All-Black and All-White Dormitories at University

When I first read these questions, I immediately answered yes to it being okay to having an all-Black dormitory and no for an all-White dormitory. My reasoning behind this was that in our society, Blacks have so many disadvantages just because of the color of their skin. So obviously they feel more comfortable around people of their own skin color. University is something completely new for everyone and it can be scary. So having that support behind you can be helpful. But because Whites have white supremacy in our society, I can see people being very sensitive about this, saying that those who choose a dormitory like this would be racist. But the more I think about it, I think that if we are trying to treat everyone equally, then why shouldn't Whites be allowed to be in a dormitory where they feel completely comfortable. I would never do this, personally, because I have been immensed in so many different cultures in my life and I am comfortable with people of different races. But those students coming from small towns who have never seen a Black person, and it can happen, would feel completely overwhelmed when going to University.

Racist for Liking a Mascot?

"If a team has a mascot like 'Fighting Sioux' or 'Redmen', then I am racist if I support the team."

I found it really hard to say if I support this statement. On the one hand, people who support teams aren't just doing so because of the mascot. They like the players and usually it is based on where you live. But on the other hand, mascots, especially of Native Americans, exaggerate the features and portray them as violent. In addition, most mascots are animals, so are we putting Native Americans on the same level as savages? I agreed with the bill that the representative from Colorado tried to implement where a team would have to get permission to have their mascot be a Native American, but I am unsure about this. I would never think that someone would be racist for supporting a team, but the more I think about it, there are definite ways in which someone could be. Like a lot of these statements, I think it is a balance between the two sides. You can support the team, but just don't do it because of the mascot.

"Learning to Read and Write" by Fredrick Douglas

The main strategies in which Frederick Douglass learned to read and write were very clever for a boy at his age. In reference to reading, he began having lessons with his Mistress, but soon afterwards she stopped helping him and gave in to society's rules. So Douglass became friends with a couple of white boys his age that knew how to read. Whenever he was running an errand, he would finish it quickly and fit in a lesson. In reference to writing, Douglass started out by learning the letters that workers at the shipyard wrote on pieces of wood, but there were only a couple of letters there. So he then fixated himself on Master Thomas' workbooks, which were set aside when he had finished with them. Whenever the Mistress would leave, Douglass would use the empty spaces in the workbooks for practice.

Frederick Douglass decided that he wanted to learn to read and write truly because he had an appetite for learning. Being a slave, he was deprived of so many things as a young boy. Once he got an ounce of literature in him, he couldn't resist it. In addition, literature taught him about slavery and he also felt that he wanted to be like other boys his age, the ones that weren't slaves.

Mr. Auld wanted to prevent Douglass from becoming literate because he knew that if Douglass read the current newspapers and discovered information on slavery, he would realise the crimes against humanity that were being committed. Knowledge comes from books, and the only way to keep slaves on a lower level was to deprive them of the one thing that could change their situation.

Even though Douglass was extremely glad to be literate, he learned about the hardships on slaves that last for their entire lives. As a slave, Douglass was trapped in a bubble, only knowing what he saw. But by reading, he was able to see the world, and realise that he was stuck. This only depressed him further, to know that there was no fix to his situation. How can you have a life when you know what is planned for you in your entire future?

"All Muslims Are Terrorists or Sympathisers"

Step 1. All Muslims are terrorists or sympathisers

Step 2. After 9/11, people began to associate Muslims with terrorists. Especially in airports. There have been many movies that have mad fun of this stereotype.

Step 3. 9/11 was an attack by terrorists from the Islamist group Al-Qaeda. But there have been so many other terrorist attacks in our history and not all Muslims are a part of Al-Qaeda. The terrorists in 9/11 were dedicated to taking the hand of "jihad" and didn't actually believe in this until they joined the terrorist group. The top recruiting countries were  Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and France. Islam doesn't actually condone violence; it is a religion of tolerance.

Step 4. I have never known a Muslim whom I have met to be a terrorist. I have a numerous amount of friends who are Muslim and who are not even close to being terrorists. They are just like me.

Step 5. Due to my analysis, I can conclude that because the fact that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by Muslims, people, especially Americans, have attacked Muslims on a whole for this. But there is not proof to say that their religion pushes violence and terrorism, so therefore Muslims should not be attacked for what a terrorist group did.

"The Sports Taboo" by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell searches through stereotypes, personal experiences, and biology to find out why blacks are like boys and whites are like girls. Gladwell concludes that whites can only rely on their effort, like girls, while blacks rely on their natural ability. “Desire”, he says, “is the great intangible in performance”.

IAT Race Test

After taking two race tests, I received a strong preference towards European American people for both times. I could definitely tell that it was harder for me to associate good with African American, but it's not like I didn't want to. But it showed me how much of an influence the media has on us, and how quickly it effects us. By 8 years old, you are brainwashed. Your subconscious can no longer associate good with African American. The only thing that comes up is bad. My results definitely made me feel almost embarassed because I don't want to have a strong preference towards European American. I would love to be neutral towards both races. But, unfortunately, due to the society that I have grown up in, this is not possible for me. It would be really interesting to see a person who would have a strong preference to African Americans, and see their reactions to the results.

I believe that the results are partly accurate, but I almost felt that it was unfair at parts. During the test, I would make mistakes if it gave a series of pictures that all went in the same category, and then suddenly switched it. I would be so used to pressing one key for so long, that I would make a mistake when I had to switch keys. But I found it very interesting because I would try and go fast, and I could do it very efficiently when European American was associated with good, but I would have to really concentrate when it was associated with bad.

One question that I have is how accurate the test truly is. Because I feel that so many people could find a way to have fixed results, which would in turn make the overall statistics inaccurate. I was a part of 27% of the total population that took the test, but I don't know if that is completely accurate.

"Black Men and Public Space" by Brent Staples

Staples begins his essay with a story that probably most of us would have experienced in our lives. A woman is walking alone at night, sees a black man walking near her, becomes frightened, and runs away. But this was the first time that Staples had experienced this "inheritance" that he had been given. He goes on to explain how everywhere he went, people would associate him with a mugger, rapist, or murderer. And it isn't because of things he has done or is doing, it's because of the colour of his skin. If he crossed the street, he would always hear the "thunk, thunk, thunk" of the car doors locking. He continues on to discuss his past, living in Chester, Pennsylvania. He stayed out of trouble as a teenager, staying on the side lines as he watched a cousin, brother, and friend all day below the age of 25. Staples then ends his essay explaining how he now takes precautions wherever he goes, so that others may feel more comfortable around him. By whistling songs by famous classical composers or giving a wide berth to people on the street, Staples is able to calm everyone around him, and assure them he isn't who they think he is.

Changes in My Beliefs

One belief that I had in the beginning of this class, that has changed over the past two weeks is the belief that we should all be color-blind. When we walked into the first day of class, that statement was written up on the whiteboard. And I immediately agreed, without thinking deeply about what this actually means. But as we started to talk about it in class, I realized that being color-blind is just ignoring that fact that we are different. We should embrace each others' races and see it as something good. By being color-blind, you are avoiding the topic of racism, and therefore extending the causes and effects of racism. We should face the problem head on, in order to come up with a proper solution.

If there is no biological explanation for race, how did it come about and how does it continue to be so important to this day?

I feel that in society, there has always been a social order. Someone is always on top, and someone is always on the bottom. And I'm not necessarily saying that this is bad, because I almost feel that for a society and market to function properly, you almost need this. To have order, you need authority at the top. And I believe that this is how race came about. People needed to see a clear difference in order to justify their order in society that started to form.

In connection with the Declaration of Independence from 1776, which states that "All men are created equal", I believe that the economy played a huge role in continuing racism. The leaders of America chose to clearly act as hypocrites as they had slaves of their own. But America was a new nation. And in order for it to gain power and progress, I believe that the economy needed to stay intact and continue growth. Slavery was the main resource for the economy, especially in the south, therefore if slavery had been taken away at this point, America's economy would have plummeted and who knows if they would have survived as a new nation against Great Britain, especially in the upcoming War of 1812.

Once you are on top, you don't want to lose it. Referring to the four fears of white people, number two is the fear of losing what you we have. We have many advantages in society that allow us to have a better chance at life, almost, and why would you want to give this up once you have it? This is why I believe race has continued throughout history. And because it has been embedded in our minds, and we are constantly reminded about the effects of it, it has become one of the most important progressions through time that we've ever seen.

Daily Effects of White Privilege

Five things that I believe most take for granted are numbers: 5; 10; 15; 17; 21. And five things that I could give up are numbers: 44; 1; 11; 31; 45. The theme really for the things that I think I take for granted is really just about things that I do in my daily life, that I never really would think that race could play a part in my actions. For example, talking with my mouth full. I don't do it usually, but I would never think that if someone of color was doing it, that others would think they were because of their race. Because how is race related in any way to talking with your mouth full? The theme that runs through things that I could give up is basically the idea that I would like to be in a world and have a life that involves people of color. I would have such a boring life if my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances were all my race. With such a homogenous life, I would be unsatisfied and discouraged. After living in a city where I get to experience so many different cultures and races, I wouldn't be okay with leaving that behind me.

Which of the Four Fears Do I Have?

In a fantasy society, I would love to have none of these fears. But in reality, I definitely can admit to having two of the four fears, and possibly have more but I just don't realise it. The first fear being: "a world in which non-white people might someday gain the kind of power over whites that whites have long monopolized" (Jensen). Living in London especially, I am exposed to many different races and cultures. And I'm not saying that I don't respect other races or discriminate against them, but I see the increase in the number of non-white people immigrating into England and it does scare me. It's nice to live in a world where you don't feel inferior to others and you know that the country you are from is on top. But it's scary to think of a world where everything and everyone is a stranger to you. You're the one that's different.

The second fear I have is: "The fear of being seen, and seen-through, by non-white people" (Jensen). I am afraid that others will discover my thoughts about other races, that just happen, and I can't help. I have been raised in a society where racism has been embedded within it for centuries. And something that has stayed in history for such a long period of time doesn't change over night. I wish I didn't have certain thoughts about other races, like: "There's a black man coming towards me; I better cross the street." I don't want to think these things, but while I think them, I almost get the feeling that others are thinking them as well, so it's okay. But it's not. And society shouldn't impose on us the idea that everyone is thinking the same thing.

How Did the Privilege Exercise Make You Feel?

This exercise highlighted how privileged we are, especially at the school we attend. I noticed at the end, how close in distance our class was, especially since we were all quite far from the starting line. It just makes you realize how lucky we are to be going to this amazing school. One thing I found very interesting was that almost our entire class is white. At an international school like ours, you would think that this wouldn't be the case. And in a lot of cases it isn't. But there is still that white majority that runs through our small community. Even though our community is predominantly white, though, I feel that everyone is extremely respectful of each others' race and we don't think of ourselves as being superior just because we are white. I would have loved to have done the exercise with a much more diverse group of people, to really get the sense that I am lucky, and not many in this world can say that. Some of the questions actually made me feel almost self conscious in the way that gender was pointed out as being a point to be discriminated against. And I definitely see it in my life, all the time; I just never thought of myself as losing some privilege because I am a girl. But I think it is absolutely true. I took a class on women's literature last year and I  was exposed to so many ways that society has brainwashed us into stereotyping women as the stay at home wife who can only take care of the children. But we are much more than that. And society has taken steps in the right direction to right this wrong.