Blog #9 "Race Matters" by Cornel West

        The topic of race relations is always a heated subject in American discussions. Race affects every person in this nation and no one is a racist for being aware of the fact. Whether the intent is positive or negative the differences of races are always present. The article "Race Matters" by Cornel West talks about the social injustice that occurred back in Los Angles, 1992. In Race Matters, Cornel West describes not only the state of race relations in this country, but also some causes for the thinking that perpetuate the cycle of distrust and fear. Race Matters offers some of the most intelligent, concise and controversial commentary on race. Race Matters is not just another summary of race relations in this country.
         One of the main reasons this article differs from others is that West does not allow his membership in the African-American race to hinder his view. In addition, he ignores the prevailing concept of political accuracy and speaks freely. Race Matters is an insight into many of the stereotypes, misconceptions and clashes caused by race. He describes race from multiple angles. By discussing race in a historical, social, sexual and political sense, he is able to produce some uncommon assessment on the forever variable state of race relations.
          Cornel West easily illustrates the idea of discrimination in America through the explanations of white supremacy. For Example, “This vicious ideology and practice of white supremacy has left its indelible mark on all spheres of American life- from the prevailing crimes of Amerindian reservations to the discriminatory realties against Spanish-speaking Latinos to racial stereotypes against Asians.” White supremacy has held racial progress back from not only African Americans, but from all people of color. All people of color are feeling the inequalities that white supremacy compel onto other races. In addition, “No other people have been taught systematically to hate themselves.” White supremacy has taught the African American race to hate who they are as a people. The problem of interracial hate has slowly but surely started to tear the African American race apart. Furthermore, “Yet the legacy of white supremacy lingers- often in the face of the very denials of its realities.” The main people who deny the existence of white supremacy are the people who are under its aptitude. The power of white supremacy is still alive and strong in America.
        According to Cornel , African Americans are divided into two camps , the liberal structuralists and the conservative behaviorists . West goes to observe , unfortunately , these two camps have nearly suffocated the debate that should be taking place about the prospects for black America. This disunity among the two schools of thought of black race is the most unfortunate aspect of the African Americans. He touches the borders or spirituality when he pleads to “replace racial reasoning with moral reasoning". Thus moral reasoning becomes the second important concern in Race Matters by Cornel and this approach is his positive contribution to the possible solutions for the problems of African Americans . The main issue with most of the black Americans is that they are being destroyed by the inner conviction of uselessness . Economic prosperity can not compensate for this loss .The fountain of hope and love has to spring forth from the hearts of the blacks as for their internal relations first and disposition with the white race next.
        I see similarities between Chapter 9 and "Race Matters" by Cornel West because it discusses the importance of race and how Americans perceive it. Race is something we can all relate to, due to the fact that America was build upon by foreigners and immigrants. It also talks about the inequality and imbalance between the various racial groups. It also breaks down the key differences and terminology for concepts such as "race" and "ethnicity" and "nationality".
        

Blog #8 - Class and Global Inequality

          The "House Rule" describes the difficulty people have based on inequality between race and class status. The first event of the podcast is about the education their children have based on class system they are. A teenager name Jada and her sister was transfer to Copley-Fairlawn public school from Akron, Ohio but then got discharge from Copley school because their mother gave the school their grandfather’s address not theirs. Jada and her sister didn’t live around the school district however their grandfather did, which is why they had to give his address but the school noticed and they couldn’t do that. According to the chapter, “the more money your family has, the better your education is likely to be” which its completely true. If you are poor family, the less you learn, the less activities you have, and the less opportunities however if you a rich family you have many opportunity and better education. The author from the podcast ask Jada “does it seem unfair to you that your life could be so different and your school would be so different just based on where you live and what school you go to?” which she respond “it’s the dumbest thing ever”. It seems unbelievable that to have a good education, you have to be in the same level as the other children learning in the school. I believe it’s unfair for people to judge others based on their class because everyone has the right to have an education even if their income are different. It also unreasonable for teens aren’t able to go to school in other area than where they live because they should have equal opportunity as any other kid upper, middle, and lower class.
             The next event is an example of race discrimination. The housing organization had send actors to do a testing if there were race discrimination for renting apartment. Based on the podcast, there was a African American woman name Kaaron who went to the building and rang the bell which the super couldn’t had eye contact yet and told the super that she was looking for a one bedroom apartment however when the super let her in the building he immediately told her he had no apartment available. She asks again and if he was the super but the super had said no and that he was the super from the building. Despite that, there was another woman but this time she was white, same age as Kaaron, the super had told her that there were two studios available. So according to this event, the super made race discrimination which it unbelievable. I think it’s not right that people use to judge people based on their skin color.
               In my opinion chapter 9 and The Global Inequality are related because they both talked about class inequality. People who were discriminated should fight for their rights to be equal and to stop discriminarion. I believe this situation should stop because people are being mistreated and in the future I hope we wouldn't be judge base on our race or color no matter where we come from and we will live a better life.

     

       

Blog #7 People Like Us

        In this video it shows how society likes to judge people on their social class. Society can judge
on what someone dresses, looks, jobs they obtain, the types of home one lives in, etc..Towards the
beginning of the video a woman in a school I believe was judging on everyone that past right by her,
for example the words she used to describe some were dorky, dirty, and ghetto. The people that were
talking and stating certain states on what they were describing how how some can describe
lower,middle, or high class. What I also took from this was that when some women in the beginnign
of the video saw the picture of an old man she automatically assumed he was lower class, but she said
maybe he just dress like a lower class person but probably aren't. It seems that people are easily
judging other with out knowing anything about them. This is what today in our society describe
people today. It just comes to show that society can consider themselves in any type of class, because
if one grew out of the a certain class they would push aside the ones they didn't fit in into the certain
status that seemed fit. 
     This video made me reflect on the stratification system we live in. "People like us" describes
how social class plays a role in the lives of Americans based on where they live such as park avenues
penthouses, bayou houseboats or suburban gated communities. The video presents stories of family
traditions, different lifestyle and class mobility. It explains how income family background,
education, attitudes, aspirations and even appearance mark people as members of a social class. In the
video they interview people from diverse socioeconomic groups, the film describes how social class
in america has a much influence as race or ethnicity in determining what kind of opportunities a
person has in life.
     "People Like Us" explains how the class system does exist and its based on looks, money,
popularity, whether you live in a big house, and where people work. The video also describes that as
you move through life we separate our selves from people who don't fit in our groups and social class
and that America is a country divided by class and by what kind of neighborhood you live in, the type
of food you eat, how far you got in school and the way you wear your hair.
         In my opinion, people are selfish to marry rich people because of their wealth and don't have
the knowledge to be on the same page as the rich. I think they have to change their way of thinking
because everybody is equal and we don't have to judge whether they are rich or poor. We should
respect each other and treat everyone as equal and be nice to everybody.