4/2/12 Response

Racial discrimination is rooted in fears of the unknown.  In my ancient art history class we learned about the Greek culture and how everyone outside their territories were considered barbarians.  For many people it is much easier to write others off as bad than try to get to know how good they are.  Part of Foner’s reading describes the negative views of a social scientist towards immigrants of the time, but my guess is he never actually sat down and got to know any of these people.  Although our readings are from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century, these problems are still prevalent in today’s society.  There are still characteristically “Black”, or “Hispanic” neighborhoods.  Sanjek describes the “white flight”, which was white people leaving a neighborhood overcrowded with immigrants.  They formed what are today known as suburbs of mostly whites and left areas like Five Points filled with impoverished immigrant families.  The present neighborhoods are the remains of racial segregation from this time.  Our country says it is so diverse and accepting, but the “statistically black” neighborhoods are also the “statistically poor” neighborhoods.  The government doesn’t see the correlation?