Critique of Derrick Bell's _Space Traders_

The history of the United States in regard to racism and discrimination is no secret. Children are taught about segregation, slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement like the events are purely in the past. In part the events are in the past; however, the results of said events are not. As Americans we live in a nation with a rough history and, in order to keep growing together, we cannot forget what has happened. Granted, racism is not extinct, but it is most definitely not the norm it was 50 years ago. The United States has begun to pride itself on its diverse population. African Americans, Latin Americans, Japanese Americans, European Americans, Indian Americans, and Chinese Americans have something in common that my six year old nephew could point out. We are all Americans. It is this central idea of a “salad bowl” nation, or multiracial, multicultural nation, that makes the theories presented in The Space Traders implausible. Derrick Bell entertains the thought of America trading all of its African American citizens in return for resources. The problem with Derrick Bell’s theory is his lack of faith in American citizens as a whole. Over the years, American’s have developed a bond. We are working to create equality in all areas of life, we are forming interracial relationships at an increasing rate, and we are conditioning ourselves to see beyond the exterior. Derrick Bell’s Space Traders scenario would not happen because the mindset of the United States is constantly improving and changing.

In Bell’s Space Traders, it was the responsibility of the president and his cabinet to make the decision. The same would probably still be true if the ultimatum presented itself for real; however, the demographics of the group would be diffe...

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...a and believed it could be broken up for tangible gain.

The United States of America has made great strides over the years. Our nation knows that racism is a permanent part of our past, but it will not be part of our future. Derrick Bell’s The Space Traders demonstrated a scenario that would not even be considered today. With our diverse government and growing knowledge, there is no chance that we would offer up part of our population for tangible resources. We are better than that.

Works Cited

Bell, D. (1992). Faces at the Bottom of the Well. New York, NY: BasicBooks.

Robles de Melendez, W. (2010). Teaching Young Children in Multicultural Classrooms: Issues, Concepts, and Strategies (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Unknown. (20 February 2012). The Cabinet. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet.