and the fact that those in the majority cannot understand the true nature of minority disenfranchisement are quite sad. Palin was mayor of a town and wasn't in charge of the police or fire departments. Here is a daily show video (take with a grain of salt) about her town. How does she get more props for working in Wasilla, AK than Obama does for working in an actual city? White privilege. Her mayoral duties were miniscule at best (same as the gubernatorial duties of such a small state in terms of population). Take a look at this story of improper use of state funds. Or this Daily Show video, comparing what Republicans say about themselves and what the say about others...its insane! However, I want to stray away from the election for a moment (as angry as the campaign of McCain has made me). Let's really delve into the lack of opportunities for minorities. Even if we accept that people will discriminate against you and you can overcome that, you still must overcome the inherent discrimination of our many public services.
The educational and judicial systems are some of the worst that come to mind. Let's take a look at the school districting. Because of economic desparities between suburban and urban areas, urban schools (more students) have less funding than suburban schools (less students, usually). The tax revenues are much higher with those that make more money (meaning better schools). If you are rich, you tend to move from poor. Urban areas tend to contain higher percentages of minority groups. Therefore, the decline in quality of urban schools leads to a less than favorable educational outcome for minorities and the poor. This means that suburban (majority white) students have a better school to attend (plus the ability to attend great private schools) than their minority counterparts. I don't necessarily support busing kids into suburbia to attend school, but something needs to be done in the inner cities. One huge way to get this problem addressed is exposure. Shine a light on the disparities between the two school groups. I think that students in the inner city would benefit from programs (such as NSF Gk-12) that increase their exposure to the accessibility of wealth via education, rather than crime and fantasy (sports, rap, etc.).
As far as the justice system, someone else can take over here, but the main point is that the law even has racial disparities. Drug law, in particular, has always (historically) been about race (opium dens=asians, crack cocaine=blacks, etc.). This is why current laws are so bogus. Why is crack cocaine more dangerous than regular cocaine? Why is there a larger prison sentence for the same amounts of the drug? If you question the accuracy of my claim that most drug laws are tied to race, read up on the history. Its ALL there. I would research it, but then you (the reader) wouldn't learn anything (its the teacher in me).
DONE
