Category: Response Papers (March 27) (Page 1 of 2)

Humans have the tendency to label and name things in order to explain them without actually providing any concrete evidence. We use terms and definitions to create categories and divides. Demographic terms do the same, and I am of the opinion that most racial conflicts are the product of how different peoples’ minds are nurtured and their biases created, rather than some inherent bias in the current systems of America.

Walter E. Williams, an African-American Economics professor at George Mason University told the CQ Reader that, “Many times, people use the term when they can’t find a racist, a lot of times they can’t show you a live breathing individual or company, so now they call it institutionalized racism.” People who tend to blame situations on “institutionalized racism” do so because they feel a lurking injustice but cannot explain it with hard evidence that the ones involved are acting out of malice for a race. The thing is, if one actually takes a look at the systems they’ll find that there are an arguably exorbitant amount of opportunities exclusively for black American; opportunities to work to help a marginalized race be as loud and included as white Americans. Furthermore, the CQ Reader pointed out that there are a record number of black Americans in top positions throughout law, law enforcement, and other governmental related positions. There are no laws that state, “if the defendant is white do X and if the defendant is black do Y”.

What makes the system and this country “institutionally racist” is the mind-frames the different members of society are raised to have. White youths are taught to be suspicious of black youths in many situations and then even an educated and seemingly non-racist individual in his/her adulthood looks at black Americans with an initial apprehension and distrust, which may affect all of his/her actions. Black youth in low-income neighborhoods are taught by their parents to fear and hate the police, usually as an attempted scare tactic to make them behave, and that turns into a distrust of the authorities that there to help. When many schools attempt to educate students on racial divides, they tend to push the implicit message that the African-American community should be pitied and treated and guided like a race of children. This leads to individuals looking down on an entire race. So even when the streets scream with the rage-filled cries of injustice, outsiders look in and say, “Yes this is sad, but why do they act so immature? You never see a white riot.”

This idea that an entire race needs special treatment to justify past wronging to them is racist. The idea that we need programs to help the broken black neighborhoods because of pity is racist. We, as a country, need to take the minority neighborhoods, and bring them up to the level of the rest of society because they are humans; not because they are black. No dilapidated schools and roads that in disrepair and getting worse every day. We need to eliminate the mindset that we are different because our skin is different. Yes, extra work needs to be done to even out the playing field, but that doesn’t help until we eliminate that inherent bias in people’s minds. We need to stop teaching our children that there are divides between us all, and start teaching them that everyone around them is human and that everyone should be treated with the same respect. We eliminate the perceived institutional racism only when we eliminate the mental racism nurtured in many. We don’t need to acknowledge the divide, we need to close the divide.

Living in a democratic, “post – racial” society, we still often here the words ‘racism’ and ‘inequality’. Racial gaps within education, employment, and income are prevalent in todays time and in order to address these grievances, the “Black Lives Matter” movement arose, focusing on the injustices in the legal system.

Data and statistics show that white households net worth is more than ten times that of Hispanics and Blacks, more Caucasians earn degrees than African Americans, and that an African American is more likely to go to jail. If there is no segregation and legal racism, then where do these discrepancies come from in a country that screams equal opportunity for all?

In this weeks reading, various explanations were offered to address this racial gap. Some argue that the root is at the homes and black communities with the values and upbringing they have. Others claim that previous enslavement and discriminatory treatment of African Americans is the root of the problem, giving white people a step up to begin with and hindering the upward mobility of blacks. Because of this initial division, blacks today are faced with social and economical inequalities. If this is the case, my question is, when do we draw the line to when the past stops effecting the present generation?

Regardless of the causes, it is important to acknowledge this racial divide and look for solutions to merge the social and economic gap

To many, the United States represents a place where equality and freedom are engraved in its foundation. However, despite the supposed end to segregation and discrimination, inequality still persists in our streets, institutions and everyday lives. This week’s reading of the CQ Researcher was a continuation of last week’s in that it spoke to the discrepancies in statistics regarding African Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics.

According to the reading, the mean net worth of a white household is said to make 13 times more than that of a black household. To hear about the economic injustices is one thing, but to see the data to back it up and the huge margin between the two groups is astonishing. How is it that in the land of opportunity and prosperity this drastic difference occurs? With the data the CQ Researcher provides, many see these disparities as a result of institutionalized racism existing in most, if not all, areas of life. In Urban Issues, researched showed that 7% of black 12th graders were proficient in math compared to 29% of white students and 16% of black 12th graders were proficient in reading compared to 47% of white students. With times growing tougher and a high school diploma not meaning much nowadays, the lack of an adequate education creates hurdles for anyone trying to get to the top or simply trying to find a job. With the inequalities taking its toll at such crucial ages of learning combined with mass incarceration, killings and a lack of role models in their areas, it becomes hard to stop the cycle of racism and often poverty.

The ideas touched on in Urban Issues illuminated on the constant struggles African Americans and other minority groups face in the United States whether it be through law enforcement, the education system or in the workforce. While there is no easy, single and direct solution to this problem, a plausible fix can start with equal opportunity to a quality, well-rounded education. A good education leads to awareness that can be used to detect and combat corruption and injustices which can then be used to improve the greater society.

In today’s America, it’s easy to develop a false sense of security about the state of equality in our country. Especially following Barack Obama’s election, the first black president of the United States, many were convinced that equality has been achieved and no further thought is required on the issue. However, simply looking at the numbers demonstrates how misled we’ve all been. For example, blacks have a net worth, on average, that is less than a tenth that of whites, are arrested at much higher rates, and have significantly fewer individuals earning college degrees. It raises many questions — how is this possible? What went wrong? Professor Joe R. Feagin argues the reason behind these discrepancies can be traced to the umpteen more generation whites had to amass their wealth, gain access to government assistance, and better their education that colored people did not. In other words, the differences between blacks and whites we see today can very well be attributed to past waves of slavery, discrimination, and segregation which prevented them from gaining the aide required to propel them to higher socioeconomic strata.

Black lives matter is a movement that has recently surfaced to address these injustices, especially in regards to the unjust treatment of blacks by police. Intriguing data on stop and frisk polices, as well as statistics citing the discrepancy between small population size vs. greater police related deaths for black individuals certainly drives home the much greater instances of police brutality towards black individuals. It is understandable, therefore, that people of color feel as though they are being unfairly targeted by by our law enforcement officers, simply given the overall data. However, while this is certainly an important issue, it must be recognized that resolving police tensions on its own cannot solve the problem entirely. Disparity and inequality is present in nearly every aspect of black life in this country, including education, jobs, and housing. To this end, I tend to agree with Derryck Green position, that too much emphasis on police relations is avoiding some of the larger issues of school performance, unemployment, abortion rates among mothers, that require more of our attention.

I grew up hearing from friends and family that this inequality was simply due to different values and family structures black people had – it was suggested that these problems inherent in the black community were in many ways self-made and brought upon themselves. However, putting their current circumstances in the light of past historical events, I now realize that years of institutionalized racism are to blame. I’m also convinced that to make amends for these wrongdoings and truly send the message that black lives do matter, small steps must be taken from all fronts instead of focusing on one singular aspect of black inequality. We need to gradually work on the aforementioned ‘smaller’ issues in our communities first to address the larger issue of racial inequality.

We elected our first black president in 2008 and many americans felt that it signaled the end the long history of oppression of black people in the united states. Yes, in the present day we are seeing more and more black people in high-positions of power, but they also experience discrimination in law enforcement. Videos of unarmed black americans being beaten, shot, and killed have created a divide between police and the black community. Due to these numerous horrific deaths, Black Lives Matter, a movement in which people of all races are fighting for justice for black people has gained a lot of traction. They also experience institutional racism throughout their lives.

The racial gaps within education and employment are prevalent. Many African Americans who face jail time, can’t re-enter society or find work and are forced to live a life of poverty and use illegal means to make money. And considering far too many people are being incarcerated each year, for small crimes that are targeted by police to prevent larger crimes from being committed (a controversial policing strategy), this employment issue is far-reaching. With regards to education, It is noted that kids who do well in school, have a greater chance of success later. And those who do well, often have a strong support system at home. But doing well has not been easy for blacks. They are often in schools where the majority of students are poor, and compared to whites they are extremely behind in math and reading. Many people want to desegregate schools again because while technically black and white students are going to school together, it is not in proportionate numbers.  Also, students must go to schools within their community and if they live in a poor one, chances are their school is not being given adequate funding or resources.

While glaring racism is not a regular occurrence anymore, more subtle institutionalized racism is still happening every day. Considering the issues for black people are starting when they are just beginning school, it is difficult for them to have any sort of upward mobility. If we are going to start somewhere, it should be in the schools. It is in school where a child’s life is carved out.

Similar to Chapter 7, a lot of chapter 8 called out racial tensions between officers and the minority community especially the black community. What a lot of people fail to realize and I like that the chapter called out is that this racial tension is not new. The covert racial institutional systems have started since slavery when the subjugation  of black people was legalized. As the laws changed that allowed black people more autonomy and rights, other laws and practices developed  on top of them to hold black people back. For example; even after the 13th amendment abolished slavery, the Jim Crow laws of the south was another way of making black people inferior, and the federal government wanting to maintain peace, and the federal government did nothing for years until civil rights protest. I found a reoccurring theme with the government is that they see the racial problems and only become active to make changes when protests, and more recently violence commences. Most recently it has been the Black Lives Matter movement, and the relationship between officers and the black community. Police violence, and excessive force towards African Americans is nothing new, and has stemmed since slavery. Statistics even shows that black men are arrested, indicted, and convicted at a higher rate than white men, and they only make up 6% of the entire US population. Here in New York City, they are stopped and frisked more, and according the CQ Researcher, the overall national death rate due to the police’s aggressive tactics is over 1000 people in the last year. What makes all of these statistics saddening is that the government did not become involved in mending the relationship until protests began, and some of law enforcement themselves were being killed. This brings up the question that if law enforcement themselves were not being killed, would the government even pay attention to the relations between the two groups? Even with the protests, they are not making active steps to change how law enforcement behaves. 

Not only did the chapter explain race relations between law enforcement and black people, I enjoyed how they connected that relation to low income communities, housing segregation, and education. When you think about the housing segregation, and the minimal education of children in low income communities, you notice the correlation between these two factors and the current racial tensions now. After WWII, while white army veterans were given loans to buy homes in the suburbs, black veterans were not leaving them in the urban areas surrounded by underdeveloped housing. What many people do not know which the the chapter did highlight was that were one lives also affects the education that they get. Low income communities usually get the worst teachers, minimal to no extracurricular activities, and steered away from college and into vocational schools, because counselors and teachers don’t think that they can handle the pressures of it. Many students especially males, recognizing that they will not make it far turn to criminality so that they can provide for themselves, which leads to the racial tension between law enforcement and minority communities because as criminality increase the amount of police officers that need to be in the neighborhood increases. s well as the stigma that minority males are violent criminals. One part of the text that confused me was the statement made that middle class black people had an easier time after the civil rights movement than low income black people. I wish the author would explain what they meant by that statement. Reading the chapter verified the correlation that I have noticed and learned between slavery and the race relations that are occurring now. What I realized is that race relations will never change unless we all realize the covert ways that racism still systematically exists. By ignoring it, or saying that legalized racism does not exist anymore makes problems like police brutality seem more like a complaint than an actually problem. In order to make race relations better, we need to have these open conversations of change.

“Black Lives Matter” is a slogan that has been surfaced and has made its way into the limelight. The purpose of this movement is quite controversial, but it claims to be focusing on the injustices of blacks in the legal system. There are a plethora of question surrounding this movement. Some of the most important include: Is black lives matter a valid slogan? What does black lives matter mean? Who is black lives matter trying to protect?

As with everything controversial, there are multiple sides, opinions, and facts. Jack Hunter claims that the real questions: “Why are African-Americans targeted and incarcerated at a disproportionate rate compared with any other racial group? Why are they more often the victims of police brutality?” According to him, the slogan is not about the lack of importance of other lives, but rather that the legal system and greater society view black lives as less important than everyone else. In opposition, Derryck Green states that black lives matter is only inclusive to black lives that were taken by white police officers. Green strongly suggests that the emphasis on these “rare, alleged cases of police brutality” is taking focus away from the high abortion rate for black women, illegitimacy, black children stuck in underperforming schools, and black unemployment.

The wealth gap between whites and minorities was astounding to me. It boggles my mind that the median household of a white family is 13 times more than a black family. How? Why? How is this possible? More importantly, is this stemming from racial prejudice or is there a larger bigger picture question? Professor Joe R. Feagin claims the socioeconomic differences can be traced back to whites being given land grants, loans, and government assistance more than blacks. On the other hand, Walter E. Williams, a black conservative, rejected the notion of modern day institutional racism. Williams claims that government assistance of single mothers “has done what slavery and Jim Crow could not have done: destroy the black family and create a high rate of illegitimacy and family breakdown.” Williams further explains that he believes the poverty in black communities stems from a lack of values and children growing up without a male authority figure.

The bottom line is, regardless of whose reasoning you believe, whether it’s Hunter or Green Feagin or Williams, it is extremely important to realize that there is a huge problem here. There are black communities are struck by poor schools, poverty, shootings, and crime. While I do not fully agree with Green, he makes a very valid point in discussing a plethora of issues that are not addressed by black lives matter that should be. The real question here is what is the greater society going to do to help them get away from this?

How does the U.S. end slavery, continue to hold African Americans and other minorities from thriving, and expect them to feel equal? Legal segregation ended, but segregation and discrimination continues. I always read about the wealth gap, and it amazes me every time. Blacks’ household net worth is $11,000 vs. whites’ almost $142,000. Feagin says that white families had generations to increase their wealth, improve their education, and improve their overall lifestyles that others weren’t allowed to have access to. It’s true and there’s no denying that. I agree with Feagin that the crime economy is sometimes the only option that many blacks in poverty have, because doors are shut in their faces. And I think opening The Smithsonian Natural Museum of African American History and Culture is a great step towards introducing the side of history that is untold and many try to forget.

I think, in theory, improving police interactions with African Americans would improve race relations. African Americans would be able to feel protected instead of targeted by the police. But FBI Director James Comey acknowledges that the police racially profile black Americans. I don’t think improvements in the interactions will improve race relations because there are going to be more incidents that draw attention to the race of the subjects and divide black Americans and the police even more. Law enforcement should definitely try, and continue to try in the future to improve relations, but I don’t see improvements in relations happening anytime soon. In NYC in 2014, 54% of blacks were stopped and frisked compared to 12% of whites, and whites account for the majority of the population. I think those numbers will remain stable if stop and frisk is continued.

I think schools should emphasize desegregation and reintegrate. I went to a public school that had numerous races and ethnicities, and the diversity I grew up with was awesome. I learned from other cultures, and they learned from me. But there will be opposition to reintegration. I remember listening to a journalist’s recording of a high school PTA meeting that discussed the high school’s recent acceptance of minority students to come to the school because the minority students’ school had closed down (I think. It was a long time ago). The point is, one of the moms was speaking and said the minority students will bring the school’s test scores down, that the minority students’ don’t have the capabilities to do well with the other (white) students, and that they shouldn’t be sent here. The outcome……. the minority students had to go to a high school with other minority students. I think reintegration can be positive, and not every school is equal. And George Theoharis puts it perfectly by stating that “[w]e have enough history in this country of being unable to achieve separate but equal schools.”

Since the dawn of the United States, racial inequality has plagued this country. Historically speaking, we had many racism laws implanted in our system and we had forgotten about them all. This caused the built up tension between different races in the United States. In the recent years, all these tension had exploded and became a national movement. “The Black Lives Matter” movement was a new wave of modern civil rights. More African-Americans were seeking better treatment with the police and less discrimination in governmental programs.

Many experts were in doubt that government programs could narrow today’s racial gaps. Harsh laws in petty crime and drugs caused incarnation population to quadruple. Minority, often Hispanics and African-Americans, was the main targets for police’s search. In New York City alone, Blacks were the subject of half of the Stop-and-Frisk policy. As more and more minority was in jail, family structure outside was heavily restructured. The lack of father figure and breadwinner in the family forced male teenagers to join gangs. They forfeited their education because the public schools in the area were usually very bad. Schools did not have funding to provide all the students with the same education quality as the majority White neighborhood. It was hard for any students to stay focus in school when they were surrounded by violence and drug. Only seven percent of Black high school students went to college comparing to 33 percent of White students. Many Black students spent their time outside of the education system in seek of income from crime. Once they went to jail, it was almost impossible for them to reenter the workforce or even continue their educations. Therefore, many politicians has suggested to implant more programs to allow disadvantageous students to continue their educations or create new job opportunities that were willing to accept them.

“Black Lives Matter” movement was the result of police militarization and widen racial gaps. The deep misunderstanding between Black communities and the police were finally set off after a record amount of police shooting footages surfaced on the internet. These phone videos were named the “C-Span of the streets”. It did helped the public to see how police was over-enforcing; however, it also impeded police’s ability to do his or her job. Current situation was like the old time when White fascists would lychee on African-Americans. The Jim Crow laws were actually still lingered around in today’s society. Blacks and other minority often faced discrimination in education, housing, jobs and etc. For example, the GI Bill after World War II was only limited to White veterans. Even though the bill should extend to every veterans, but only the White received college fund, housing mortgages, and chances to climb to middle class.

In short, the racial inequality could not be narrowed within the upcoming years (at least not with the President we have right now). The social gap between each ethnic group could only be narrowed from us within. Government programs could bring minority out of the poverty by giving them chances to learn new skills and escaped the ghetto. But there was no government programs could erase racial prejudice within our hearts.

It is unacceptable that in today’s America we have black households making on average 13 times less than white households, African Americans dying a full 3 years earlier than whites, significantly fewer African Americans having earned college degrees, all while having a higher chance of going to jail or dying by homicide in comparison to whites. It’s been eight years since we elected Barack Obama to be our president, but the battle for racial equality is still far from over.

The Black Lives Matter movement, which was sparked by the unjust treatment of African-Americans by the police force, has taken the spotlight in this battle for racial equality, and while I do agree that this is a major issue, there are other problems to take care of, namely the lack of access to a high-quality education and the barriers that hinder economic mobility for many African American individuals. In America, the idea is that if you work hard enough, you will be able to prosper in life, but what people are seeing is that those who are on the lower end of the economic ladder are not showing that significant growth after many years of work, while those on the upper end do. If you add these economic problems to the already existing social and political issues plaguing African Americans, you have a recipe for disaster.

Perhaps one of the major issues to focus on as one step in solving these problems is a lack of diversity in our nation’s schools. Our public schools are outstandingly divided by race – according to the Civil Rights Project, a white student’s class of 30 had “22 whites, two blacks, and four Latinos, while the class of a typical black or Latino student had at least 20 blacks or Latinos and eight whites.” These Black and Latino children are often part of schools that do not receive the same level of funding and resources that are found in schools that have mostly White children. While a simple answer to the problem would be “just move to a better location and send your child to a better school,” the reality is that most Black and Latino families do not have the resources to do so. Therefore, it should be in our best interest that we take on many of these smaller issues in our communities as a way of addressing the larger issue of racial conflict and inequality.